Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Australia
Australia: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 6.55 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Australia, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Australia recorded 6.55 for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Australia peaked at 6.55 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.22, in 2000.
Australia ranks 126th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.22 | — |
| 2001 | 6.25 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 6.27 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 6.28 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 6.29 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 6.3 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 6.3 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 6.31 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 6.33 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 6.35 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 6.37 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 6.39 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 6.42 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 6.43 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 6.45 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 6.46 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 6.48 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 6.49 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 6.51 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 6.53 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 6.55 | +0.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 6.55 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.54, 87% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Australia's 6.55 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.3, 58% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.29 | 6.22 | 6.35 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.45 | 6.37 | 6.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.55 | 6.55 | 6.55 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 215 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Australia?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Australia was 6.55 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.55 in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.22 in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- Australia ranks 126th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).