Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union)

Central Africa (African Union): Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 11.74 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
11.74
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
103rd
of 156 groups
All-time high
13.47
in 2000
All-time low
11.74
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union), 2000–2020

0510152000201020202000: 13.52001: 13.42002: 13.42003: 13.22004: 13.22005: 13.12006: 132007: 12.92008: 12.82009: 12.72010: 12.62011: 12.52012: 12.42013: 12.32014: 12.22015: 12.12016: 122017: 11.92018: 11.82019: 11.82020: 11.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2020, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union) stood at 11.74. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union) peaked at 13.47 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.74, in 2020.

Central Africa (African Union) ranks 103rd of 156 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union), 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 13.47
2001 13.4 -0.5%
2002 13.39 -0.1%
2003 13.24 -1.1%
2004 13.17 -0.5%
2005 13.08 -0.7%
2006 13 -0.6%
2007 12.93 -0.6%
2008 12.78 -1.1%
2009 12.69 -0.7%
2010 12.61 -0.6%
2011 12.52 -0.7%
2012 12.39 -1.1%
2013 12.3 -0.7%
2014 12.23 -0.6%
2015 12.14 -0.7%
2016 12 -1.2%
2017 11.91 -0.8%
2018 11.83 -0.6%
2019 11.75 -0.7%
2020 11.74 -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 13.11 12.69 13.47 10
2010s 12.17 11.75 12.61 10
2020s 11.74 11.74 11.74 1

Countries ranked near Central Africa (African Union)

  1. 100 North Macedonia 8.29 compare
  2. 101 Armenia 8.27 compare
  3. 102 United States of America 8.26 compare
  4. 103 Tunisia 8.24 compare
  5. 104 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 7.93 compare
  6. 105 Slovakia 7.82 compare
  7. 106 Uruguay 7.8 compare

See the full ranking of 313 places →

More health data for Central Africa (African Union)

All data for Central Africa (African Union) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union)?
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union) was 11.74 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Central Africa (African Union)?
The highest recorded value was 13.47 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Central Africa (African Union)?
The lowest recorded value was 11.74 in 2020.
How does Central Africa (African Union) rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
Central Africa (African Union) ranks 103rd out of 156 groups with data for 2020.
Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Central Africa (African Union)?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Central Africa (African Union) 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.

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Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Central Africa (African Union). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-low-birth-weight-among-new-borns/central-africa-african-union/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
313 places, 6,573 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed