Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in China
China: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 4.97 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
4.97
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
146th
of 157 countries
All-time high
5.74
in 2000
All-time low
4.96
in 2019
Years of data
21
2000–2020
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in China, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2020, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in China stood at 4.97.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in China peaked at 5.74 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.96, in 2019.
That places China 146th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.74 | — |
| 2001 | 5.7 | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 5.65 | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 5.59 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 5.52 | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 5.46 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 5.39 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 5.33 | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 5.27 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 5.22 | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 5.18 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 5.15 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 5.12 | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 5.09 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 5.06 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 5.04 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 5.01 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 4.98 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.96 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 4.96 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 4.97 | +0.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 4.97 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.06, 49% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 4.97 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.3, 44% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.49 | 5.22 | 5.74 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.06 | 4.96 | 5.18 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.97 | 4.97 | 4.97 | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 0.0176 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in China?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in China was 4.97 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.74 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.96 in 2019.
- How does China rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- China ranks 146th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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).