Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Kenya
Kenya: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 9.97 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Kenya, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Kenya is 9.97, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Kenya peaked at 11.71 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 9.97, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 83rd of 157 countries 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.71 | — |
| 2001 | 11.63 | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 11.54 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 11.45 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 11.35 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 11.25 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 11.16 | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 11.08 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 11 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 10.94 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 10.87 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 10.81 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 10.76 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 10.71 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 10.65 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 10.56 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 10.46 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 10.34 | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 10.2 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 10.08 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 9.97 | -1.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 9.97 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.6, 79% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 9.97 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.78, 67% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.31 | 10.94 | 11.71 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.54 | 10.08 | 10.87 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.97 | 9.97 | 9.97 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Kenya?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Kenya was 9.97 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 11.71 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.97 in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- Kenya ranks 83rd out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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
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