Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Korea
South Korea: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 7.46 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Korea, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 7.46 for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Korea peaked at 7.46 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.97, in 2000.
That places South Korea 110th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.97 | — |
| 2001 | 5.06 | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 5.15 | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 5.25 | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 5.34 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 5.44 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 5.54 | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 5.65 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 5.76 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 5.88 | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 6 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 6.12 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 6.25 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 6.39 | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 6.53 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 6.67 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 6.82 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 6.97 | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 7.13 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 7.29 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 7.46 | +2.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 7.46 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.54, 99% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 7.46 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.3, 66% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.4 | 4.97 | 5.88 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.62 | 6 | 7.29 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.46 | 7.46 | 7.46 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Korea?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Korea was 7.46 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.46 in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.97 in 2000.
- How does South Korea rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- South Korea ranks 110th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea 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).