Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 15.58 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Malawi, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Malawi is 15.58, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Malawi peaked at 16.49 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.58, in 2020.
Malawi ranks 28th of 157 countries on this measure, in the top 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.49 | — |
| 2001 | 16.45 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 16.39 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 16.32 | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 16.25 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 16.17 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 16.09 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 16.01 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 15.93 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 15.87 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 15.83 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 15.81 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 15.82 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 15.82 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 15.82 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 15.82 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 15.79 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 15.75 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 15.71 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 15.64 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 15.58 | -0.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 15.58 is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.58, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 15.58 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.78, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.2 | 15.87 | 16.49 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.78 | 15.64 | 15.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.58 | 15.58 | 15.58 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 25 Trinidad and Tobago 16.27 compare
- 26 Saint Lucia 16.25 compare
- 27 Namibia 15.58 compare
- 29 Angola 15.53 compare
- 30 Bahamas 15.4 compare
- 31 Antigua and Barbuda 15.36 compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0718 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Malawi?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Malawi was 15.58 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 16.49 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.58 in 2020.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- Malawi ranks 28th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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).