Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 10.34 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sierra Leone, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2020, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sierra Leone stood at 10.34. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sierra Leone peaked at 13.94 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.34, in 2020.
That places Sierra Leone 75th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.94 | — |
| 2001 | 13.7 | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 13.44 | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 13.19 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 12.95 | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 12.72 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 12.5 | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 12.28 | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 12.09 | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 11.9 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 11.73 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 11.54 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 11.36 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 11.21 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 11.09 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 11.01 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 10.91 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 10.79 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 10.65 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 10.5 | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 10.34 | -1.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 10.34 is below the median for low income countries, which is 15.58, 66% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 10.34 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.78, 70% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.87 | 11.9 | 13.94 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.08 | 10.5 | 11.73 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.34 | 10.34 | 10.34 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,209 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % 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 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % 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 0.0676 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sierra Leone was 10.34 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 13.94 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.34 in 2020.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- Sierra Leone ranks 75th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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).