Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG)

South America (UNSDG): Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 8.85 in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
8.85
Change on year
up 0.2%
Rank
120th
of 156 groups
All-time high
8.85
in 2020
All-time low
8.54
in 2000
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG), 2000–2020

024682000201020202000: 8.52001: 8.62002: 8.62003: 8.62004: 8.72005: 8.72006: 8.62007: 8.62008: 8.62009: 8.62010: 8.62011: 8.62012: 8.62013: 8.62014: 8.62015: 8.72016: 8.72017: 8.72018: 8.72019: 8.82020: 8.9

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

South America (UNSDG) recorded 8.85 for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG) peaked at 8.85 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 8.54, in 2000.

South America (UNSDG) ranks 120th of 156 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG), 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 8.54
2001 8.56 +0.2%
2002 8.61 +0.7%
2003 8.63 +0.2%
2004 8.67 +0.5%
2005 8.65 -0.2%
2006 8.64 -0.1%
2007 8.63 -0.2%
2008 8.64 +0.2%
2009 8.64 -0.0%
2010 8.61 -0.3%
2011 8.61 -0.1%
2012 8.6 -0.1%
2013 8.64 +0.5%
2014 8.63 -0.1%
2015 8.67 +0.5%
2016 8.72 +0.6%
2017 8.74 +0.3%
2018 8.74 +0.0%
2019 8.83 +1.0%
2020 8.85 +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.62 8.54 8.67 10
2010s 8.68 8.6 8.83 10
2020s 8.85 8.85 8.85 1

Countries ranked near South America (UNSDG)

  1. 117 Algeria 7.2 compare
  2. 118 Malta 7.18 compare
  3. 119 Cuba 7.06 compare
  4. 120 Chile 6.84 compare
  5. 121 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 6.83 compare
  6. 122 Monaco 6.82 compare
  7. 123 Belgium 6.76 compare

See the full ranking of 313 places →

More health data for South America (UNSDG)

All data for South America (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG) was 8.85 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in South America (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 8.85 in 2020.
What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in South America (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 8.54 in 2000.
How does South America (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
South America (UNSDG) ranks 120th out of 156 groups with data for 2020.
Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in South America (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South America (UNSDG) 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.

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Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South America (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-low-birth-weight-among-new-borns/south-america-unsdg/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
313 places, 6,573 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed