Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions)

South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions): Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 24.78 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
24.78
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
3rd
of 156 groups
All-time high
29.36
in 2000
All-time low
24.78
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000–2020

01020302000201020202000: 29.42001: 29.22002: 29.12003: 28.82004: 28.62005: 28.32006: 282007: 27.82008: 27.52009: 27.32010: 27.12011: 26.82012: 26.62013: 26.42014: 26.12015: 25.92016: 25.72017: 25.42018: 25.22019: 252020: 24.8

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) is 24.78, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) peaked at 29.36 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 24.78, in 2020.

That places South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) 3rd out of 156 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 29.36
2001 29.22 -0.5%
2002 29.05 -0.6%
2003 28.79 -0.9%
2004 28.62 -0.6%
2005 28.34 -1.0%
2006 28.01 -1.1%
2007 27.79 -0.8%
2008 27.52 -1.0%
2009 27.34 -0.7%
2010 27.07 -1.0%
2011 26.83 -0.9%
2012 26.63 -0.7%
2013 26.38 -0.9%
2014 26.09 -1.1%
2015 25.94 -0.6%
2016 25.72 -0.9%
2017 25.43 -1.1%
2018 25.2 -0.9%
2019 24.98 -0.9%
2020 24.78 -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28.4 27.34 29.36 10
2010s 26.03 24.98 27.07 10
2020s 24.78 24.78 24.78 1

Countries ranked near South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions)

  1. 1 India 27.44 compare
  2. 2 Bangladesh 23.05 compare
  3. 3 Comoros 23.03 compare
  4. 4 Philippines 21.14 compare
  5. 5 Liberia 19.88 compare
  6. 6 Nepal 19.73 compare

See the full ranking of 313 places →

More health data for South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions)

All data for South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) was 24.78 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The highest recorded value was 29.36 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The lowest recorded value was 24.78 in 2020.
How does South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 3rd out of 156 groups with data for 2020.
Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions) 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 Asia (UNICEF Prog.regions). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-low-birth-weight-among-new-borns/south-asia-unicef-prog-regions/

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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