Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 17.98 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sri Lanka, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sri Lanka is 17.98, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sri Lanka peaked at 19.35 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.98, in 2020.
Sri Lanka ranks 15th of 157 countries on this measure, 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.35 | — |
| 2001 | 19.32 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 19.28 | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 19.22 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 19.16 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 19.09 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 19.02 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 18.94 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 18.85 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 18.76 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 18.66 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 18.55 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 18.46 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 18.38 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 18.32 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 18.25 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 18.19 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 18.13 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 18.07 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 18.02 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 17.98 | -0.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 17.98 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.06, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 17.98 is below the median for South Asia, which is 18.85, 95% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.1 | 18.76 | 19.35 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.3 | 18.02 | 18.66 | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.98 | 17.98 | 17.98 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 12 Burkina Faso 18.47 compare
- 13 Cote d'Ivoire 18.29 compare
- 14 East Timor 18.21 compare
- 16 Mozambique 17.76 compare
- 17 Senegal 17.25 compare
- 18 Guyana 17.16 compare
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 304 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.13 % 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 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % 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 0.0353 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sri Lanka?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sri Lanka was 17.98 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 19.35 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.98 in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- Sri Lanka ranks 15th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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).