Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG): Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 13.87 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
13.87
Change on year
down 0.5%
Rank
66th
of 156 groups
All-time high
15.68
in 2000
All-time low
13.87
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), 2000–2020

0510152000201020202000: 15.72001: 15.62002: 15.52003: 15.42004: 15.32005: 15.22006: 15.12007: 152008: 14.92009: 14.82010: 14.72011: 14.62012: 14.52013: 14.52014: 14.42015: 14.32016: 14.22017: 14.12018: 142019: 13.92020: 13.9

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2020, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) stood at 13.87. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) peaked at 15.68 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.87, in 2020.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) 66th out of 156 groups 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 15.68
2001 15.59 -0.6%
2002 15.52 -0.4%
2003 15.4 -0.8%
2004 15.29 -0.7%
2005 15.2 -0.6%
2006 15.1 -0.7%
2007 15.02 -0.5%
2008 14.9 -0.8%
2009 14.82 -0.6%
2010 14.74 -0.5%
2011 14.63 -0.8%
2012 14.54 -0.6%
2013 14.45 -0.6%
2014 14.36 -0.6%
2015 14.29 -0.5%
2016 14.19 -0.7%
2017 14.08 -0.7%
2018 14.01 -0.5%
2019 13.94 -0.5%
2020 13.87 -0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.25 14.82 15.68 10
2010s 14.32 13.94 14.74 10
2020s 13.87 13.87 13.87 1

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

  1. 63 Bhutan 11.43 compare
  2. 64 Greece 11.41 compare
  3. 65 Bulgaria 11.36 compare
  4. 66 Japan 11.3 compare
  5. 67 Zambia 11.25 compare
  6. 68 Sao Tome and Principe 11.11 compare
  7. 69 Azerbaijan 11.04 compare

See the full ranking of 313 places →

More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) was 13.87 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 15.68 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 13.87 in 2020.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) ranks 66th out of 156 groups with data for 2020.
Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (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 Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-low-birth-weight-among-new-borns/sub-saharan-africa-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