Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 6.83 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United Kingdom, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2020, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United Kingdom stood at 6.83. 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 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United Kingdom peaked at 7.55 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.83, in 2020.
That places United Kingdom 121st out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.55 | — |
| 2001 | 7.51 | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 7.48 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 7.43 | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 7.39 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 7.34 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 7.29 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 7.26 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 7.23 | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 7.21 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 7.19 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 7.17 | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 7.14 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 7.11 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 7.06 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 7.02 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 6.98 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 6.93 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 6.9 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 6.86 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 6.83 | -0.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 6.83 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.54, 91% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 6.83 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.36, 1.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.37 | 7.21 | 7.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.04 | 6.86 | 7.19 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.83 | 6.83 | 6.83 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 461 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United Kingdom?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United Kingdom was 6.83 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 7.55 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.83 in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- United Kingdom ranks 121st out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).