Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United States
United States: Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 8.26 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United States, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United States is 8.26, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United States peaked at 8.26 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.85, in 2000.
United States ranks 102nd of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.85 | — |
| 2001 | 7.87 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 7.89 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 7.92 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 7.94 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 7.96 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 7.99 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 8.02 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 8.06 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 8.09 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 8.12 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 8.14 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 8.15 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.17 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 8.18 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 8.18 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 8.19 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 8.2 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 8.22 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 8.24 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 8.26 | +0.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 8.26 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.54, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.96 | 7.85 | 8.09 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.18 | 8.12 | 8.24 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.26 | 8.26 | 8.26 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United States?
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in United States was 8.26 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 8.26 in 2020.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.85 in 2000.
- How does United States rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
- United States ranks 102nd out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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).