Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions): Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 13.42 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
13.42
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
76th
of 156 groups
All-time high
15.59
in 2000
All-time low
13.42
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000–2020

0510152000201020202000: 15.62001: 15.52002: 15.42003: 15.22004: 15.12005: 152006: 14.92007: 14.82008: 14.62009: 14.52010: 14.42011: 14.32012: 14.22013: 14.12014: 142015: 13.92016: 13.82017: 13.72018: 13.62019: 13.52020: 13.4

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) recorded 13.42 for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) peaked at 15.59 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.42, in 2020.

West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 76th of 156 groups on this measure, 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 West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 15.59
2001 15.47 -0.8%
2002 15.39 -0.5%
2003 15.24 -1.0%
2004 15.11 -0.8%
2005 15.01 -0.7%
2006 14.87 -0.9%
2007 14.78 -0.6%
2008 14.62 -1.1%
2009 14.52 -0.7%
2010 14.44 -0.6%
2011 14.3 -1.0%
2012 14.19 -0.7%
2013 14.09 -0.7%
2014 13.99 -0.7%
2015 13.9 -0.7%
2016 13.78 -0.8%
2017 13.67 -0.8%
2018 13.59 -0.6%
2019 13.5 -0.7%
2020 13.42 -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.06 14.52 15.59 10
2010s 13.95 13.5 14.44 10
2020s 13.42 13.42 13.42 1

Countries ranked near West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

  1. 73 Ecuador 10.63 compare
  2. 74 Palestine, State of 10.37 compare
  3. 75 Sierra Leone 10.34 compare
  4. 76 Thailand 10.3 compare
  5. 77 Panama 10.28 compare
  6. 78 Cook Islands 10.26 compare
  7. 79 El Salvador 10.22 compare

See the full ranking of 313 places →

More health data for West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

All data for West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) was 13.42 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The highest recorded value was 15.59 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The lowest recorded value was 13.42 in 2020.
How does West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 76th out of 156 groups with data for 2020.
Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this West and Central Africa (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 West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-low-birth-weight-among-new-borns/west-and-central-africa-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