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

Western Africa (UNSDG): Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns was 14.26 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
14.26
Change on year
down 0.7%
Rank
51st
of 156 groups
All-time high
16.39
in 2000
All-time low
14.26
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

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

0510152000201020202000: 16.42001: 16.22002: 16.22003: 162004: 15.92005: 15.82006: 15.62007: 15.52008: 15.42009: 15.32010: 15.22011: 152012: 152013: 14.92014: 14.82015: 14.72016: 14.62017: 14.52018: 14.42019: 14.42020: 14.3

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Western Africa (UNSDG) is 14.26, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Western Africa (UNSDG) peaked at 16.39 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.26, in 2020.

Western Africa (UNSDG) ranks 51st 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 Western Africa (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Western Africa (UNSDG), 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 16.39
2001 16.25 -0.9%
2002 16.15 -0.6%
2003 16 -0.9%
2004 15.86 -0.9%
2005 15.76 -0.6%
2006 15.61 -1.0%
2007 15.52 -0.6%
2008 15.36 -1.0%
2009 15.27 -0.6%
2010 15.19 -0.5%
2011 15.04 -1.0%
2012 14.96 -0.5%
2013 14.86 -0.7%
2014 14.76 -0.7%
2015 14.68 -0.6%
2016 14.59 -0.6%
2017 14.5 -0.6%
2018 14.44 -0.4%
2019 14.36 -0.5%
2020 14.26 -0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.82 15.27 16.39 10
2010s 14.74 14.36 15.19 10
2020s 14.26 14.26 14.26 1

Countries ranked near Western Africa (UNSDG)

  1. 48 Gambia 13.25 compare
  2. 49 Oman 13.24 compare
  3. 50 Solomon Islands 13.23 compare
  4. 51 Honduras 13.09 compare
  5. 52 Vanuatu 13.06 compare
  6. 53 Türkiye 12.9 compare
  7. 54 Lebanon 12.6 compare

See the full ranking of 313 places →

More health data for Western Africa (UNSDG)

All data for Western Africa (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Western Africa (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns in Western Africa (UNSDG) was 14.26 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Western Africa (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 16.39 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns recorded in Western Africa (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 14.26 in 2020.
How does Western Africa (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns?
Western Africa (UNSDG) ranks 51st out of 156 groups with data for 2020.
Is prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns rising or falling in Western Africa (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Western 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 Western Africa (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-low-birth-weight-among-new-borns/western-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