UNICEF-WHO Low Birthweight Estimates: Levels and Trends 2000-2015

This data publication from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provides annual estimates from 2000 and 2015 of low-birthweight newborns in 147 countries worldwide. Low birthweight puts babies at higher risk of dying in their first 28 days of life, and low-birthweight infants that survive are more likely to suffer from stunted growth and lower IQ during childhood, and chronic conditions—like obesity and diabetes—as adults. The World Health Assembly’s member states made a global commitment to reduce low birthweight by 30 percent between 2012 and 2025; however, reporting on progress remains a challenge as the availability and quality of data vary widely among countries. The WHO-UNICEF estimates indicate that one in seven live births, or 20.5 million babies globally, suffered from low birthweight in 2015, with nearly half of those in Southern Asia. These data suggest that progress has stagnated in reducing low birthweight between 2000 and 2015, which in turn will slow global progress in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to child health and nutrition. This publication offers statistics about the prevalence of low birthweight, updates on global goals and progress toward reaching them, analysis related to the challenges of data collection and reporting, and information to inform future national, regional, and global efforts. Annexes provide data tables with global, regional, and country-level data as well as methodological notes. Users can also download these data or explore country prevalence, country trends, and regional trends using UNICEF’s interactive data dashboard.