Share of babies born with a low birthweight in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Share of babies born with a low birthweight was 11.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of babies born with a low birthweight in Sao Tome and Principe, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of births.
Analysis
In 2020, share of babies born with a low birthweight in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 11.1%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of babies born with a low birthweight in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 11.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2000.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 68th 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.
Share of babies born with a low birthweight in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.1% | — |
| 2001 | 10.1% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 10.2% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 10.2% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 10.3% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 10.3% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 10.4% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 10.5% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 10.5% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 10.6% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 10.6% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 10.6% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 10.7% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 10.9% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 10.9% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 11.0% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 11.0% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.3% | 10.1% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.8% | 10.6% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.1% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More population data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2548 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -8.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2548 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 34,182 people (2100)
- Population density 556.27 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.518 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of babies born with a low birthweight in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Share of babies born with a low birthweight in Sao Tome and Principe was 11.1% in 2020, according to UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of babies born with a low birthweight recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 11.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of babies born with a low birthweight recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2000.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for share of babies born with a low birthweight?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 68th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of babies born with a low birthweight rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of babies born with a low birthweight. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated percentage of newborn babies that weigh under 2.5kg. These babies are more likely to suffer poor health and stunted growth.