Share of low birthweight babies born in South Africa
South Africa: Share of low birthweight babies born was 16.64 in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
16.64
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
21st
of 157 countries
All-time high
17.18
in 2000
All-time low
16.6
in 2015
Years of data
21
2000–2020
Share of low birthweight babies born in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, share of low birthweight babies born in South Africa stood at 16.64.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of low birthweight babies born in South Africa peaked at 17.18 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.6, in 2015.
That places South Africa 21st out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of low birthweight babies born in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.18 | — |
| 2001 | 17.18 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 17.16 | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 17.12 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 17.06 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 16.98 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 16.91 | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 16.85 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 16.79 | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 16.75 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 16.7 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 16.66 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 16.63 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 16.61 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 16.6 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 16.6 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 16.62 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 16.63 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 16.63 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 16.64 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.64 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 16.64 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.06, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 16.64 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.78, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17 | 16.75 | 17.18 | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.63 | 16.6 | 16.7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.64 | 16.64 | 16.64 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of low birthweight babies born in South Africa?
- Share of low birthweight babies born in South Africa was 16.64 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of low birthweight babies born recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.18 in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of low birthweight babies born recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6 in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for share of low birthweight babies born?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of low birthweight babies born rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of low birthweight babies born. 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).