Share of babies born with a low birthweight in South Africa
South Africa: Share of babies born with a low birthweight was 16.6% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of babies born with a low birthweight in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 16.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of babies born with a low birthweight in South Africa peaked at 17.2% 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 babies born with a low birthweight in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.2% | — |
| 2001 | 17.2% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 17.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 17.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 16.9% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 16.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 16.7% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 16.7% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 16.6% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 16.6% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 16.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.0% | 16.8% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 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)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of babies born with a low birthweight in South Africa?
- Share of babies born with a low birthweight in South Africa was 16.6% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of babies born with a low birthweight recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for share of babies born with a low birthweight?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of babies born with a low birthweight 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 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.