Low Birth Weight Rate 2009

Low birth weight rate highlights newborns under 2,500 grams, affecting survival and health outcomes.

157 data points••Global Coverage•Low-birthweight babies (% of births)•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
India flag
India
30.255 %
2
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
24.598 %
3
Comoros flag
Comoros
24.519 %
4
Guinea-Bissau flag
Guinea-Bissau
22.485 %
5
Nepal flag
Nepal
21.439 %
6
Philippines flag
Philippines
21.09 %
7
Liberia flag
Liberia
19.736 %
8
Senegal flag
Senegal
19.7 %
9
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
19.604 %
10
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
19.386 %
11
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
19.345 %
12
Côte d'Ivoire flag
Côte d'Ivoire
19.286 %
13
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
18.761 %
14
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
18.758 %
15
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
18.489 %
16
Benin flag
Benin
17.813 %
17
Botswana flag
Botswana
17.754 %
18
Laos flag
Laos
17.29 %
19
Timor-Leste flag
Timor-Leste
16.834 %
20
Guyana flag
Guyana
16.827 %
21
South Africa flag
South Africa
16.75 %
22
Morocco flag
Morocco
16.681 %
23
Jordan flag
Jordan
16.265 %
24
Namibia flag
Namibia
16.137 %
25
Angola flag
Angola
15.946 %
26
Malawi flag
Malawi
15.87 %
27
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
15.655 %
28
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
15.624 %
29
Saint Lucia flag
Saint Lucia
15.614 %
30
Eritrea flag
Eritrea
15.477 %
31
Togo flag
Togo
15.412 %
32
Suriname flag
Suriname
15.299 %
33
Burundi flag
Burundi
15.238 %
34
Ghana flag
Ghana
15.231 %
35
Gabon flag
Gabon
15.109 %
36
Bahamas flag
Bahamas
15.106 %
37
Antigua and Barbuda flag
Antigua and Barbuda
14.851 %
38
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
14.769 %
39
Turkey flag
Turkey
14.51 %
40
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
14.506 %
41
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
14.3 %
42
Gambia flag
Gambia
13.862 %
43
Maldives flag
Maldives
13.799 %
44
Palau flag
Palau
13.688 %
45
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
13.577 %
46
Oman flag
Oman
13.331 %
47
Solomon Islands flag
Solomon Islands
13.2 %
48
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
13.116 %
49
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
12.981 %
50
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
12.966 %
51
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
12.736 %
52
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
12.623 %
53
Vanuatu flag
Vanuatu
12.571 %
54
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
12.555 %
55
Zambia flag
Zambia
12.296 %
56
Seychelles flag
Seychelles
12.27 %
57
Honduras flag
Honduras
12.175 %
58
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
12.156 %
59
Congo flag
Congo
11.951 %
60
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
11.904 %
61
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
11.764 %
62
Bhutan flag
Bhutan
11.761 %
63
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
11.63 %
64
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
11.414 %
65
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
11.256 %
66
Belize flag
Belize
11.117 %
67
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
11.106 %
68
Japan flag
Japan
11.026 %
69
Panama flag
Panama
11.011 %
70
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
10.96 %
71
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
10.946 %
72
Kenya flag
Kenya
10.937 %
73
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
10.857 %
74
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
10.734 %
75
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
10.698 %
76
Iraq flag
Iraq
10.671 %
77
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
10.631 %
78
Singapore flag
Singapore
10.61 %
79
Thailand flag
Thailand
10.59 %
80
Greece flag
Greece
10.541 %
81
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Sao Tome and Principe
10.517 %
82
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
10.444 %
83
Colombia flag
Colombia
10.302 %
84
Mexico flag
Mexico
10.139 %
85
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
10.045 %
86
Qatar flag
Qatar
9.865 %
87
State of Palestine flag
State of Palestine
9.658 %
88
Romania flag
Romania
9.654 %
89
Israel flag
Israel
9.538 %
90
Tajikistan flag
Tajikistan
9.486 %
91
Kiribati flag
Kiribati
9.416 %
92
Spain flag
Spain
9.287 %
93
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
9.115 %
94
Andorra flag
Andorra
8.979 %
95
Venezuela flag
Venezuela
8.919 %
96
Peru flag
Peru
8.785 %
97
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
8.459 %
98
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
8.456 %
99
Hungary flag
Hungary
8.411 %
100
Brazil flag
Brazil
8.273 %
101
Armenia flag
Armenia
8.231 %
102
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
8.22 %
103
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
8.138 %
104
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
8.129 %
105
United States flag
United States
8.094 %
106
Portugal flag
Portugal
8.051 %
107
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
8.012 %
108
France flag
France
7.548 %
109
Fiji flag
Fiji
7.395 %
110
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
7.349 %
111
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
7.317 %
112
Argentina flag
Argentina
7.264 %
113
Russia flag
Russia
7.231 %
114
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
7.212 %
115
Cuba flag
Cuba
7.169 %
116
Monaco flag
Monaco
7.165 %
117
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
7.094 %
118
Belgium flag
Belgium
7.028 %
119
Italy flag
Italy
6.932 %
120
Malta flag
Malta
6.873 %
121
Algeria flag
Algeria
6.839 %
122
Germany flag
Germany
6.833 %
123
Austria flag
Austria
6.766 %
124
Georgia flag
Georgia
6.754 %
125
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
6.56 %
126
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
6.501 %
127
Montenegro flag
Montenegro
6.384 %
128
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
6.353 %
129
Australia flag
Australia
6.346 %
130
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
6.227 %
131
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
6.198 %
132
Canada flag
Canada
6.091 %
133
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
6.067 %
134
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
6.064 %
135
Albania flag
Albania
5.981 %
136
Serbia flag
Serbia
5.962 %
137
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
5.947 %
138
Chile flag
Chile
5.903 %
139
South Korea flag
South Korea
5.876 %
140
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
5.872 %
141
Poland flag
Poland
5.807 %
142
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
5.758 %
143
Ireland flag
Ireland
5.259 %
144
China flag
China
5.224 %
145
Denmark flag
Denmark
5.18 %
146
Turkmenistan flag
Turkmenistan
5.131 %
147
Bosnia and Herzegovina flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
5.13 %
148
Belarus flag
Belarus
5.031 %
149
Croatia flag
Croatia
4.99 %
150
Norway flag
Norway
4.818 %
151
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
4.673 %
152
Latvia flag
Latvia
4.629 %
153
Estonia flag
Estonia
4.432 %
154
Sweden flag
Sweden
4.233 %
155
Finland flag
Finland
4.131 %
156
San Marino flag
San Marino
3.972 %
157
Iceland flag
Iceland
3.754 %

↑Top 10 Countries

  1. #1India flagIndia
  2. #2Bangladesh flagBangladesh
  3. #3Comoros flagComoros
  4. #4Guinea-Bissau flagGuinea-Bissau
  5. #5Nepal flagNepal
  6. #6Philippines flagPhilippines
  7. #7Liberia flagLiberia
  8. #8Senegal flagSenegal
  9. #9Madagascar flagMadagascar
  10. #10Mauritius flagMauritius

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #157Iceland flagIceland
  2. #156San Marino flagSan Marino
  3. #155Finland flagFinland
  4. #154Sweden flagSweden
  5. #153Estonia flagEstonia
  6. #152Latvia flagLatvia
  7. #151Lithuania flagLithuania
  8. #150Norway flagNorway
  9. #149Croatia flagCroatia
  10. #148Belarus flagBelarus

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Analysis & Context

In 2009, the country with the highest Low Birth Weight Rate was India at 30.25%, while Iceland reported the lowest at 3.75%. The global range for this metric spanned from 3.75% to 30.25%. The average Low Birth Weight Rate across the 157 countries with available data was 11.07%, providing a benchmark for international comparisons.

Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Low Birth Weight Rates

The prevalence of low birth weight is often intertwined with socioeconomic conditions. Countries like India and Bangladesh, with rates of 30.25% and 24.60% respectively, face challenges such as poverty, limited access to healthcare, and higher rates of maternal malnutrition. These factors contribute significantly to the elevated rates of low birth weight.

Conversely, countries with robust healthcare systems and higher socioeconomic standings, such as Iceland at 3.75% and San Marino at 3.97%, benefit from comprehensive prenatal care and better maternal health, resulting in lower incidences of low birth weight.

Geographic and Environmental Impacts

Geographic and environmental factors also play a crucial role. In Comoros and Guinea-Bissau, with rates of 24.52% and 22.49% respectively, geographic isolation and environmental challenges can hinder access to healthcare services, impacting maternal and newborn health outcomes.

In contrast, Nordic countries such as Finland and Sweden, with rates of 4.13% and 4.23%, benefit from centralized healthcare policies and environmental stability, which contribute to lower rates of low birth weight.

Policy and Healthcare Interventions

Effective policy interventions are vital in reducing low birth weight rates. Countries with lower rates, such as Norway at 4.82% and Estonia at 4.43%, often have policies promoting maternal health, including access to prenatal vitamins, maternal education, and healthcare subsidies.

In contrast, countries with higher rates, like Liberia at 19.74% and Senegal at 19.70%, may lack the resources or infrastructure to implement effective maternal health policies, impacting the prevalence of low birth weight.

Year-over-Year Trends and Changes

Analyzing year-over-year trends, India showed a notable decrease, with a reduction of 0.26% in its Low Birth Weight Rate. This change may be attributed to modest improvements in maternal healthcare and nutrition programs. Similarly, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal experienced declines of 0.24% and 0.23% respectively, indicating progress in addressing maternal health issues.

Conversely, countries like Jordan and Kuwait saw increases of 0.20% and 0.19%, respectively. These increases might reflect challenges in healthcare access or socioeconomic disruptions, affecting maternal and infant health outcomes.

The analysis of Low Birth Weight Rates in 2009 reveals significant disparities driven by socioeconomic, geographic, and policy factors. Understanding these influences is crucial for international efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes globally.

Frequently Asked Questions About Low Birth Weight Rate in 2009

Which country had the highest low birth weight rate in 2009?

India had the highest low birth weight rate in 2009, with a rate of 30.25%.

Which country had the lowest low birth weight rate in 2009?

Iceland had the lowest low birth weight rate in 2009, with a rate of 3.75%.

What was the average low birth weight rate across countries in 2009?

The average low birth weight rate across the 157 countries in 2009 was 11.07%.

What was the median low birth weight rate in 2009?

The median low birth weight rate in 2009 was 10.59%.

Which countries were in the top 3 for low birth weight rates in 2009?

The top 3 countries for low birth weight rates in 2009 were India (30.25%), Bangladesh (24.6%), and Comoros (24.52%).

What was the range of low birth weight rates in 2009?

In 2009, the range of low birth weight rates spanned from 3.75% in Iceland to 30.25% in India.

Insights by country

1

India

In 2009, India had the highest Low Birth Weight Rate globally at 30.25460284 %, ranking #1 out of 157 countries. This rate is significantly higher than the global average, indicating serious public health challenges. Key drivers include high rates of maternal malnutrition, limited access to healthcare, and socio-economic disparities that affect pregnant women's health. Additionally, India’s large population and diverse regional disparities exacerbate these issues, complicating efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

2

Netherlands

In 2009, the Netherlands had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 6.226674547 %, ranking #130 out of 157 countries. This rate is higher than many neighboring countries, indicating potential challenges in maternal and infant health. Contributing factors may include the country's diverse population and varying access to healthcare services, as well as socio-economic disparities that can impact prenatal care.

3

Zambia

Zambia had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 12.29642585 % in 2009, ranking #55 out of 157 countries. This rate is higher than the global average, indicating significant public health challenges. Contributing factors include inadequate maternal nutrition, high rates of infectious diseases, and limited access to quality prenatal care, which are prevalent in many regions of Zambia.

4

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 10.94595426 % in 2009, ranking #71 out of 157 countries. This rate is higher than the global average, indicating potential health challenges for newborns in the region.

Factors contributing to this statistic include economic transitions affecting healthcare access and maternal nutrition, as well as demographic trends such as urbanization and changes in family planning practices. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving maternal and child health outcomes in Azerbaijan.

5

Bolivia

In 2009, Bolivia had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 8.45903729 %, ranking #97 out of 157 countries. This rate is higher than the global average, indicating potential health challenges for newborns in the country. Contributing factors include limited access to healthcare services, high levels of poverty, and nutritional deficiencies among pregnant women, which are prevalent in rural areas of Bolivia.

6

Morocco

In 2009, Morocco had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 16.68051288 %, ranking #22 out of 157 countries. This rate is higher than the global average, indicating potential health challenges for newborns in the country. Contributing factors include socioeconomic disparities, access to healthcare, and nutritional deficiencies among pregnant women, which are prevalent in certain regions of Morocco.

7

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 5.130173006 % in 2009, ranking #147 out of 157 countries. This rate is notably higher than the global average, indicating potential public health challenges. Contributing factors include economic instability and healthcare access issues, which can impact maternal health and prenatal care quality.

8

Malawi

In 2009, Malawi had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 15.87034354 %, ranking #26 out of 157 countries. This rate is notably higher than the global average, indicating significant challenges in maternal and infant health. Contributing factors include high rates of malnutrition among pregnant women and limited access to quality prenatal care, exacerbated by economic constraints and health system weaknesses.

9

El Salvador

In 2009, El Salvador had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 10.44359146 %, ranking #82 out of 157 countries. This rate is higher than the global average, indicating significant health challenges compared to more developed nations. Contributing factors include limited access to prenatal care, high rates of poverty, and nutritional deficiencies among pregnant women, which impact maternal and infant health in the country.

10

Slovenia

In 2009, Slovenia had a Low Birth Weight Rate of 6.067310038 %, ranking #133 out of 157 countries. This rate is higher than the European average, indicating potential health concerns for newborns in the region. Contributing factors include Slovenia's relatively high rates of maternal smoking and economic pressures that may affect prenatal care access.

Data Source

Low-birthweight babies (% of births)

The World Bank provides global development data, including statistics on low-birthweight babies as a percentage of total births. This dataset offers insights into maternal and child health across various countries, highlighting public health challenges and trends.

Visit Data Source

Historical Data by Year

Explore Low Birth Weight Rate data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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