Prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — Value in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — Value was 16.6 % in 2020. ▬ Flat
Prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — Value in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 16.6 % for prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value in South Africa peaked at 17.2 % in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.6 %, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 18th of 146 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — Value in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.2 % | — |
| 2001 | 17.2 % | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 17.2 % | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 17.1 % | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 17.1 % | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 17 % | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 16.9 % | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 16.8 % | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 16.8 % | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 16.8 % | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 16.7 % | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 16.7 % | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 16.6 % | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.6 % | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.01 % | 16.8 % | 17.2 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.62 % | 16.6 % | 16.7 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6 % | 16.6 % | 16.6 % | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value in South Africa?
- Prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value in South Africa was 16.6 % in 2020, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2 % in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6 % in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 146 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — value rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of low birthweight (percent) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.