Global nutrition targets 2025: low birth weight policy brief
30 December 2014
| Policy brief
Overview
Low birth weight is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as weight at birth less than 2500 g (5.5 lb). Low birth weight continues to be a significant public health problem globally and is associated with a range of both short- and long term consequences. Overall, it is estimated that 15% to 20% of all births worldwide are low birth weight, representing more than 20 million births a year.
The goal is to achieve a 30% reduction in the number of infants born with a weight lower than 2500 g by the year 2025. This would translate into a 3% relative reduction per year between 2012 and 2025 and a reduction from approximately 20 million to about 14 million infants with low weight at birth.
WHO Team
Editors
World Health Organization
Number of pages
8
Reference numbers
WHO Reference Number: WHO/NMH/NHD/14.5
Copyright
World Health Organization