Birthweight

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ On this page

  1. Overview
  2. Birthweight by perinatal outcome, babies born in NSW 2020–2024
  3. Data
  4. Related links

Overview

Between 2020 and 2024, 92.8% of liveborn surviving babies born in NSW were reported to have a healthy birthweight (2,500–4,499 grams), while 6.0% were born with a low birthweight (less than 2,500 grams). Among babies who were stillborn, 13.9% were a healthy birthweight and 75.6% were a low birthweight. Among babies who died in the neonatal period, 12.1% were a healthy birthweight and 66.5% were a low birthweight.

Variations in birthweight observed across local health districts should be interpreted with caution as maternity and neonatal service capability levels differ across districts. Women identified as being at risk of premature birth or with higher risk pregnancies may be transferred to a hospital with a higher maternity and neonatal service capability level prior to the birth of the baby. These transfers ensure women and babies receive the safest and most appropriate care, but they can also influence differences in outcomes, including birthweight data reported for local health districts with higher interstate referrals, especially those close to the borders of the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Queensland.

Analysis of 2023 data from the NSW Perinatal Data Collection and the AIHW National Perinatal Data Collection shows that the largest discrepancies in low birthweight rates​ between babies born in NSW and those born interstate occur in Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW, Far West, and Northern NSW Local Health Districts.

​Birthweight by perinatal outcome, babies born in NSW 2020–2024

By number of babies

​Birthweight group 
 Birthweight (grams) Livebirth surviving Stillborn Neonatal death1 Total births
​Low
 Less than 500431,0261621,231
​Low
 500–9991,0717452872,103
​Low
 1,000–1,4992,074253492,376
​​Low​​
 1,500–1,9995,162200395,402
​​Low
 2,000–2,49919,1351783219,345
​Low​​
 Total births27,4852,40256930,457
​Healthy
 2,500–2,99977,4341893277,655
Healthy
 3,000–3,499174,68615932174,877
​​Healthy
 3,500–3,999133,9897232134,093
​​Healthy​
 4,000–4,49937,41921837,448
​​Healthy
 Total births423,528441104424,073
​High
 4,500+5,098
n.p.
n.p.
5,114
​High
 Total births5,098n.p.
n.p.
5,114
​Not stated
 Total births278n.p.
n.p.
778
​Total births 
 Total births456,3893,176856460,422

By percentage of babies​

​Birthweight​ group
 Birthweight (grams) Livebirth surviving Stillborn Neonatal death1​ Total births
​Low
 Less than 5000.032.318.9​​0.3
​Low
 500–9990.223.533.50.5
​Low
 1,000–1,4990.58.05.70.5
​Low
 1,500–1,9991.16.34.61.2
​Low
 2,000–2,4994.25.63.74.2
​Low
 Total births6.075.666.56.6
​Healthy
 2,500–2,99917.06.03.716.9
​​Healthy​​
 3,000–3,49938.35.03.738.0
​​Healthy
 3,500–3,99929.42.33.729.1
​Healthy​​ 4,000–4,4998.20.70.98.1
​​Healthy
 Total births92.813.912.192.1
​High
 4,500+1.1n.p.
n.p.
1.1
​High
 Total births1.1n.p.
n.p.
1.1
​Not stated
 Total births0.1n.p.
n.p.
0.2
​Total births
 Total births100.0100.0100.0100.0

Source: NSW Perinatal Data Collection (SAPHaRI). Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health.

  1. ​Neonatal deaths are deaths that occurred before the baby was discharged or transferred. Deaths occurring after discharge or transfer are not reported to the NSW Perinatal Data Collection and are not reflected in this data.​

Notes:

  • This report includes stillbirths and neonatal deaths within the scope of the NSW Perinatal Data Collection (which includes births from 20 weeks gestation or babies of at least 400 grams birthweight), which includes some terminations of pregnancy.
  • Women living in NSW border local health districts may give birth interstate due to personal choice, proximity to maternity care, or transfer for higher-level maternity or neonatal care. These births are not included in this report, and this may affect reported rates. For more information, refer to: Location of residence​.​​ 
  • Cells with counts less than 5 are suppressed, and other cells may also be hidden to prevent back-calculation. These cells are marked with n.p.

Data

Baby outcomes – Birthweight​

  • Birthweight, babies born in NSW 2020–2024
  • Birthweight by local health district of residence, babies born in NSW 2024
  • Birthweight by local health district of hospital, babies born in NSW 2024
  • Birthweight by maternity service capability level and hospital, babies born in NSW 2024
  • Birthweight by perinatal outcome, babies born in NSW 2020–2024
  • Birthweight by baby's Aboriginal status, babies born in NSW 2020–2024
  • Birthweight, Aboriginal babies by local health district of residence, babies born in NSW 2024
  • Low birthweight rate among live births reported to the NSW Perinatal Data Collection (PDC) and National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC) by local health district of mother's usual residence, 2023

HealthStats NSW – Birthweight status​

Current as at: Monday 18 May 2026
Contact page owner: Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence