Low birthweight babies – definitions and statistics
A baby weighing less than 2,500 grams is considered a low birthweight baby. The following chart details the classifications of low birthweight, according to the baby’s weight at birth.
| Low birthweight baby | Weighs less than 2,500 (5.5 lbs) |
| Very low birthweight baby | Weighs less than 1,500 (3.0 lbs) |
| Extremely low birthweight baby | Weighs less than 1,000 (2.2 lbs) |
In Great Britain, the percentage of live births with low birthweight is greater than seven per cent. What’s more, extremely low birthweight babies represent more than one per cent of live births.
Total percentage of live births with a stated birthweight – 2006/2007
| Weight | England | Scotland | Wales |
| Less than 1,500g | 1.20% | 1.08% | 1.00% |
| Less than 2,500g | 7.20% | 6.93% | 7.30% |
Source for England and Wales: Office for National Statistics
Source for Scotland: SMR02 ISD Scotland
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