Australia's mothers and babies data visualisations

Birthweight is an important indicator of an infant’s health. Low birthweight (birthweight less than 2,500 grams) has been associated with increases in illness and death in infancy and into adulthood.

Nine in ten babies are born with a normal birthweight (birthweight between 2,500 and 4,499 grams). 6.8% of all babies were low birthweight—6.7% of liveborn babies and 86% of stillborn babies. 

Pre-term birth is closely linked with low birthweight—3 in 4 liveborn low birthweight babies were pre-term (gestational age before 37 completed weeks).

The proportion of liveborn low birthweight babies was higher among babies born to mothers who lived in the lowest socioeconomic areas than babies born to mothers who lived in the highest socioeconomic areas.