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Low Birth Weight

Summary Indicator Report Data View Options

Year1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120220.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%4.0%5.0%6.0%7.0%8.0%9.0%Percentage of Live BirthsLow Birth Weight by Year, New Jersey and the United States, 1990 to 2022New JerseyUnited States
Year200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120220.0%0.5%1.0%1.5%2.0%2.5%3.0%Percentage of Full Term Singleton BirthsLow Birth Weight by Year, among Term Singletons, New Jersey and the United States, 2000 to 2022New JerseyUnited States
Year1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120220.0%2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%10.0%12.0%14.0%16.0%Percentage of Live BirthsLow Birth Weight by Mother's Race/Ethnicity, New Jersey, 1990 to 2022WhiteBlackHispanicAsian

Low Birth Weight by County of Residence, New Jersey, 2022

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Percentage of Live Births

30 km
20 mi
Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors

Low Birth Weight by County of Residence, among Term Singletons, New Jersey, 2022

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Overlays

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Choropleth

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Percentage of Full Term Singleton Births

30 km
20 mi
Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors

Why Is This Important?

Low birth weight (LBW) increases the risk for infant morbidity and mortality. LBW infants are at greater risk of dying in the first month of life. LBW infants may require intensive care at birth and are at higher risk of developmental disabilities and chronic illnesses throughout life. They are more likely to require special education services. Health care costs and length of hospital stay are higher for LBW infants.

Definition

Percent of live births with a birth weight of less than 2,500 grams (approximately 5 lbs, 8 oz).

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:Number of live births with a birth weight of less than 2,500 grams
Denominator:Total number of live births

How Are We Doing?

The average birth weight of New Jersey infants born in 2022 was 3,251.5 grams or 7 lbs 3 oz. The overall low birth weight (LBW) rate reached an all time high of 8.4% in 2011 but has since declined below 8%.

Black mothers are more likely to deliver LBW (13%) infants than are other racial/ethnic groups (6-9%). LBW rates for New Jersey's counties ranged from 5.5% in Morris to 9.6% in Cumberland County.

Birth weight is highly correlated with plurality and gestational age. While 2.4% of full term singletons were of LBW, 22.3% of full term twins were born at a weight below 2,500 grams in 2022.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The low birth weight rate among New Jersey mothers is below that of the nation as a whole.

What Is Being Done?

The Division of Family Health Services in the New Jersey Department of Health administers programs to enhance the health, safety, and well-being of families and communities in New Jersey. Several programs are aimed at improving birth outcomes.

The Nurture NJ Strategic Plan sets forth recommendations to improve the health of New Jersey mothers and babies.

More Resources

Visit the NJSHAD Birth Data Query to create your own tables, graphs, and maps of birthweight by demographic, maternal, infant, health care services, and geographic characteristics.

National Center for Health Statistics Birthweight and Gestation Fast Stats

Womack LS, Rossen LM, Martin JA. Singleton low birthweight rates, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2006-2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 306. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.

Indicator Data Last Updated On 04/09/2024, Published on 06/12/2024
Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360, e-mail: chs@doh.nj.gov (https://www.nj.gov/health/chs)