Indicators | HOPE Initiative

HOPE Data by Indicator.

Portion of infants weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth

Indicator Summary Score

100

NOT AVAILABLE

Numbers listed on the maps are indicator summary scores, which measure how far a state has to go to meet the HOPE Goal (Distance to Goal) and how much variation there is across racial and ethnic groups within the state on the measure (Racial Inequity). Scores range from 0 to 100 with 100 indicating the state with the best combined performance. Hovering over a state reveals information on Distance to Goal and Racial Inequity separately.

National Rate

of infants are born with low birth weight

Hope Goal

Infants born with low birth weight

121,422

Distance to Goal:

Fewer low-weight births would need to happen per year to achieve the HOPE Goal

Why it Matters.

Reducing low birthweight in infants minimizes physical and mental morbidities experienced by low birthweight babies, and it reduces healthcare costs and hospitalization expenses later in life.

Indicator Summary

Hispanic and White infants have lower rates of low birth weight compared to other racial/ethnic groups with 7.5% and 6.9% of infants, respectively, weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth.
Black infants have a higher rate of low birth weight compared to other racial/ethnic groups with 14.2% of infants weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth.
Five states in the West (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho) and three states in the Midwest (North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota) are among the top ten states with the lowest rates of infant low birth weight.
Eight states in the South (Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, District of Columbia, South Carolina, West Virginia, and North Carolina) are among the bottom ten states with the highest rates of infant low birth weight.

* Rates were suppressed for American Indians/Alaskan Native respondents in District of Columbia due to there being less than 40 births over the five-year period.

Health Outcomes

Social & Economic Factors

Community & Safety Factors

Physical Environment

Access to Health Care