Line Chart: Low Birth Weight Among Infants, by Race/Ethnicity: 1985-2003*

(Percent of Live Births)

Non-Hispanic Black
1985: 13; 1986: 13.1; 1987: 13.5; 1988: 13.5; 1989: 13.5; 1990: 13.6; 1991: 13.7; 1992: 13.9; 1993: 13; 1994: 13; 1995: 12.8; 1996: 12.5; 1997: 12.9; 1998: 12.8; 1999: 13.2; 2000: 13.1; 2001: 13; 2002: 13.4; 2003: 13.6

Asian/Pacific Islander
1985: 6.2; 1986: 6.3; 1987: 6.2; 1988: 6.1; 1989: 6.3; 1990: 6.3; 1991: 6.3; 1992: 6.5; 1993: 6.5; 1994: 6.8; 1995: 6.9; 1996: 7; 1997: 7.1; 1998: 7.4; 1999: 7.4; 2000: 7.3; 2001: 7.5; 2002: 7.8; 2003: 7.8

American Indian/Alaska Native
1985: 6.1; 1986: 6.1; 1987: 6.5; 1988: 6; 1989: 6.1; 1990: 6; 1991: 6; 1992: 6.2; 1993: 6.3; 1994: 6.5; 1995: 6.6; 1996: 6.6; 1997: 6.5; 1998: 6.6; 1999: 6.5; 2000: 7.2; 2001: 7.3; 2002: 7.2; 2003: 7.4

Non-Hispanic White
1985: 5.9; 1986: 5.9; 1987: 5.9; 1988: 5.9; 1989: 5.9; 1990: 5.9; 1991: 5.9; 1992: 5.9; 1993: 6; 1994: 6.1; 1995: 6.2; 1996: 6.3; 1997: 6.4; 1998: 6.1; 1999: 6.4; 2000: 6; 2001: 6.7; 2002: 6.9; 2003: 7

Hispanic
1985: 6.2; 1986: 6.1; 1987: 6.1; 1988: 6; 1989: 6; 1990: 5.9; 1991: 6.1; 1992: 6; 1993: 6; 1994: 6.1; 1995: 6; 1996: 5.9; 1997: 5.8; 1998: 5.7; 1999: 5.9; 2000: 5.9; 2001: 6.5; 2002: 6.5; 2003: 6.7

*1985-1988 data are based on the race of the infant; data after 1989 are based on the race of the mother.

Source: Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ, Menacker F, Munson ML. Births: final data for 2003. National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 54, No. 2; 2005 Sep.