Healthy Birthweight

DCYF’s first health outcome is that more babies will be born at a healthy birthweight. Babies born at a healthy birthweight are more likely to experience appropriate childhood development, both physically and mentally. About 83,000 babies were born in Washington in 2024. Over the past five years, about 69 babies out of every 1,000 live births were born with a low birthweight (less than 2,500 grams, or about 5.5 pounds). In 2024, rates ranged from a low of 27.8 per 1,000 live births in Wahkiakum county to a high of 84.4 in Pacific county. The King county rate was 71.3, the Pierce county rate was 71.0, the Snohomish county rate was 69.6, the Clark county rate was 68.8, and the Spokane county rate was 69.1 per 1,000 live births.

Babies Born with Low Birthweight, per 1,000 Live Births, 5 Year Rate, 2019-2024

Babies Born with Low Birthweight, per 1,000 Live Births, 5 Year Rate, 2019-2024

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State Source: Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, Birth Certificate Data File
Notes: Map created using data from Starks, A., Sharkova, I., Leibenguth, S., & Huber, A. (2026). Community outcome & risk evaluation: Risk and protection profile for substance abuse prevention in Washington State. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Research and Data Analysis. https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/data/riskprofiles/research-4.47-state.pdf
Low birthweight is less than 2,500 grams.