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Birth Defect Rate per 1k Births
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Birth Defect Rates by Country 2024
- The estimated rate of heart defects was set by the March of Dimes at 7.9/1000 for every country. This rate is expected to diversify as more data becomes available and more countries implement preventative measures.
- Birth defects are also known in the medical field as congenital disorders, congenital abnormalities, or congenital malformations.
- More than 7,000 possible birth defects have been identified, varying in severity from inconsequential to fatal.
- The most common severe congenital disorders are heart/cardiovascular defects, neural tube defects, hemoglobin disorders (thalassemia and sickle-cell disease), Down syndrome, and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
- The likelihood of birth defects is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, socioeconomics and demographics, and environmental factors such as maternal illnesses and drug use.
- Many congenital disorders are preventable via methods such as vaccinations, proper nutrition, and adequate folic acid or iodine intake during pregnancy.
- Congenital disorders vary in severity. The frequency of the most severe disorders is directly related to a country's overall development. According to March of Dimes, 94% of the births with serious birth defects occur in low- and middle-income countries, as do 95% of the deaths from such defects.
- According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 240,000 newborns die worldwide within 28 days of birth every year due to congenital disorders. Congenital disorders cause a further 170,000 deaths of children between the ages of 1 month and 5 years.
- Besides poverty, reasons for the increased rates of severe birth defects in poor countries include (1) reduced availability and quality of maternal and child health services; (2) increased frequency of consanguineous marriages; (3) higher percentage of older mothers; and (4) higher concentration of a particular gene combination that boosts the chance of surviving malaria (hence its prevalence), but also increases the likelihood of sickle cell and thalassemia disorders.
Country | Birth Defect Rate per 1k Births | Avg Annual Births w/ Defects | Heart Defects per 1k | Neural Tube Def. per 1k | Hemoglobin Def. per 1k | Down Syndrome per 1k | G6PD Def. per 1k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sudan | 82 | 90K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3 |
| Saudi Arabia | 81.3 | 58.1K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 6.7 |
| Benin | 77.9 | 21K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 23.1 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| Burkina Faso | 77 | 43K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 22.4 | 2.1 | 1 |
| Palestine | 76.6 | 10.1K | 7.9 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 |
| United Arab Emirates | 75.9 | 3.1K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 3.4 |
| Iraq | 75.2 | 61.9K | 7.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2 | 3.4 |
| Tajikistan | 75.2 | 11.2K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| Afghanistan | 74.9 | 80.7K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 3.1 |
| Kuwait | 74.9 | 2.6K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 4.7 |
| Syria | 74.8 | 37K | 7.9 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.8 |
| Oman | 74.8 | 7K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 |
| Pakistan | 74.3 | 396.9K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| Nigeria | 73.5 | 345.8K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 18 | 2.1 | 2 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 73.5 | 7.4K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.4 | ||
| Qatar | 73.4 | 734 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| Bahrain | 73.4 | 807 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 5.1 |
| Jordan | 73.3 | 12.4K | 7.9 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Libya | 73.1 | 10.7K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 1.4 |
| Tunisia | 73 | 12.9K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.9 |
| Morocco | 72.7 | 56.3K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.8 |
| Yemen | 72.3 | 68.9K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.9 |
| Guinea | 72.1 | 26.3K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 16.9 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| DR Congo | 71.7 | 179.6K | 7.9 | 2 | 15.6 | 2.1 | 2 |
| Republic of the Congo | 71.7 | 10K | 7.9 | 2 | 15.6 | 2.1 | 2 |
| Angola | 71.5 | 49.9K | 7.9 | 2 | 15.6 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Gabon | 71.5 | 3.4K | 7.9 | 2 | 15.6 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Sierra Leone | 71.3 | 16.7K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 16.7 | 2.1 | 1.7 |
| Djibouti | 70.8 | 1.8K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 2.1 | ||
| Laos | 67.5 | 13.3K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 5.5 |
| Algeria | 66.9 | 50.2K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 0.9 |
| Ghana | 66.6 | 43.5K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 11.4 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 65.9 | 1.3K | 7.9 | 2 | 10 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Egypt | 65.3 | 109.2K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.9 |
| Liberia | 64.9 | 11.2K | 7.9 | 2.8 | 9.6 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Iran | 64.5 | 102.7K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 3.4 |
| Cambodia | 64.5 | 30.9K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 5.9 |
| Niger | 64.4 | 40.2K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 9.8 | 2.1 | 1 |
| India | 64.3 | 1.6M | 7.9 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Azerbaijan | 63.1 | 6.8K | 7.9 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 |
| Togo | 63 | 11.5K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 7.5 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| Lebanon | 63 | 4.3K | 7.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 1.7 |
| Ivory Coast | 62.7 | 36.4K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 2.1 | 2.5 |
| Gambia | 62.5 | 3.2K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 7.9 | 2.1 | 1 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 62.5 | 375 | 7.9 | 2 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 2 |
| Sri Lanka | 62.2 | 20.7K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Turkey | 62 | 88.3K | 7.9 | 3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | |
| Mali | 61.4 | 35.8K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| Senegal | 61.4 | 22.4K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 |
| Guinea Bissau | 61.4 | 3.4K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 6.2 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Bahamas | 61.2 | 367 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 7.7 | 1.7 | 1.2 |
| Uganda | 60.9 | 74.5K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 1.1 |
| Cameroon | 60.8 | 33.9K | 7.9 | 2 | 5.6 | 2.1 | 1.1 |
| Maldives | 60.8 | 670 | 7.9 | 2 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Zambia | 60.6 | 27.1K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 5.6 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Tanzania | 60.5 | 84.3K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 5.6 | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Timor Leste | 60.3 | 140 | 7.9 | 0.7 | 1 | 2.1 | 10.5 |
| Central African Republic | 60.1 | 8.7K | 7.9 | 2 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| Thailand | 59.9 | 70K | 7.9 | 0.7 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 3.6 |
| Nepal | 59.9 | 49.2K | 7.9 | 4.7 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 3.4 |
| Indonesia | 59.3 | 263.2K | 7.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 59.3 | 44 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| San Marino | 59.2 | 17 | 7.9 | 1 | 1.9 | ||
| Bangladesh | 58.6 | 251.2K | 7.9 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1 |
| Jamaica | 58.6 | 3.2K | 7.9 | 1.8 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Myanmar | 58.5 | 68.6K | 7.9 | 0.7 | 4 | 1.7 | 3.1 |
| Haiti | 58.4 | 14.9K | 7.9 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 1.2 |
| Bhutan | 58.4 | 4.4K | 7.9 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 2.1 | |
| Chad | 57.7 | 22.9K | 7.9 | 2 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.1 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 57.4 | 57 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 4 | 1.6 | 1 |
| Mozambique | 57.3 | 45.5K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.4 |
| Madagascar | 57.3 | 39.9K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.4 |
| Brazil | 57.2 | 192.3K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| Saint Lucia | 57 | 171 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Ecuador | 56.8 | 17.5K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 56.8 | 115 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Grenada | 56.7 | 113 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 4 | 1.4 | 1 |
| Burundi | 56.6 | 16.1K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.7 |
| Malawi | 56.3 | 29.6K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| Malaysia | 56 | 29.2K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Zimbabwe | 56 | 25.7K | 7.9 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 2 | 1.3 |
| Barbados | 56 | 168 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 3 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Dominica | 56 | 56 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1 |
| Kenya | 55.8 | 60.3K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.2 |
| Dominican Republic | 55.7 | 11.2K | 7.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Colombia | 55.5 | 54.3K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 55.5 | 944 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| Bolivia | 55.4 | 14.8K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 0.1 |
| Mauritania | 55.2 | 6.6K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 1 |
| Moldova | 55.2 | 2.8K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 1.1 | ||
| Vietnam | 55.1 | 87.3K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
| Turkmenistan | 55.1 | 7K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.4 | ||
| Romania | 55 | 12.8K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | |
| Rwanda | 55 | 17.6K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 |
| Greece | 55 | 5.3K | 7.9 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 2.7 |
| Belarus | 55 | 5K | 7.9 | 2.6 | 1 | ||
| Paraguay | 55 | 9.3K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.7 | 0.1 | |
| Brunei | 54.7 | 382 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2 |
| Peru | 54.6 | 33.1K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.8 | 0.1 | |
| Comoros | 54.6 | 1.5K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Ukraine | 54.5 | 21.8K | 7.9 | 2.1 | 1 | ||
| Honduras | 54.5 | 11.1K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.1 | |
| Papua New Guinea | 54.5 | 9.8K | 7.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Ethiopia | 54.4 | 154.9K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | |
| South Korea | 54.4 | 33.2K | 7.9 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | |
| Somalia | 54.4 | 26.2K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | |
| Eritrea | 54.4 | 8.3K | 7.9 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | |
| Singapore | 54.2 | 2.6K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.1 |
| Belize | 54.2 | 325 | 7.9 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| Uzbekistan | 54.1 | 28.8K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | |
| North Korea | 54.1 | 20.9K | 7.9 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | |
| Kazakhstan | 54.1 | 14.2K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.3 | ||
| Cape Verde | 54.1 | 702 | 7.9 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | |
| Serbia | 53.9 | 6.5K | 7.9 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | |
| Mongolia | 53.9 | 3.1K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.4 | ||
| Botswana | 53.9 | 2.6K | 7.9 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | |
| Lesotho | 53.9 | 3.7K | 7.9 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | |
| Guyana | 53.9 | 915 | 7.9 | 2 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| Montenegro | 53.9 | 6.5K | 7.9 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 53.8 | 2.1K | 7.9 | 1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | |
| Namibia | 53.8 | 3.4K | 7.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 |
| Seychelles | 53.8 | 162 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 1 |
| Cyprus | 53.7 | 590 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Suriname | 53.7 | 430 | 7.9 | 2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| Panama | 53.6 | 3.3K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.7 |
| Georgia | 53.6 | 3K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.2 | 1.2 | |
| Eswatini | 53.6 | 1.7K | 7.9 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.4 | |
| Mauritius | 53.5 | 1K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 |
| South Africa | 53.4 | 59K | 7.9 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.2 | |
| Guatemala | 53.4 | 21.8K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | |
| Armenia | 53.4 | 1.9K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.1 | 1.1 | |
| North Macedonia | 53.4 | 1.3K | 7.9 | 1 | 1 | ||
| El Salvador | 53.1 | 8.9K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | |
| Ireland | 53 | 3K | 7.9 | 2 | 2.3 | ||
| Mexico | 52.9 | 121.5K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.1 | |
| Philippines | 52.9 | 109.2K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.9 | |
| Poland | 52.9 | 19.6K | 7.9 | 2.7 | 1.5 | ||
| Nicaragua | 52.9 | 9.1K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.1 | |
| Albania | 52.9 | 3K | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.3 | |
| Chile | 52.7 | 15.1K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 1.8 | ||
| Uruguay | 52.6 | 3.1K | 7.9 | 1 | 1.7 | ||
| Malta | 52.6 | 263 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 0.8 |
| Argentina | 52.5 | 38K | 7.9 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 0.1 | |
| Venezuela | 52.4 | 30.2K | 7.9 | 2 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 0.3 |
| Tonga | 52.2 | 104 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 2.2 | ||
| Solomon Islands | 52.1 | 938 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | ||
| Vanuatu | 52.1 | 313 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | ||
| Samoa | 52.1 | 208 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | ||
| Tuvalu | 52.1 | 16 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | ||
| Lithuania | 52 | 1.7K | 7.9 | 2 | 1.3 | ||
| Liechtenstein | 51.9 | 24 | 7.9 | 1 | 2.2 | ||
| Japan | 51.7 | 61.7K | 7.9 | 0.7 | 1.5 | ||
| Luxembourg | 51.7 | 259 | 7.9 | 1 | 0.1 | 1.9 | |
| Iceland | 51.6 | 206 | 7.9 | 1 | 1.9 | ||
| Andorra | 51.6 | 52 | 7.9 | 1 | 1.9 | ||
| Costa Rica | 51.5 | 4.7K | 7.9 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | |
| Micronesia | 51.5 | 206 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.5 | ||
| Niue | 51.5 | 2 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.5 | ||
| Monaco | 51.4 | 26 | 7.9 | 1 | 1.7 | ||
| Bulgaria | 51.3 | 3.2K | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Kiribati | 51.3 | 154 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | ||
| Palau | 51.3 | 13 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | ||
| Cook Islands | 51.3 | 23 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | ||
| China | 51.2 | 964K | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1 | 0.4 | |
| Fiji | 51.2 | 1K | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 | ||
| Nauru | 51.2 | 12 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 | ||
| Latvia | 51.1 | 920 | 7.9 | 1 | 1.4 | ||
| Estonia | 51 | 612 | 7.9 | 1 | 1.3 | ||
| Slovakia | 50.7 | 2.8K | 7.9 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Croatia | 50.4 | 2.7K | 7.9 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.4 | |
| Hungary | 48.9 | 4.3K | 7.9 | 2.8 | 1.1 | ||
| Israel | 48.5 | 6.1K | 7.9 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | |
| Netherlands | 48 | 8.4K | 7.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2 | 0.1 |
| Portugal | 47.9 | 5.4K | 7.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| United States | 47.8 | 182.8K | 7.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.7 | |
| Cuba | 47.2 | 6.3K | 7.9 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 1 | 0.5 |
| New Zealand | 46.7 | 2.5K | 7.9 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2 | 0.1 |
| Denmark | 46.5 | 2.8K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| Slovenia | 46.3 | 788 | 7.9 | 1 | 1.3 | ||
| Norway | 45.6 | 2.4K | 7.9 | 0.8 | 1.8 | ||
| Canada | 45.5 | 15.5K | 7.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 1.8 | |
| Sweden | 45.1 | 3.4K | 7.9 | 1 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 0.1 |
| Czech Republic | 44.9 | 4K | 7.9 | 0.8 | 1 | ||
| Belgium | 44.6 | 4.6K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.2 | |
| Germany | 43.8 | 30.5K | 7.9 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | |
| United Kingdom | 43.8 | 28.6K | 7.9 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.1 |
| Finland | 43.8 | 2.3K | 7.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | ||
| Spain | 43.4 | 15.6K | 7.9 | 1.1 | 2 | 0.2 | |
| Italy | 43.2 | 21.8K | 7.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.9 | |
| Russia | 42.9 | 52.7K | 7.9 | 2.5 | 1.1 | ||
| Switzerland | 42.5 | 2.8K | 7.9 | 1 | 1.9 | ||
| Australia | 41.7 | 10.4K | 7.9 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | |
| Austria | 41.6 | 3K | 7.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | |
| France | 39.7 | 29.1K | 7.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.1 |