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Maine
Statistics on children, youth and families in Maine from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Maine Children's Alliance
Low birth-weight infants
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Why This Indicator Matters
Babies born with low-birth weight are more likely than babies of normal weight to have health problems and require specialized medical care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Low-birth weight is typically caused by premature birth and fetal growth restriction, both of which are influenced by a mother's health and genetics.
The most important things an expectant mother can do to prevent low birth weight are to seek prenatal care, take prenatal vitamins, stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol and stop using drugs.
For more info, see National Institute of Child Health: Promoting a Healthy Pregnancy
Nationally, in 2024 was 1 in 12 babies or 8.5% of births were under 5.5 pounds and considered low birth weight. March of Dimes. Maine's rate for 2024 was higher than the national average at 9.7%. In 2025, Maine's rate was down to 7.2% with no national comparison available at the time this data was published.
Since 1998 the percent of low-birth weight babies in Maine has generally been rising. It was 5.8% in 1998, compared to 6.9% - 8.2% between 2013-2023 reaching a state wide high of 9.7% in 2024.
In 2025, five counties had rates of low-birth weight babies at or above 8%. These were Sagadahoc (9.8%), Kennebec (8.9%), Franklin (8.3%), Androscoggin (8.2%), and Oxford (8%). In contrast, Hancock (5.3%), and Washington (5.6%).
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The most important things an expectant mother can do to prevent low birth weight are to seek prenatal care, take prenatal vitamins, stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol and stop using drugs.
For more info, see National Institute of Child Health: Promoting a Healthy Pregnancy
Nationally, in 2024 was 1 in 12 babies or 8.5% of births were under 5.5 pounds and considered low birth weight. March of Dimes. Maine's rate for 2024 was higher than the national average at 9.7%. In 2025, Maine's rate was down to 7.2% with no national comparison available at the time this data was published.
Since 1998 the percent of low-birth weight babies in Maine has generally been rising. It was 5.8% in 1998, compared to 6.9% - 8.2% between 2013-2023 reaching a state wide high of 9.7% in 2024.
In 2025, five counties had rates of low-birth weight babies at or above 8%. These were Sagadahoc (9.8%), Kennebec (8.9%), Franklin (8.3%), Androscoggin (8.2%), and Oxford (8%). In contrast, Hancock (5.3%), and Washington (5.6%).
Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
The number and percent of live births in which the newborn weighed less than 2500 grams (5.5 pounds). The numerator is the number of births under 5.5 pounds and the denominator is the number of live births.
Data Source
Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics.
2025 Data Uploaded 8/26/2026
2025 Data Uploaded 8/26/2026
Notes
NA=Not available
LN= Low Numbers and data is suppressed
LN= Low Numbers and data is suppressed
Last Updated
August 2026