FIGURE 2.11 Getting Better Some public health experts consider the rate of low birth weight to be indicative of national health, since both are affected by the same causes. If that is true, the world is getting healthier, since the LBW world average was 28 percent in 2009 but is now 16 percent. When all nations are included, 47 report LBW at 6 per 100 or lower, which suggests that many nations (including Canada and the United States) could improve.