India To See Highest Number Of Babies Born On New Year’s Day

One of the first newborn babies of 2020 and his mother Laisani Raisili, 19, rest just after a tiresome delivery in Nausori Maternity Hospital in Fiji. The baby was born ten minutes after midnight, 2.9 kg and in good health.

As many as 67,385 babies are estimated to be born on January 1, 2020 in India, the highest in the world. China will see the birth of 46,299 babies on New Year’s day, according to UNICEF.

The first baby of 2020 will be born in the Pacific island of Fiji, and the last one will be born in USA.

Globally, over 50 per cent of the births on January 1 are estimated to take place in the following eight countries:

1. India – 67,385
2. China – 46,299
3. Nigeria – 26,039
4. Pakistan – 16,787
5. Indonesia – 13,020
6. USA – 10,452
7. The Democratic Republic of Congo – 10,247
8. Ethiopia – 8,493

“The beginning of a new year and a new decade is an opportunity to reflect on our hopes and aspirations not only for our future, but the future of those who will come after us,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “As the calendar flips each January, we are reminded of all the possibility and potential of each child embarking on her or his life’s journey–if they are just given that chance.”

Over 2.5 million newborns died in just their first month of life, and one-third passed away on the first day itself in 2018. Most died from preventable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections like sepsis.

“Too many mothers and newborns are not being cared for by a trained and equipped midwife or nurse, and the results are devastating,” added Fore. “We can ensure that millions of babies survive their first day and live into this decade and beyond if every one of them is born into a safe pair of hands.”