In 2000, 6.4 percent of infants born to Hispanic mothers were low birthweight (less than 2500 grams).  The proportion of infants born too small varied by Hispanic ethnicity, ranging from 6.0 percent for infants born to Mexican mothers to 9.3 percent for infants born to Puerto Rican mothers.  The rates for infants born to Cuban and Central or South American mothers were similar at 6.5 and 6.3 percent, respectively.  The low birthweight rate for Hispanic infants was slightly lower than the corresponding rate for non-Hispanic white infants (6.6 percent) in 2000.

In 2000, 1.1 percent of all Hispanic infants were born very low birthweight (less than 1500 grams), which is equal to the rate for non-Hispanic white infants.  The proportion of infants born very low birthweight also varied by Hispanic ethnicity, with rates ranging from a low of 1 percent for Mexican infants to a high of 1.9 percent of Puerto Rican infants.