Background: Low birth weight (LBW or birth weight<2500g) is significantly related to reduce neonatal survival and postnatal morbidity. Prevention of LBW is the main concern of the public health sector in Iran. LBW neonates are sub-grouped according to the weight of the neonate after birth; neonates with a moderately low birth weight (MLBW) weigh 1500–2499g, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants weigh 1000–1500g and those with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) weigh<1, 000g. Fetal growth and weight of newborns are influenced by many factors. Gestational hypertension or pregnancy induced hypertension (hypertension without proteinuria or other signs/symptoms of preeclampsia that develops after 20 weeks of gestation, and should be resolved by 12 weeks postpartum) is a risk factor for LBW neonates. This study examined the prevalence pregnancy induced hypertension for LBW in Yazd, a central city of Iran.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated all births that were registered in all the maternity hospitals in one year in Yazd, Iran. LBW neonates were compared with neonates whose birth weight exceeded 2500 g.Findings: The overall prevalence of LBW was 8.8 percent and 1.5%, 7.5% and 91% were ELBW, VLBW and MLBW respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that pregnancy-induced hypertension was found to be risk factors for LBW (Odd Ratio=1.5, 95 percent CI=1.2–2.2).Conclusion: Screening for high-risk pregnancies, monitoring of blood pressure of pregnant women during pregnancy and making provisions for attentive prenatal care and facilities are essential to reduce the incidence of LBW.