Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life

Exclusive breastfeeding has the single largest potential impact on child mortality of any preventive intervention and is a cornerstone of child survival and child health because it provides essential, irreplaceable nutrition for a child’s growth and development. It serves as a child’s first immunization and also has a protective effect against obesity and certain NCDs later in life.

In 2021, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Africa, at 44.3 percent, was lower than the global rate of 47.7 percent, with significant variations among subregions. The highest prevalence, 59.1 percent, was observed in Eastern Africa and the lowest in Western Africa, at 35.1 percent, and Southern Africa, at 32.8 percent. Only Eastern Africa is on track toward meeting the 2030 WHA targets for exclusive breastfeeding, while Central Africa and Western Africa made some progress; an assessment of progress was not possible for Northern and Southern Africa.

1 · See FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2023. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Rome, FAO.

Exclusive breastfeeding in Africa

Figure 20 · Prevalence by subregion

What the data shows: Eastern Africa recorded the highest subregional prevalence in 2021, while Southern and Western Africa remained below the African average.

Source: UNICEF. 2022. Infant and young child feeding. Cited 6 April 2023.

Table 12 · Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0–5 months of age (percent)

Source: UNICEF. 2022. Infant and young child feeding. Cited 6 April 2023.

A review of data available since 2000 reveals that most countries and all subregions show improvement in this indicator, although there is a large variation among countries. The latest available estimates show that the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0–5 months of age is above 60 percent in Burundi, Eritrea, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

Figure 21 · Prevalence by subregion and country

What the data shows: Progress is widespread but uneven. Eastern Africa leads at subregional level, while country estimates range from below 15 percent to above 80 percent.

Earlier and latest estimates are shown with their survey years. Choose a subregion to move directly to that part of the chart.

Source: FAO regional overview demonstration data, 2023. Interactive D3 behavior remains deferred on the free Webflow plan.