Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Colombia
Colombia: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 36.7% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Colombia, 1986–2016
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children under 6 months.
Analysis
In 2016, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Colombia stood at 36.7%.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Colombia peaked at 46.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 1995.
That places Colombia 51st out of 72 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Colombia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 15.6% | — |
| 1990 | 13.4% | -14.1% |
| 1995 | 11.5% | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 25.1% | +118.4% |
| 2005 | 46.8% | +86.3% |
| 2010 | 42.9% | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 36.1% | -15.9% |
| 2016 | 36.7% | +1.6% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 36.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 99% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 36.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 39.9%, 92% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.6% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 12.4% | 11.5% | 13.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.0% | 25.1% | 46.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.6% | 36.1% | 42.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 48 Cameroon 39.4% compare
- 49 Palestine 38.9% compare
- 50 Kazakhstan 37.8% compare
- 52 Albania 36.5% compare
- 53 Central African Republic 36.2% compare
- 54 Tajikistan 35.8% compare
More reference data data for Colombia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4113 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 19.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 9.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 61.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 94.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Colombia?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Colombia was 36.7% in 2016, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 1995.
- How does Colombia rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Colombia ranks 51st out of 72 countries with data for 2016.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Colombia data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Exclusive breastfeeding rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The share of infants less than six months old who were fed only with breast milk in the past 24 hours. WHO and UNICEF recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water.