Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Egypt
Egypt: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 39.5% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Egypt, 1993–2014
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
The most recent figure for exclusive breastfeeding rate in Egypt is 39.5%, measured in 2014.
The figure is up 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Egypt peaked at 61.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 30.4%, in 2003.
Egypt ranks 47th of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Egypt, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 61.4% | — |
| 1996 | 56.3% | -8.3% |
| 2000 | 56.1% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 30.4% | -45.8% |
| 2005 | 41.1% | +35.3% |
| 2008 | 52.8% | +28.5% |
| 2014 | 39.5% | -25.2% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 39.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 85% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 39.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 36.9%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.8% | 56.3% | 61.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 45.1% | 30.4% | 56.1% | 4 |
| 2010s | 39.5% | 39.5% | 39.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More reference data data for Egypt
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2851 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.956 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.4622 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 25.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 71.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 6.55 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Egypt?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Egypt was 39.5% in 2014, 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 61.4% in 1993.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.4% in 2003.
- How does Egypt rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Egypt ranks 47th out of 72 countries with data for 2014.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Egypt 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 — 7 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.