Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Gambia
Gambia: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 53.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Gambia, 2000–2020
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 Gambia is 53.6%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 61.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Gambia peaked at 53.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 2000.
That places Gambia 27th out of 72 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.6% | — |
| 2006 | 39.7% | +61.5% |
| 2010 | 33.2% | -16.4% |
| 2013 | 46.8% | +41.0% |
| 2018 | 53.3% | +13.9% |
| 2020 | 53.6% | +0.7% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 53.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 53.8%, 100% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 53.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 1.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.1% | 24.6% | 39.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 44.4% | 33.2% | 53.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 53.6% | 53.6% | 53.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 24 Liberia 55.2% compare
- 25 Philippines 54.9% compare
- 26 Sierra Leone 54.0% compare
- 28 Democratic Republic of Congo 53.6% compare
- 29 Guatemala 53.2% compare
- 30 Indonesia 50.7% compare
More reference data data for Gambia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2798 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0232 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0407 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1264 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Gambia?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Gambia was 53.6% in 2020, 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 2000.
- How does Gambia rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Gambia ranks 27th out of 72 countries with data for 2020.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia 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 — 6 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.