Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya
Kenya: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 61.4% in 2014. ◆ Volatile
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya, 1989–2014
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 Kenya is 61.4%, measured in 2014. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is up 403.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya peaked at 61.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2003.
Kenya ranks 14th of 72 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 23.0% | — |
| 1993 | 17.0% | -26.1% |
| 1998 | 12.6% | -25.9% |
| 2000 | 13.8% | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 12.2% | -11.5% |
| 2009 | 31.9% | +161.4% |
| 2014 | 61.4% | +92.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 61.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 61.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23.0% | 23.0% | 23.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 14.8% | 12.6% | 17.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 19.3% | 12.2% | 31.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 61.4% | 61.4% | 61.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 11 Sao Tome and Principe 63.1% compare
- 12 Bangladesh 62.6% compare
- 13 Nepal 62.1% compare
- 15 Malawi 59.4% compare
- 16 Guinea-Bissau 59.3% compare
- 17 Lesotho 59.0% compare
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya was 61.4% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 61.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2003.
- How does Kenya rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Kenya ranks 14th out of 72 countries with data for 2014.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 403.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.