Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya

Kenya: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 61.4% in 2014. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2014)
61.4%
World rank
14th
of 72 countries
All-time high
61.4%
in 2014
All-time low
12.2%
in 2003
Years of data
7
1989–2014

Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Kenya, 1989–2014

1020304050601989200120141989: 23 % of children under 6 months1993: 17 % of children under 6 months1998: 12.6 % of children under 6 months2000: 13.8 % of children under 6 months2003: 12.2 % of children under 6 months2009: 31.9 % of children under 6 months2014: 61.4 % of children under 6 months

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 11 Sao Tome and Principe 63.1% compare
  2. 12 Bangladesh 62.6% compare
  3. 13 Nepal 62.1% compare
  4. 15 Malawi 59.4% compare
  5. 16 Guinea-Bissau 59.3% compare
  6. 17 Lesotho 59.0% compare

See the full ranking of 72 places →

More reference data data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

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

Indicator
Exclusive breastfeeding rate
Unit
% of children under 6 months
Source
Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
72 places, 509 data points, 1986–2020
Last refreshed

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.