Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Lesotho
Lesotho: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 59.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Lesotho, 1996–2018
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 2018, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Lesotho stood at 59.0%.
The figure is up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Lesotho peaked at 66.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 14.2%, in 2000.
That places Lesotho 17th out of 72 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 16.3% | — |
| 2000 | 14.2% | -13.1% |
| 2005 | 36.4% | +156.9% |
| 2009 | 52.9% | +45.3% |
| 2010 | 52.9% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 66.9% | +26.4% |
| 2018 | 59.0% | -11.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 59.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 59.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 34.5% | 14.2% | 52.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 59.6% | 52.9% | 66.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Lesotho?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Lesotho was 59.0% in 2018, 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 66.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.2% in 2000.
- How does Lesotho rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Lesotho ranks 17th out of 72 countries with data for 2018.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.