Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malawi
Malawi: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 59.4% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malawi, 2000–2016
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 Malawi is 59.4%, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 13.8% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malawi peaked at 70.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 44.0%, in 2000.
Malawi ranks 15th of 72 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.5% | 44.0% | 56.7% | 4 |
| 2010s | 66.4% | 59.4% | 70.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More reference data data for Malawi
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0372 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.606 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3659 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.9529 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.5269 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 1,313 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malawi?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malawi was 59.4% in 2016, 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 70.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.0% in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Malawi ranks 15th out of 72 countries with data for 2016.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi 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.