Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nepal
Nepal: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 62.1% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nepal, 1996–2019
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 2019, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nepal stood at 62.1%.
That represents a change of down 4.6% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nepal peaked at 74.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 53.2%, in 2006.
That places Nepal 13th out of 72 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 74.8% | — |
| 2001 | 68.3% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 53.2% | -22.1% |
| 2011 | 69.6% | +30.8% |
| 2014 | 56.7% | -18.6% |
| 2016 | 66.1% | +16.6% |
| 2017 | 65.2% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 62.1% | -4.6% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 62.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.8% | 74.8% | 74.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 60.8% | 53.2% | 68.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 63.9% | 56.7% | 69.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 10 Eswatini 63.8% compare
- 11 Sao Tome and Principe 63.1% compare
- 12 Bangladesh 62.6% compare
- 14 Kenya 61.4% compare
- 15 Malawi 59.4% compare
- 16 Guinea-Bissau 59.3% compare
More reference data data for Nepal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7753 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7853 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7974 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.28 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nepal?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nepal was 62.1% in 2019, 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 74.8% in 1996.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.2% in 2006.
- How does Nepal rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Nepal ranks 13th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal 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 — 8 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.