Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan
Pakistan: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 47.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan, 1991–2019
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
The most recent figure for exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan is 47.8%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan peaked at 47.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 1995.
Pakistan ranks 34th of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.6% | 16.0% | 33.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.0% | 37.0% | 37.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 44.4% | 37.7% | 47.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 31 Madagascar 50.6% compare
- 32 Uzbekistan 49.5% compare
- 33 Namibia 48.3% compare
- 35 El Salvador 46.7% compare
- 36 Kyrgyzstan 45.6% compare
- 37 Ghana 42.9% compare
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.2 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3588 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.2084 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.19 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.33 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 400.52 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan was 47.8% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 47.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 1995.
- How does Pakistan rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Pakistan ranks 34th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 — 6 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.