Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Somalia
Somalia: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 33.7% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Somalia, 1999–2019
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 Somalia is 33.7%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 535.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Somalia peaked at 33.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2009.
That places Somalia 56th out of 72 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 9.0% | — |
| 2000 | 9.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 9.1% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | -41.5% |
| 2019 | 33.7% | +535.8% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 33.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 53.8%, 63% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 33.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 63% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 5.3% | 9.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 33.7% | 33.7% | 33.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 1,290 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8842 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.4444 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 11,378 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 3.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 40,976 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 42.94 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Somalia?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Somalia was 33.7% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2009.
- How does Somalia rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Somalia ranks 56th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 535.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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 — 5 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.