Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Tanzania
Tanzania: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 57.8% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Tanzania, 1992–2018
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 Tanzania stood at 57.8%.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Tanzania peaked at 59.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 25.5%, in 1992.
Tanzania ranks 22nd of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 25.5% | — |
| 1996 | 29.0% | +13.7% |
| 1999 | 31.8% | +9.7% |
| 2004 | 41.3% | +29.9% |
| 2005 | 41.3% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 48.7% | +18.0% |
| 2014 | 41.1% | -15.7% |
| 2016 | 59.0% | +43.7% |
| 2018 | 57.8% | -2.1% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 57.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 1.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 57.8% 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 | 28.8% | 25.5% | 31.8% | 3 |
| 2000s | 41.3% | 41.3% | 41.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 51.7% | 41.1% | 59.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More reference data data for Tanzania
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 59.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 72.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Tanzania?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Tanzania was 57.8% 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 59.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.5% in 1992.
- How does Tanzania rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Tanzania ranks 22nd out of 72 countries with data for 2018.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania 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 — 9 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.