Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Thailand
Thailand: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 14.0% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Thailand, 1987–2019
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 Thailand stood at 14.0%.
That represents a change of down 39.3% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Thailand peaked at 23.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1995.
Thailand ranks 70th of 72 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 5.3% | — |
| 1995 | 3.6% | -32.1% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | +48.6% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | +182.2% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | -18.5% |
| 2013 | 12.3% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 23.0% | +87.9% |
| 2019 | 14.0% | -39.3% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 14.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 38% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 14.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.9%, 25% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.2% | 5.4% | 15.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 12.3% | 23.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More reference data data for Thailand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.58 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 65.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.92 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Thailand?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Thailand was 14.0% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 23.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1995.
- How does Thailand rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Thailand ranks 70th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.