Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda

Uganda: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 65.5% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
65.5%
World rank
5th
of 72 countries
All-time high
67.6%
in 1989
All-time low
57.4%
in 1995
Years of data
6
1989–2016

Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda, 1989–2016

02040601989200220161989: 67.6 % of children under 6 months1995: 57.4 % of children under 6 months2001: 62.5 % of children under 6 months2006: 59 % of children under 6 months2011: 62.2 % of children under 6 months2016: 65.5 % of children under 6 months

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 Uganda is 65.5%, measured in 2016.

That represents a change of up 10.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda peaked at 67.6% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 57.4%, in 1995.

That places Uganda 5th out of 72 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 67.6% 67.6% 67.6% 1
1990s 57.4% 57.4% 57.4% 1
2000s 60.7% 59.0% 62.5% 2
2010s 63.8% 62.2% 65.5% 2

Countries ranked near Uganda

  1. 2 Rwanda 80.9% compare
  2. 3 Burundi 71.9% compare
  3. 4 Zambia 69.9% compare
  4. 6 Peru 65.3% compare
  5. 7 Cambodia 65.2% compare
  6. 8 East Timor 65.0% compare

See the full ranking of 72 places →

More reference data data for Uganda

All data for Uganda →

Frequently asked questions

What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda?
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda was 65.5% in 2016, 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 Uganda?
The highest recorded value was 67.6% in 1989.
What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Uganda?
The lowest recorded value was 57.4% in 1995.
How does Uganda rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
Uganda ranks 5th out of 72 countries with data for 2016.
Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Uganda?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Uganda 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

Indicator
Exclusive breastfeeding rate
Unit
% of children under 6 months
Source
Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
72 places, 509 data points, 1986–2020
Last refreshed

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.