Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda
Uganda: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 65.5% in 2016. ▬ Flat
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda, 1989–2016
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%.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 67.6% | — |
| 1995 | 57.4% | -15.1% |
| 2001 | 62.5% | +8.8% |
| 2006 | 59.0% | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 62.2% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 65.5% | +5.3% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 65.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 53.8%, 1.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 65.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 1.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More reference data data for Uganda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4214 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 29.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 42.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.29 (2050)
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
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.