Exclusive breastfeeding rate in United States
United States: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 25.8% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in United States, 2010–2018
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
United States recorded 25.8% for exclusive breastfeeding rate in 2018.
That represents a change of down 25.7% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in United States peaked at 34.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 23.3%, in 2010.
United States ranks 62nd of 72 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in United States, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 23.3% | — |
| 2012 | 25.5% | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 26.4% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 34.7% | +31.3% |
| 2018 | 25.8% | -25.7% |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in United States?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in United States was 25.8% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 34.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.3% in 2010.
- How does United States rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- United States ranks 62nd out of 72 countries with data for 2018.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.