Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 41.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Zimbabwe, 1988–2019
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 Zimbabwe stood at 41.9%.
That represents a change of up 61.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Zimbabwe peaked at 47.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1988.
Zimbabwe ranks 38th of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 8.9% | — |
| 1989 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 11.3% | +27.0% |
| 1999 | 31.7% | +180.5% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | -29.9% |
| 2006 | 21.7% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 25.9% | +19.6% |
| 2011 | 31.3% | +20.7% |
| 2014 | 40.3% | +28.7% |
| 2015 | 47.1% | +17.0% |
| 2019 | 41.9% | -11.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 41.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 90% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 41.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 78% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 21.5% | 11.3% | 31.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.3% | 21.7% | 25.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 40.2% | 31.3% | 47.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 35 El Salvador 46.7% compare
- 36 Kyrgyzstan 45.6% compare
- 37 Ghana 42.9% compare
- 39 Benin 41.4% compare
- 40 Mozambique 41.0% compare
- 41 Senegal 40.8% compare
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding rate in Zimbabwe?
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Zimbabwe was 41.9% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1988.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for exclusive breastfeeding rate?
- Zimbabwe ranks 38th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rate rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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 — 11 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.