Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Benin
Benin: Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) was 41.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding in Benin, 1996–2018
Source: State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of children under 6 months.
Analysis
In 2018, exclusive breastfeeding in Benin stood at 41.4%.
The figure is down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding in Benin peaked at 43.0% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 1996.
Benin ranks 39th of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 10.1% | — |
| 2001 | 37.8% | +274.0% |
| 2006 | 42.3% | +11.9% |
| 2008 | 43.0% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 32.5% | -24.5% |
| 2014 | 41.4% | +27.4% |
| 2018 | 41.4% | +0.1% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 41.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 89% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Benin's 41.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 77% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 41.0% | 37.8% | 43.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 38.4% | 32.5% | 41.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More health data for Benin
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8458 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 13,632 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 21 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0741 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0763 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding in Benin?
- Exclusive breastfeeding in Benin was 41.4% in 2018, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 43.0% in 2008.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 1996.
- How does Benin rank for exclusive breastfeeding?
- Benin ranks 39th out of 72 countries with data for 2018.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exclusive breastfeeding refers to the percentage of children less than six months old who are fed breast milk alone (no other liquids) in the past 24 hours.