Exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Exclusive breastfeeding was 58.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
58.8%
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
18th
of 72 countries
All-time high
58.8%
in 2019
All-time low
48.8%
in 2005
Years of data
5
2000–2019

Exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia, 2000–2019

02040602000200920192000: 54.1 % of children under 6 months2005: 48.8 % of children under 6 months2011: 52 % of children under 6 months2016: 56.5 % of children under 6 months2019: 58.8 % of children under 6 months

Source: State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of children under 6 months.

Analysis

The most recent figure for exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia is 58.8%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia peaked at 58.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 48.8%, in 2005.

That places Ethiopia 18th out of 72 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.

Exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Ethiopia, 2000 to 2019.
Year % of children under 6 months Change
2000 54.1%
2005 48.8% -9.9%
2011 52.0% +6.6%
2016 56.5% +8.8%
2019 58.8% +4.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 51.4% 48.8% 54.1% 2
2010s 55.8% 52.0% 58.8% 3

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 15 Malawi 59.4% compare
  2. 16 Guinea-Bissau 59.3% compare
  3. 17 Lesotho 59.0% compare
  4. 19 India 58.0% compare
  5. 19 Mongolia 58.0% compare
  6. 21 Burkina Faso 57.9% compare

See the full ranking of 72 places →

More health data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia?
Exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia was 58.8% in 2019, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 58.8% in 2019.
What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 48.8% in 2005.
How does Ethiopia rank for exclusive breastfeeding?
Ethiopia ranks 18th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
Is exclusive breastfeeding rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ethiopia 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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Exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/exclusive-breastfeeding-percent-of-children-under-6-months/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months)
Unit
% of children under 6 months
Source
State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
72 places, 509 data points, 1986–2020
Last refreshed

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.