Exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya
Kenya: Exclusive breastfeeding was 61.4% in 2014. ◆ Volatile
Exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya, 1989–2014
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 Kenya is 61.4%, measured in 2014. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 403.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya peaked at 61.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2003.
That places Kenya 14th out of 72 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 23.0% | — |
| 1993 | 17.0% | -26.1% |
| 1998 | 12.6% | -25.9% |
| 2000 | 13.8% | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 12.2% | -11.5% |
| 2009 | 31.9% | +161.4% |
| 2014 | 61.4% | +92.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23.0% | 23.0% | 23.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 14.8% | 12.6% | 17.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 19.3% | 12.2% | 31.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 61.4% | 61.4% | 61.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 11 Sao Tome and Principe 63.1% compare
- 12 Bangladesh 62.6% compare
- 13 Nepal 62.1% compare
- 15 Malawi 59.4% compare
- 16 Guinea-Bissau 59.3% compare
- 17 Lesotho 59.0% compare
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0267 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 3.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0206 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya?
- Exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya was 61.4% in 2014, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 61.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2003.
- How does Kenya rank for exclusive breastfeeding?
- Kenya ranks 14th out of 72 countries with data for 2014.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 403.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.