Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Kenya
Kenya: Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) 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 (% of children under 6 months) 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% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 61.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 61.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.063 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.