Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) was 59.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho, 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 Lesotho stood at 59.0%.
The figure is up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho peaked at 66.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 14.2%, in 2000.
That places Lesotho 17th out of 72 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of children under 6 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 16.3% | — |
| 2000 | 14.2% | -13.1% |
| 2005 | 36.4% | +156.9% |
| 2009 | 52.9% | +45.3% |
| 2010 | 52.9% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 66.9% | +26.4% |
| 2018 | 59.0% | -11.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 59.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46.7%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 59.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 34.5% | 14.2% | 52.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 59.6% | 52.9% | 66.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 382 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0557 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho?
- Exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho was 59.0% in 2018, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 66.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.2% in 2000.
- How does Lesotho rank for exclusive breastfeeding?
- Lesotho ranks 17th out of 72 countries with data for 2018.
- Is exclusive breastfeeding rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.