Exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho

Lesotho: Exclusive breastfeeding was 59.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
59.0%
World rank
17th
of 72 countries
All-time high
66.9%
in 2014
All-time low
14.2%
in 2000
Years of data
7
1996–2018

Exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho, 1996–2018

2040601996200720181996: 16.3 % of children under 6 months2000: 14.2 % of children under 6 months2005: 36.4 % of children under 6 months2009: 52.9 % of children under 6 months2010: 52.9 % of children under 6 months2014: 66.9 % of children under 6 months2018: 59 % 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

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 in Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Lesotho, 1996 to 2018.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 14 Kenya 61.4% compare
  2. 15 Malawi 59.4% compare
  3. 16 Guinea-Bissau 59.3% compare
  4. 18 Ethiopia 58.8% compare
  5. 19 India 58.0% compare
  6. 19 Mongolia 58.0% compare

See the full ranking of 72 places →

More health data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

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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Exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/exclusive-breastfeeding-percent-of-children-under-6-months/lesotho/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/stat/exclusive-breastfeeding-percent-of-children-under-6-months/lesotho/">Exclusive breastfeeding in Lesotho</a> — Statizoid

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.