Exclusive breastfeeding in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Exclusive breastfeeding was 54.0% in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
54.0%
Change on year
up 14.5%
World rank
26th
of 72 countries
All-time high
54.0%
in 2019
All-time low
2.8%
in 2000
Years of data
7
2000–2019

Exclusive breastfeeding in Sierra Leone, 2000–2019

02040602000200920192000: 2.8 % of children under 6 months2005: 8.4 % of children under 6 months2008: 10.4 % of children under 6 months2010: 31.2 % of children under 6 months2013: 31.4 % of children under 6 months2017: 47.2 % of children under 6 months2019: 54 % 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 2019, exclusive breastfeeding in Sierra Leone stood at 54.0%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.5% on the previous year and up 419.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding in Sierra Leone peaked at 54.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2000.

That places Sierra Leone 26th out of 72 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

Exclusive breastfeeding in Sierra Leone, year by year

Annual values for Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Sierra Leone, 2000 to 2019.
Year % of children under 6 months Change
2000 2.8%
2005 8.4% +198.3%
2008 10.4% +23.9%
2010 31.2% +199.7%
2013 31.4% +0.7%
2017 47.2% +50.2%
2019 54.0% +14.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.2% 2.8% 10.4% 3
2010s 40.9% 31.2% 54.0% 4

Countries ranked near Sierra Leone

  1. 23 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 55.7% compare
  2. 24 Liberia 55.2% compare
  3. 25 Philippines 54.9% compare
  4. 27 Gambia 53.6% compare
  5. 28 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 53.6% compare
  6. 29 Guatemala 53.2% compare

See the full ranking of 72 places →

More health data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

Frequently asked questions

What is exclusive breastfeeding in Sierra Leone?
Exclusive breastfeeding in Sierra Leone was 54.0% in 2019, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Sierra Leone?
The highest recorded value was 54.0% in 2019.
What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Sierra Leone?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2000.
How does Sierra Leone rank for exclusive breastfeeding?
Sierra Leone ranks 26th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
Is exclusive breastfeeding rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
Over the last ten years it is up 419.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone. Statizoid, drawing on State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/exclusive-breastfeeding-percent-of-children-under-6-months/sierra-leone/

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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.