Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Exclusive breastfeeding was 80.9% in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
80.9%
World rank
1st
of 72 countries
All-time high
80.9%
in 2016
All-time low
10.2%
in 1987
Years of data
5
1987–2016

Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka, 1987–2016

204060801987200120161987: 10.2 % of children under 6 months1993: 17.1 % of children under 6 months2000: 52.6 % of children under 6 months2007: 75.8 % of children under 6 months2016: 80.9 % 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 2016, exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka stood at 80.9%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of up 6.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka peaked at 80.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 1987.

Sri Lanka ranks 1st of 72 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Sri Lanka, 1987 to 2016.
Year % of children under 6 months Change
1987 10.2%
1993 17.1% +67.6%
2000 52.6% +207.6%
2007 75.8% +44.1%
2016 80.9% +6.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 10.2% 10.2% 10.2% 1
1990s 17.1% 17.1% 17.1% 1
2000s 64.2% 52.6% 75.8% 2
2010s 80.9% 80.9% 80.9% 1

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 2 Rwanda 80.9% compare
  2. 3 Burundi 71.9% compare
  3. 4 Zambia 69.9% compare

See the full ranking of 72 places →

More health data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka?
Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka was 80.9% in 2016, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 80.9% in 2016.
What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 1987.
How does Sri Lanka rank for exclusive breastfeeding?
Sri Lanka ranks 1st out of 72 countries with data for 2016.
Is exclusive breastfeeding rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/exclusive-breastfeeding-percent-of-children-under-6-months/sri-lanka/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/stat/exclusive-breastfeeding-percent-of-children-under-6-months/sri-lanka/">Exclusive breastfeeding in Sri Lanka</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.