Exclusive breastfeeding in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Exclusive breastfeeding was 41.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
41.9%
World rank
38th
of 72 countries
All-time high
47.1%
in 2015
All-time low
8.9%
in 1988
Years of data
11
1988–2019

Exclusive breastfeeding in Zimbabwe, 1988–2019

10203040501988200320191988: 8.9 % of children under 6 months1989: 8.9 % of children under 6 months1994: 11.3 % of children under 6 months1999: 31.7 % of children under 6 months2005: 22.2 % of children under 6 months2006: 21.7 % of children under 6 months2009: 25.9 % of children under 6 months2011: 31.3 % of children under 6 months2014: 40.3 % of children under 6 months2015: 47.1 % of children under 6 months2019: 41.9 % 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 2019, exclusive breastfeeding in Zimbabwe stood at 41.9%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 61.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, exclusive breastfeeding in Zimbabwe peaked at 47.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1988.

That places Zimbabwe 38th out of 72 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Exclusive breastfeeding in Zimbabwe, year by year

Annual values for Exclusive breastfeeding (% of children under 6 months) in Zimbabwe, 1988 to 2019.
Year % of children under 6 months Change
1988 8.9%
1989 8.9% +0.0%
1994 11.3% +27.0%
1999 31.7% +180.5%
2005 22.2% -29.9%
2006 21.7% -2.3%
2009 25.9% +19.6%
2011 31.3% +20.7%
2014 40.3% +28.7%
2015 47.1% +17.0%
2019 41.9% -11.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 8.9% 8.9% 8.9% 2
1990s 21.5% 11.3% 31.7% 2
2000s 23.3% 21.7% 25.9% 3
2010s 40.2% 31.3% 47.1% 4

Countries ranked near Zimbabwe

  1. 35 El Salvador 46.7% compare
  2. 36 Kyrgyzstan 45.6% compare
  3. 37 Ghana 42.9% compare
  4. 39 Benin 41.4% compare
  5. 40 Mozambique 41.0% compare
  6. 41 Senegal 40.8% compare

See the full ranking of 72 places →

More health data for Zimbabwe

All data for Zimbabwe →

Frequently asked questions

What is exclusive breastfeeding in Zimbabwe?
Exclusive breastfeeding in Zimbabwe was 41.9% in 2019, according to State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
What is the highest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Zimbabwe?
The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 2015.
What is the lowest exclusive breastfeeding recorded in Zimbabwe?
The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1988.
How does Zimbabwe rank for exclusive breastfeeding?
Zimbabwe ranks 38th out of 72 countries with data for 2019.
Is exclusive breastfeeding rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
Over the last ten years it is up 61.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe. Statizoid, drawing on State of the World's Children, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/exclusive-breastfeeding-percent-of-children-under-6-months/zimbabwe/

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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.