Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria

Nigeria: Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life was 25.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
25.2%
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
55th
of 61 countries
All-time high
25.2%
in 2018
All-time low
1.7%
in 1990
Years of data
9
1990–2018

Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria, 1990–2018

05101520251990200420181990: 1.71999: 15.42003: 15.62007: 11.52008: 12.52011: 14.72013: 16.92016: 23.32018: 25.2

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria is 25.2%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 100.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria peaked at 25.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 1990.

That places Nigeria 55th out of 61 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (%) in Nigeria, 1990 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1990 1.7%
1999 15.4% +805.9%
2003 15.6% +1.5%
2007 11.5% -26.5%
2008 12.5% +9.1%
2011 14.7% +16.9%
2013 16.9% +15.6%
2016 23.3% +37.7%
2018 25.2% +7.9%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 25.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.5%, 51% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 25.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 47% of the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 8.6% 1.7% 15.4% 2
2000s 13.2% 11.5% 15.6% 3
2010s 20.0% 14.7% 25.2% 4

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 52 Mexico 27.1% compare
  2. 53 United States of America 25.8% compare
  3. 54 Jordan 25.4% compare
  4. 56 Viet Nam 24.0% compare
  5. 57 Côte d'Ivoire 23.1% compare
  6. 58 Niger 21.6% compare

See the full ranking of 61 places →

More health data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria?
Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria was 25.2% in 2018, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 2018.
What is the lowest infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 1990.
How does Nigeria rank for infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life?
Nigeria ranks 55th out of 61 countries with data for 2018.
Is infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 100.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/infants-exclusively-breastfed-for-the-first-six-months-of-life-percent/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
61 places, 414 data points, 1986–2020
Last refreshed