Current status

Less than half (44 per cent) of newborns in the developing world are put to the breast within one hour of birth. Regional averages range from a high of 61 per cent in Eastern and Southern Africa to a low of 39 per cent in South Asia and West and Central Africa.

Less than half of newborns do not receive the benefits of early initiation of breastfeeding
Percentage of newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth, 2005–2009

Source: UNICF global databases 2010, from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and other national surveys.

There is considerable difference in breastfeeding initiation among mothers from different households and from different regions. For example, in South Asia, children born in the richest households are more likely to be breastfed within one hour of birth than those in the poorest households. However, the opposite is true in the Middle East and North Africa and East Asia and Pacific.

In three regions, rates of breastfeeding initiation are higher among the poor than the rich
Percentage of newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth, by household wealth quintile, 2005–2009

* Excluding China, due to lack of data by household wealth level.
# Excluding Brazil and Mexico, due to lack of data by household wealth level.
Note: Estimates are based on data from 69 countries with available estimates by household wealth level.
Source: UNICEF global databases 2010, from MICS, DHS and other national nutrition surveys.

In all regions, the percentage of infants under the age of six months receiving the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding is less than 50 per cent. Rates are particularly low in West and Central Africa, East Asia and Pacific and Central and Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS).

Substantial variation in exclusive breastfeeding rates across regions
Percentage of infants under the age of six months who are exclusively breastfed, 2005–2009

          
Source: UNICEF global databases 2010, from MICS, DHS and other national surveys.

In most countries, less than half of infants receive the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding
Percentage of infants under the age of six months who are exclusively breastfed, 2005–2009

Less than 60 per cent of children 6–9 months old receive solid, semi-solid or soft foods while being breastfed. An important issue is that the quality of the food received is often inadequate and does not provide sufficient protein, fat or micronutrients for optimal growth and development. Meeting the needs for the minimum required dietary quality is a challenge in much of the developing world, and this has often not been given enough emphasis. Apart from the quality of the food itself, children may not receive complementary foods at the right age (often either too early or too late), or may not be fed frequently enough during the day. New programming options are now available to meet the challenge.

Data indicate that as children get older and complementary foods are introduced, levels of continued breastfeeding are high (73 per cent) at about one year of age but decrease to 56 per cent by age two.

Based on data from 44 countries with estimates by background information, there is little difference in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding by gender, residence or household wealth level.