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LLLI Center for Breastfeeding Information

Breastfeeding Statistics
September 15, 2003

COUNTRY	% AT INITIATION	% AT 4-6 MONTHS	REFERENCE NUMBER (see below)
Europe
Belgium	63.4		9 (Dutch speaking, not French speaking)
Czech Republic	92		3
Denmark	98		3
England, Wales	71	29	2
France	50		1
Germany	86		13
Greece	--	--
Ireland (North)	31-54	14	1,2
Italy	85	19	12
Luxembourg	88	54	13
The Netherlands	75	37	13
Norway	99		3
Poland	93		3
Portugal	93		3
Romania	91		3
Scotland	50-63	30	6
Spain	91		10
Sweden	97		3
UK	69	21	2
COUNTRY	% AT INITIATION	% AT 4-6 MONTHS	REFERENCE NUMBER (see below)
Latin America & The Caribbean			a = exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months * = exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months
Argentina	--	--
Belize	90	17a	1
Bolivia	97	50*	1
Brazil	93	29*	1
Chile	--	77a	1
Columbia	95	9*	1
Costa Rica	--	35a	1
Dominican Republic	93	19*	1
Ecuador	95	29*	1
El Salvador	94	15*	1
Guatemala	96	46*	1
Haiti	96	2*	1
Honduras	96	33*	1
Nicaragua	92	22*	1
Panama	--	32a	1
Paraguay	94	5*	1
Peru	97	53*	1
Uruguay	--	--
Venezuela	--	--
COUNTRY	% AT INITIATION	% AT 4-6 MONTHS	REFERENCE NUMBER (see below)
Asia			a = exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months * = exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months
Armenia	--	21a	1
Azerbaijan	--	53a	1
Bangladesh	97	45*	1
Cambodia	--	60a	1
China	93	64a	13, 1
India	95	43*	1
Indonesia	96	42*	1
Kazakstan	96	10*	1
Kyrgyzstan	95	21*	1
Japan	--	41	13, 1
Laos	--	36a	1
Mongolia	--	93a	1
Myanmar	--	30a	1
Nepal	98	74*	1
Pakistan	94	23*	1
Philippines	88	37*	1
Sri Lanka	--	24a	1
Thailand	97	24a	13, 1
Uzbekistan	96	2	1
COUNTRY	% AT INITIATION	% AT 4-6 MONTHS	REFERENCE NUMBER (see below)
Middle East & North Africa			* = exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months
Algeria	93	5*	1
Bahrain	97	-	1
Egypt	95	56*	1
Iran	98	56*	1
Jordan	95	11*	1
Lebanon	88	12*	1
Morocco	95	25*	1
Oman	99	28*	1
Syria	92	12*	1
Tunisia	94	5*	1
Turkey	95	10*	1
United Arab Emirates	93	--	1
Yemen	97	18*	1
COUNTRY	% AT INITIATION	% AT 4-6 MONTHS	REFERENCE NUMBER (see below)
Sub-saharan Africa			a = exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months * = exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months
Benin	97	10*	1
Botswana	--	39a	1
Burkina Faso	99	5*	1
Cameroon	97	12*	1
Cape Verde	--	18a	1
Central African
Republic	97	3*	1
Chad	98	2*	1
Comoros	96	3*	1
Congo, Dem. Rep. Of	--	32a	1
Cote d’Ivoire	100	2a	1
Eritrea	98	59*	1
Ethiopia	--	74a	1
Gabon	--	57a	1
Ghana	99	31*	1
Guinea	--	52a	1
Kenya	98	12*	1
Lesotho	--	54a
Liberia	--	--
Madagascar	97	48*	1
Malawi	97	2*	1
Mali	95	8*	1
Mauritania	95	10*	1
Mauritius	72	--	1
Mozambique	95	30*	1
Namibia	95	14*	1
Niger	97	1*	1
Nigeria	97	1*	1
Rwanda	97	90*	1
Senegal	97	13*	1
Sierra Leone	--	--
Sudan	96	1*	1
Swaziland	--	37a	1
Tanzania	97	29	1
Togo	97	10	1
Uganda	98	57*	1
Zambia	98	19*	1
Zimbabwe	99	11*	1
COUNTRY	% AT INITIATION	% AT 4-5 MONTHS	REFERENCE NUMBER (see below)
North America
Canada	72	31	14
USA	70.1	33.2	15
COUNTRY	% AT INITIATION	% AT 4-5 MONTHS	REFERENCE NUMBER (see below)
Australia	87	48	16
New Zealand	93.8	56	11

Compiled by Carol Huotari IBCLC
Center for Breastfeeding Information

References:

1. Breastfeeding Patterns in the Developing World 1999-7 www.measurecommunication.org
2. www.babyfriendly.org.uk/ukstats.html
3. www.babymilkaction.org
4. Acta Paediatr 00-1;89(1):88-93 Cattaneo, A. et a.
5. Breastfeeding Rev 00-1;8(3):23-27 Donath. S. & Amir L.H.
6. www.scotland.gov.uk/health/cmobulletin/hb592-08.asp
7. www.sos.se/FULLTEXT/0042-007/0042-007.pdf
8. Can J Pub Hlth 97-7/8;88(4):242-45 Barber C.M. et al
9. JHL 96-3;12(1):37-39 Dickstein M. & Bordoux P.P.
10. J Perinat Med 1998;26:320-23 Carbonell X et al
11. NZ Med J 95-9-8;108(1007):355-57 Essex C. et al
12. Acta Paediatr 99-4;88(4):411-15 Riva E. et al
13. WHO GLOBAL DATABANK ON BREASTFEEDING AND COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
14. AWHONN Lifelines 03-8/9;7(4):340-47 Banks J.W.
15. Mothers' Survey, Ross Products Div Abbott Labs, Breastfeeding Trends 2002
16. National Health Surveys, Australia www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/8E65D6253E10F802CA256DA40003A07C?Open

Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:34:23 UTC 2007.