Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age was 64.1 % in 2020. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Malawi, 2000–2020
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Malawi stood at 64.1 %.
That represents a change of down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Malawi peaked at 70.8 % in 2010 and was at its lowest, 44 %, in 2000.
That places Malawi 5th out of 41 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 44 % | — |
| 2004 | 52.3 % | +18.9% |
| 2006 | 56.7 % | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 70.8 % | +24.9% |
| 2014 | 69 % | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 59.4 % | -13.9% |
| 2020 | 64.1 % | +7.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 64.1 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.1 %, 1.2× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 64.1 % is above the median for low income countries, which is 54 %, 1.2× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51 % | 44 % | 56.7 % | 3 |
| 2010s | 66.4 % | 59.4 % | 70.8 % | 3 |
| 2020s | 64.1 % | 64.1 % | 64.1 % | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 2 Rwanda 80.9 % compare
- 2 United Republic of Tanzania 64.3 % compare
- 3 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 55.7 % compare
- 3 Peru 70.1 % compare
- 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo 52.5 % compare
- 4 Togo 64.3 % compare
- 5 Lao People's Democratic Republic 50.6 % compare
- 5 Zambia 64.1 % compare
- 6 Viet Nam 45.4 % compare
- 7 Sao Tome and Principe 63.1 % compare
- 8 Lesotho 60.7 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.8241 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 30.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 30.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Malawi?
- Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Malawi was 64.1 % in 2020, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 70.8 % in 2010.
- What is the lowest prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 44 % in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age?
- Malawi ranks 5th out of 41 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age (percent) — Value — All age ranges or no breakdown by age — National. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Gender Indicators presents a set of indicators relevant to agrifood systems that are disaggregated by sex, with the aim of highlighting gender differences across agrifood systems. The initial set of indicators is based on those used in FAO’s 2023 Status of Women in Agrifood Systems (SWAFS) report and on the recommendations of an expert consultation held in December 2023, and covers key dimensions including economic participation, governance, agency, social norms, assets and services, education, health, and nutrition. Indicator selection was informed by expert judgment and by the availability of data with sufficient geographic and temporal coverage to enable meaningful comparisons across regions and over time. While most indicators are produced and published by FAO and other international organizations, the objective of this domain is to provide a one-stop shop for sex-disaggregated data on agrifood systems.