Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Nigeria
Nigeria: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age was 28.8 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Nigeria, 2003–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Nigeria is 28.8 %, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 16.3% on the previous year and up 70.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Nigeria peaked at 34.4 % in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.5 %, in 2007.
Nigeria ranks 34th of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 15.6 % | — |
| 2007 | 11.5 % | -26.3% |
| 2008 | 12.5 % | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 14.7 % | +17.6% |
| 2013 | 16.9 % | +15.0% |
| 2016 | 23.3 % | +37.9% |
| 2018 | 28.7 % | +23.2% |
| 2021 | 34.4 % | +19.9% |
| 2024 | 28.8 % | -16.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 28.8 % is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.1 %, 54% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 28.8 % is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47 %, 61% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.2 % | 11.5 % | 15.6 % | 3 |
| 2010s | 20.9 % | 14.7 % | 28.7 % | 4 |
| 2020s | 31.6 % | 28.8 % | 34.4 % | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3622 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Nigeria?
- Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Nigeria was 28.8 % in 2024, 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 34.4 % in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5 % in 2007.
- How does Nigeria rank for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age?
- Nigeria ranks 34th out of 41 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.
Download this data
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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.