Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age was 64.1 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Zambia, 2002–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 64.1 % for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in 2024.
That represents a change of down 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Zambia peaked at 72 % in 2013 and was at its lowest, 39.7 %, in 2002.
Zambia ranks 5th of 41 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 39.7 % | — |
| 2007 | 59.9 % | +50.9% |
| 2013 | 72 % | +20.2% |
| 2018 | 69.9 % | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 64.1 % | -8.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 64.1 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.1 %, 1.2× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 64.1 % is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47 %, 1.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49.8 % | 39.7 % | 59.9 % | 2 |
| 2010s | 70.95 % | 69.9 % | 72 % | 2 |
| 2020s | 64.1 % | 64.1 % | 64.1 % | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 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 Malawi 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 Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Zambia?
- Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Zambia was 64.1 % 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 72 % in 2013.
- What is the lowest prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.7 % in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age?
- Zambia ranks 5th out of 41 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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.