Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age was 50.9 % in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Sierra Leone, 2000–2021
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 50.9 % for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in 2021.
That represents a change of down 5.7% on the previous year and up 63.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Sierra Leone peaked at 54 % in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.8 %, in 2000.
That places Sierra Leone 21st out of 43 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.8 % | — |
| 2005 | 8.4 % | +200.0% |
| 2008 | 10.4 % | +23.8% |
| 2010 | 31.2 % | +200.0% |
| 2013 | 31.4 % | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 47.2 % | +50.3% |
| 2019 | 54 % | +14.4% |
| 2021 | 50.9 % | -5.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 50.9 % is below the median for low income countries, which is 54 %, 94% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 50.9 % is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.1 %, 96% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.2 % | 2.8 % | 10.4 % | 3 |
| 2010s | 40.95 % | 31.2 % | 54 % | 4 |
| 2020s | 50.9 % | 50.9 % | 50.9 % | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5407 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.4% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Sierra Leone was 50.9 % in 2021, 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 54 % in 2019.
- What is the lowest prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8 % in 2000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age?
- Sierra Leone ranks 21st out of 43 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.