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
The most recent figure for prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age in Zambia is 64.1 %, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is 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.
That places Zambia 5th out of 43 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 lower middle income countries, which is 44.9 %, 1.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 64.1 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.1 %, 1.2× the median. (28 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 52.3 % compare
- 4 Togo 64.3 % compare
- 5 Lao People's Democratic Republic 50.3 % 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 43 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. 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.