Results: Breastfeeding Rates
National Immunization Survey (NIS)
Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2012-2019, CDC National Immunization Survey
Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year1,2,3
Any Breastfeeding
Exclusive Breastfeeding
Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States (Percentage ± half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2, 3
| Birth Year | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Ever Breastfed | 80.0±1.2 | 81.1±1.1 | 82.5±1.1 | 83.2±1.0 | 83.8±1.2 | 84.1±1.0 | 83.9±0.9 | 83.2±1.0 |
| At 6 months | 51.4±1.5 | 51.8±1.4 | 55.3±1.4 | 57.6±1.4 | 57.3±1.6 | 58.3±1.4 | 56.7±1.2 | 55.8±1.3 |
| At 12 months | 29.2±1.4 | 30.7±1.3 | 33.7±1.3 | 35.9±1.3 | 36.2±1.5 | 35.3±1.4 | 35.0±1.1 | 35.9±1.2 |
| Exclusively through 3 months | 43.3±1.6 | 44.4±1.4 | 46.6±1.4 | 46.9±1.4 | 47.5±1.6 | 46.9±1.4 | 46.3±1.2 | 45.3±1.3 |
| Exclusively through 6 months | 21.9±1.4 | 22.3±1.1 | 24.9±1.3 | 24.9±1.2 | 25.4±1.3 | 25.6±1.2 | 25.8±1.0 | 24.9±1.1 |
- Data from 2012 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling, and data for 2016 births and onward were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2012 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
- Data from US territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2030 targets on breastfeeding.
- Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids.
Breastfeeding Rates by State1 and Sociodemographics
| “Any” and “Exclusive” Breastfeeding Rates | Birth Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -by State | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
| -by Sociodemographics | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
- Because of changes in the sampling frame in 2011 and in 2018 (See survey methods for details) and small sample sizes, states should use caution when comparing prevalence estimates from year to year.
Percentage of Breastfed Children Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States1,2,3
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula supplementation < 2 days | 19.1 | 17.1 | 15.5 | 17.2 | 16.9 | 19.2 | 19.4 | 19.2 |
| Formula supplementation < 3 months | 29.3 | 29.2 | 27.8 | 28.8 | 29.1 | 30.9 | 31.3 | 31.2 |
| Formula supplementation < 6 months | 35.4 | 34.9 | 33.8 | 34.5 | 33.5 | 36.2 | 35.8 | 35.3 |
Percentage of U.S. Breastfed Infants Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2,3
| Birth Year | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Before 2 days | 19.1±1.3 | 17.1±1.2 | 15.5±1.0 | 17.2±1.2 | 16.9±1.3 | 19.2±1.3 | 19.4±1.2 | 19.2±1.1 |
| Before 3 months | 29.3±1.8 | 29.2±1.6 | 27.8±1.5 | 28.8±1.5 | 29.1±1.7 | 30.9±1.6 | 31.3±1.4 | 31.2±1.4 |
| Before 6 months | 35.4±2.1 | 34.9±1.8 | 33.8±1.7 | 34.5±1.7 | 33.5±1.9 | 36.2±1.8 | 35.8±1.5 | 35.3±1.5 |
- Data from 2012 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling, and data for 2016 births and onward were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2012 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
- Data from US territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2030 targets on breastfeeding.
- Formula supplementation is defined as supplementation of breast milk with formula (with or without other supplementary liquids or solids) among infants breastfed before the age specified (2 days, 3 months, or 6 months). See survey methods for details.
Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2019, National Immunization Survey, United States1,2,3
| Child Age (months) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0.25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| Any Breastfeeding | 83.2 | 82.2 | 78.6 | 73.6 | 69.1 | 62.7 | 58.1 | 55.8 | 48.4 | 46.1 | 42.5 | 39.5 | 37.3 | 35.9 |
| Exclusive Breastfeeding | 62.6 | 56.7 | 50.8 | 45.3 | 38.2 | 30.5 | 24.9 | |||||||
Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2019, National Immunization Survey, United States1,2
| US National Breastfeeding Rates, 2019 Births | ||
|---|---|---|
| Child Age | Breastfeeding (n=20,906) |
Exclusive Breastfeeding3 (n=20,217) |
| At birth | 83.2±1.0 | |
| 7 days | 82.2±1.1 | 62.6±1.3 |
| 14 days | 81.4±1.1 | 60.1±1.3 |
| 21 days | 79.7±1.1 | 58.0±1.3 |
| 28 days | 78.9±1.1 | 57.1±1.3 |
| 1 month | 78.6±1.1 | 56.7±1.3 |
| 2 months | 73.6±1.2 | 50.8±1.3 |
| 3 months | 69.1±1.2 | 45.3±1.3 |
| 4 months | 62.7±1.3 | 38.2±1.2 |
| 5 months | 58.1±1.3 | 30.5±1.2 |
| 6 months | 55.8±1.3 | 24.9±1.1 |
| 7 months | 48.4±1.3 | |
| 8 months | 46.1±1.3 | |
| 9 months | 42.5±1.2 | |
| 10 months | 39.5±1.2 | |
| 11 months | 37.3±1.2 | |
| 12 months | 35.9±1.2 | |
| 18 months | 16.4±0.9 | |
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Page last reviewed: August 1, 2022
