Results: Breastfeeding Rates

National Immunization Survey (NIS)

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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

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
  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.
  2. 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.
  3. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids.

Breastfeeding Rates by State1 and Sociodemographics

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
  1. 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.
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Percentage of Breastfed Children Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States1,2,3

Percentage of Breastfed Children Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States
Percentage of Breastfed Children Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States
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

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
  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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
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Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2019, National Immunization Survey, United States1,2,3

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2019, National Immunization Survey, United States
Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2018, 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

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2019 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2
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
  1. 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.
  2. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.
  3. The data point for exclusive breastfeeding begins at 7 days of life.
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