Results: Breastfeeding Rates

National Immunization Survey - Child (NIS-Child)

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Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2014–2021, CDC National Immunization Survey-Child

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-Child, 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
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Ever breastfed 82.5±1.1 83.2±1.0 83.8±1.2 84.1±1.0 83.9±0.9 83.2±1.0 83.1±1.0 84.1±0.9
At 6 months 55.3±1.4 57.6±1.4 57.3±1.6 58.3±1.4 56.7±1.2 55.8±1.3 58.2±1.2 59.8±1.1
At 12 months 33.7±1.3 35.9±1.3 36.2±1.5 35.3±1.4 35.0±1.1 35.9±1.2 37.6±1.2 39.5±1.1
Exclusively through 3 months 46.6±1.4 46.9±1.4 47.5±1.6 46.9±1.4 46.3±1.2 45.3±1.3 45.3±1.2 46.5±1.2
Exclusively through 6 months 24.9±1.3 24.9±1.2 25.4±1.3 25.6±1.2 25.8±1.0 24.9±1.1 25.4±1.1 27.2±1.0
  1. Data from 2014 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 2014 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
  2. Data from U.S. 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 State and Sociodemographic Characteristics1

Breastfeeding Rates by State1 and Sociodemographics
“Any” and “Exclusive” Breastfeeding Rates Birth Year
-by state 2021
-by sociodemographics 2021

1To access previous breastfeeding rates by state and sociodemographics, visit Data, Trends, and Maps

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

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

Percentage of U.S. Breastfed Infants Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey-Child, 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-Child, United States (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)
Birth Year
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Before 2 days 15.5±1.0 17.2±1.2 16.9±1.3 19.2±1.3 19.4±1.2 19.2±1.1 20.8±1.1 20.5±1.0
Before 3 months 27.8±1.5 28.8±1.5 29.1±1.7 30.9±1.6 31.3±1.4 31.2±1.4 33.3±1.4 32.1±1.2
Before 6 months 33.8±1.7 34.5±1.7 33.5±1.9 36.2±1.8 35.8±1.5 35.3±1.5 37.3±1.5 37.2±1.4
  1. Data from 2014 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 2014 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
  2. Data from U.S. 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 2021, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States1,2,3

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2020, United States

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2021 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2

U.S. National Breastfeeding Rates, 2021 Births
U.S. National Breastfeeding Rates, 2021 Births
Child Age Breastfeeding
(n=22,912)		 Exclusive Breastfeeding3
(n=22,294)
At birth 84.1±0.9
7 days 83.3±0.9 62.4±1.1
14 days 82.7±0.9 60.2±1.1
21 days 81.6±0.9 58.6±1.1
28 days 81.0±0.9 57.9±1.1
1 month 80.8±0.9 57.5±1.1
2 months 76.2±1.0 51.6±1.2
3 months 71.9±1.0 46.5±1.2
4 months 66.1±1.1 39.6±1.1
5 months 62.1±1.1 32.3±1.0
6 months 59.8±1.1 27.2±1.0
7 months 52.0±1.1
8 months 49.4±1.1
9 months 46.3±1.1
10 months 43.3±1.1
11 months 41.1±1.1
12 months 39.5±1.1
18 months 17.7±0.9

1. Data from U.S. 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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