Results: Breastfeeding Rates

National Immunization Survey (NIS)

Related Pages

Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2009–2015, CDC National Immunization Survey

Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year.

1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding.

2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.

Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States (Percentage ± half 95% Confidence Interval) 
Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States
(Percentage ± half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2
Birth Year
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Ever Breastfed 76.1±1.0 76.7±1.2 79.2±1.2 80.0±1.2 81.1±1.1 82.5±1.1 83.2±1.0
At 6 months 46.6±1.2 47.5±1.4 49.4±1.5 51.4±1.5 51.8±1.4 55.3±1.4 57.6±1.4
At 12 months 24.6±1.0 25.3±1.3 26.7±1.3 29.2±1.4 30.7±1.3 33.7±1.3 35.9±1.3
Exclusively through 3 months 35.9±1.1 37.1±1.4 40.7±1.5 43.3±1.6 44.4±1.4 46.6±1.4 46.9±1.4
Exclusively through 6 months 15.6±0.9 17.2±1.2 18.8±1.2 21.9±1.4 22.3±1.1 24.9±1.3 24.9±1.2
1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding.

2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.
Breastfeeding Rates by State and Socio-demographics
Breastfeeding Rates by State and Socio-demographics
“Any” and “Exclusive” Breastfeeding Rates Birth Year
-by States 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
-by Socio-demographics 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
2. Percentage of Breastfed Children Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States This chart displays the percentages of breastfed infants born from 2009 to 2015 who were supplemented with infant formula within the first 2 days, 3 or 6 months of age. From 2009 to 2015, rates for breastfed infants supplemented with infant formula within the first 2 days, 3 or 6 months decreased from 23.3% to 17.2%, from 35.9% to 28.8% or from 43.4% to 34.5%, respectively.
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1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding.

2Formula 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 wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.

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)
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
Birth Year
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Before 2 days 23.3±1.1 22.8±1.4 19.4±1.3 19.1±1.3 17.1±1.2 15.5±1.0 17.2±1.2
Before 3 months 35.9±1.5 35.4±1.8 31.5±1.8 29.3±1.8 29.2±1.6 27.8±1.5 28.8±1.5
Before 6 months 43.4±1.7 42.8±2.2 37.9±2.0 35.4±2.1 34.9±1.8 33.8±1.7 34.5±1.7

1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020external icon targets on breastfeeding.

2Formula 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 wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.
Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2015, National Immunization Survey, United States
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1 Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding.

2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2015 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)
Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2015
(Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2
U.S. National Breastfeeding Rates, 2015 Births
Child Age Breastfeeding
(n=17673)		 Exclusive Breastfeeding (n=17102)
At birth 83.2±1.0
7 days 82.4±1.0 64.7±1.3
14 days 81.5±1.1 62.5±1.3
21 days 80.0±1.1 60.4±1.4
28 days 79.3±1.1 59.4±1.4
1 month 79.0±1.1 59.1±1.4
2 month 74.4±1.2 52.2±1.4
3 month 70.3±1.2 46.9±1.4
4 month 64.7±1.3 38.9±1.3
5 month 60.0±1.4 30.9±1.3
6 month 57.6±1.4 24.9±1.2
7 month 49.4±1.4
8 month 46.9±1.4
9 month 43.5±1.4
10 month 40.3±1.3
11 month 37.9±1.3
12 month 35.9±1.3
18 month 15.5±1.0

1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding.

2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.

Page last reviewed: August 1, 2018
Content source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion