Results: Breastfeeding Rates

National Immunization Survey (NIS)

Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2002–2014, CDC National Immunization Survey

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

Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year: Any Breastfeeding - This chart displays the percentages of infants born from 2002 to 2014 who were ever breastfed, breastfed to any extents at 6 and 12 months of age. From 2002 to 2014, ever breastfeeding rate increased from 71.4% to 82.5%; rates for breastfeeding duration at 6 months or at 12 months increased from 37.9% to 55.3% or from 19.2% to 33.7%, respectively.

Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year: Exclusive Breastfeeding - This chart displays the percentages of infants born from 2003 to 2014 who were exclusively breastfed through the first 3 or 6 months of age. From 2003 to 2014, rates for exclusive breastfeeding through the first 3 or 6 months of ages increased from 29.6% to 46.6% or from 10.3% to 24.9%, respectively.

^aBreastfeeding rates through 2008 births are based on the National Immunization Survey’s landline sampling frame. Starting with 2009 births, rates are based on a dual-frame sample that includes respondents surveyed on landline or cellular telephones. See survey methods for details on study design and the impact of adding a sample of cellular telephone respondents to the National Immunization Survey starting in 2011.

^bData 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 targets on breastfeeding. Healthy People 2020 targets for breastfeeding objectives in the early postpartum period (i.e., ever breastfed), at 6 months and 12 months and exclusive breastfeeding through 3 and 6 months are available.

^cNational data on exclusive breastfeeding are not available for children born before 2003. See survey methods for details.

Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States (Percentage ± half 95% Confidence Interval)^a,b
	Landline Sample							Dual-frame Sample
	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Ever Breastfed	71.4±0.9	72.6±0.9	73.1±0.8	74.1±1.0	74.0±0.9	75.0±0.9	74.6±0.9	76.1±1.0	76.7±1.2	79.2±1.2	80.0±1.2	81.1±1.1	82.5±1.1
At 6 months	37.9±1.0	39.1±0.9	42.1±0.9	42.9±1.1	43.5±1.1	43.8±1.1	44.4±1.1	46.6±1.2	47.5±1.4	49.4±1.5	51.4±1.5	51.8±1.4	55.3±1.4
At 12 months	19.2±0.8	19.6±0.8	21.4±0.8	21.5±0.9	22.7±0.9	22.7±1.0	23.4±1.0	24.6±1.0	25.3±1.3	26.7±1.3	29.2±1.4	30.7±1.3	33.7±1.3
Exclusively through 3 months		29.6±1.5	31.5±0.9	32.1±1.0	33.6±1.0	33.5±1.0	34.3±1.0	35.9±1.1	37.1±1.4	40.7±1.5	43.3±1.6	44.4±1.4	46.6±1.4
Exclusively through 6 months		10.3±1.0	12.1±0.7	12.3±0.7	14.1±0.8	13.8±0.8	14.6±0.8	15.6±0.9	17.2±1.2	18.8±1.2	21.9±1.4	22.3±1.1	24.9±1.3
^aBreastfeeding rates through 2008 births are based on the National Immunization Survey’s landline sampling frame. Starting with 2009 births, rates are based on a dual-frame sample that includes respondents surveyed on landline or cellular telephones. See survey methods for details on study design and the impact of adding a sample of cellular telephone respondents to the National Immunization Survey starting in 2011. ^bData 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 targets on breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Rates by State and Socio-demographics Based on Dual-frame Phone Samples Starting from 2009 Births^a
“Any” and “Exclusive” Breastfeeding Rates	Birth Year
-by States	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009
-by Socio-demographics	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009
^aDual-frame phone samples starting from 2009 births (2011 and 2012 NIS survey years) include both landline and cellular phone samples (see survey methods).

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

^aFormula supplementation rates through 2008 births are based on the National Immunization Survey’s landline sampling frame. Starting with 2009 births, rates are based on a dual-frame sample that includes respondents surveyed on landline or cellular telephones. See survey methods for details on study design and the impact of adding a sample of cellular telephone respondents to the National Immunization Survey starting in 2011.

^bFormula supplementation is defined as supplementation of breast milk with formula (with or without other supplementary liquids or solids) among infants breastfed at the age specified (2 days, 3 months, or 6 months). Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targets on breastfeeding.

^cNational data on formula supplementation are not available for children born before to 2003. See survey methods for details on study design.

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)^a,b,c

Landline Sample

Dual-frame Sample

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Before 2 days

22.3±1.6

23.5±1.0

24.9±1.1

24.2±1.1

25.6±1.2

25.1±1.2

23.3±1.1

22.8±1.4

19.4±1.3

19.1±1.3

17.1±1.2

15.5±1.0

Before 3 months

38.1±2.2

37.4±1.3

38.1±1.4

36.7±1.4

37.1±1.5

35.9±1.5

35.4±1.8

31.5±1.8

29.3±1.8

29.2±1.6

27.8±1.5

Before 6 months

47.4±2.6

44.5±1.5

44.8±1.7

43.6±1.6

43.7±1.7

43.6±1.7

43.4±1.7

42.8±2.2

37.9±2.0

35.4±2.1

34.9±1.8

33.8±1.7

^aFormula supplementation rates through 2008 births are based on the National Immunization Survey’s landline sampling frame. Starting with 2009 births, rates are based on a dual-frame sample that includes respondents surveyed on landline or cellular telephones. See survey methods for details on study design and the impact of adding a sample of cellular telephone respondents to the National Immunization Survey starting in 2011.

^bFormula supplementation is defined as supplementation of breast milk with formula (with or without other supplementary liquids or solids) among infants breastfed at the age specified (2 days, 3 months, or 6 months). Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targets on breastfeeding.

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2014, National Immunization Survey, United States^a,b

^aBreastfeeding rates presented in this figure are based on dual-frame (landline and cellular telephone) samples from 2015 and 2016 National Immunization Surveys. See survey methods for details on study design.

^bExclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targets on breastfeeding.

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2014 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)^a,b U.S. National Breastfeeding Rates, 2014 Births
Child Age	Breastfeeding (n=17109)	Exclusive Breastfeeding (n=16522)
At birth	82.5±1.1
7 days	81.5±1.1	65.1±1.3
14 days	80.6±1.1	63.0±1.4
21 days	79.4±1.1	61.0±1.4
28 days	78.4±1.2	59.9±1.4
42 days	74.9±1.2	54.1±1.4
1 month	78.2±1.2	59.6±1.4
2 month	73.7±1.2	53.0±1.4
3 month	68.6±1.3	46.6±1.4
4 month	62.3±1.4	39.3±1.4
5 month	57.9±1.4	30.6±1.4
6 month	55.3±1.4	24.9±1.3
7 month	46.4±1.4
8 month	43.7±1.4
9 month	40.3±1.4
10 month	37.5±1.4
11 month	35.3±1.3
12 month	33.7±1.3
18 month	13.5±1.0
^aBreastfeeding rates presented in this table are based on dual-frame (landline and cellular telephone) samples from 2015 and 2016 National Immunization Surveys. See survey methods for details on study design. ^bExclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targets on breastfeeding.

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Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

Related Topics

Results: Breastfeeding Rates

Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2002–2014, CDC National Immunization Survey

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

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

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2014, National Immunization Survey, United Statesa,b