The percentage of babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first four months of life varies from 90% to 1% depending on where the baby is born.
For any infant, breastmilk provides the best possible nutrition and protection against infection during the early months of life. Giving a baby other foods or drinks at this time increases the chances of infection. The poorer the circumstances of the family, the more vital the protection that breastfeeding affords.
% of babies receiving breastmilk alone for first four months
| % | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-Saharan Africa | |||
| Rwanda | 90 | Zambia | 13 |
| Burundi | 89 | Mauritania | 12 |
| Ethiopia | 74 | Togo | 10 |
| Zaire | 68 | Ghana | 8 |
| C. African Rep. | 54 | Mali | 8 |
| Madagascar | 47 | Cameroon | 7 |
| Congo | 43 | Senegal | 7 |
| Botswana | 41 | Angola | 3 |
| Tanzania | 32 | Burkina Faso | 3 |
| Namibia | 22 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3 |
| Kenya | 17 | Malawi | 3 |
| Mauritius | 16 | Nigeria | 2 |
| Zimbabwe | 16 | Niger | 1 |
| Liberia | 15 | ||
| Middle East and North Africa | |||
| Morocco | 65 | Yemen | 15 |
| Iran | 48 | Sudan | 14 |
| Egypt | 38 | Turkey | 14 |
| Jordan | 32 | Tunisia | 12 |
| Central Asia | |||
| Kazakstan | 12 | ||
| Asia and Pacific | |||
| China | 64 | Philippines | 33 |
| Bangladesh | 54 | Pakistan | 25 |
| India | 51 | Sri Lanka | 24 |
| Indonesia | 47 | Thailand | 4 |
| Nepal | 36 | ||
| Americas | |||
| Bolivia | 53 | Honduras | 11 |
| Peru | 40 | Nicaragua | 11 |
| Mexico | 38 | Dominican Rep. | 10 |
| Costa Rica | 35 | Trinidad/T. | 10 |
| Ecuador | 31 | Paraguay | 7 |
| El Salvador | 20 | Brazil | 4 |
| Colombia | 17 | Haiti | 3 |
NOTE 'Exclusive breastfeeding' excludes not just other foods but also water and other liquids.
SOURCE Demographic and Health Surveys, and other nationwide surveys, 1986-1995.