Results: Breastfeeding Rates

National Immunization Survey - Child (NIS-Child)

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Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2013-2020, 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
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Ever Breastfed 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 83.1±1.0
At 6 months 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 58.2±1.2
At 12 months 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 37.6±1.2
Exclusively through 3 months 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 45.3±1.2
Exclusively through 6 months 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 25.4±1.1
  1. Data from 2013 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 2013 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 State and Sociodemographics Characteristics1

Breastfeeding Rates by State1 and Sociodemographics
“Any” and “Exclusive” Breastfeeding Rates Birth Year
-by State 2020
-by Sociodemographics 2020

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, National Immunization Survey-Child, 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)1,2,3
Birth Year
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Before 2 days 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 20.8±1.1
Before 3 months 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 33.3±1.4
Before 6 months 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 37.3±1.5
  1. Data from 2013 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 2013 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 2020, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States1,2,3

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2020, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2020 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2

Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2019 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2
US National Breastfeeding Rates, 2020 Births
Child Age Breastfeeding
(n=21,069)		 Exclusive Breastfeeding3
(n=20,380)
At birth 83.1±1.0
7 days 82.3±1.0 61.6±1.2
14 days 81.7±1.0 59.1±1.2
21 days 80.5±1.0 57.1±1.2
28 days 79.8±1.0 56.6±1.2
1 month 79.5±1.0 56.2±1.2
2 months 75.3±1.1 50.1±1.2
3 months 70.9±1.1 45.3±1.2
4 months 65.3±1.2 38.9±1.2
5 months 60.6±1.2 31.2±1.1
6 months 58.2±1.2 25.4±1.1
7 months 50.0±1.2
8 months 47.5±1.2
9 months 44.3±1.2
10 months 41.2±1.2
11 months 39.1±1.2
12 months 37.6±1.2
18 months 17.3±0.9

1Data 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.

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

3The data point for exclusive breastfeeding begins at 7 days of life.

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