Review the breastfeeding rates from the National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) for U.S. households with children aged 19 to 35 months.
Breastfeeding among U.S. children born 2014-2021, CDC NIS-Child
Percentage of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year1,2,3
Any breastfeeding
Any breastfeeding percentage by birth year.
Breastfeeding duration
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Ever breastfeeding
82.5
83.2
83.8
84.1
83.9
83.2
83.1
84.1
At 6 months
55.3
57.6
57.3
58.3
56.7
55.8
58.2
59.8
At 12 months
33.7
35.9
36.2
35.3
35.0
35.9
37.6
39.5
Exclusive breastfeeding
Exclusive breastfeeding percentage by birth year.
Data Table: Exclusive Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding duration
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Exclusively through 3 months
46.6
46.9
47.5
46.9
46.3
45.3
45.3
46.5
Exclusively through 6 months
24.9
24.9
25.4
25.6
25.8
24.9
25.4
27.2
Percentage of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year, NIS-Child, United States (percentage ± half 95% confidence interval)1,2, 3
Breastfeeding duration
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
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.
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.
Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.
Breastfeeding rates by state and sociodemographics characteristics1
Supplemented breastfeeding with infant formula, by birth year, from 2014 to 2021, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States.A, B, F1,2,3
Percentage of U.S. breastfed infants who were supplemented with infant formula, by birth year, NIS-Child, United States (percentage +/- half 95% confidence interval)1,2,3
Formula supplementation
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
Data from 2014 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling. Data for 2016 births and later were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2014 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates. This is to be consistent with the analytical methods for establishing Healthy People 2030 targets on breastfeeding.
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.
Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2021, NIS-Child, United States1,2,3
Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2021, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States.B, C, D1,2,3
Data table
Child Age (months)
Any Breastfeeding
Exclusive Breastfeeding
0
84.1
0.25
83.3
62.4
1
80.8
57.5
2
76.2
51.6
3
71.9
46.5
4
66.1
39.6
5
62.1
32.3
6
59.8
27.2
7
52
8
49.4
9
46.3
10
43.3
11
41.1
12
39.5
Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2021 (percentage +/- half 95% confidence interval)1,2
Child Age
Breastfeeding
(n=22,912)
Exclusive BreastfeedingC
(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
1Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates. This is to be consistent with the analytical methods for establishing 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.
Data from 2014 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling. Data for 2016 births and later were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2014 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods used to set Healthy People 2030 targets on breastfeeding.
Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.
Percentage ± half 95% confidence interval.
To access previous breastfeeding rates by state and sociodemographic, visit Data, Trends, and Maps.
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.
The data point for exclusive breastfeeding begins at 7 days of life.
