breast feeding rates

Last reviewed 01/2018

The NHS information centre performs its infant feeding survey every five years. The latest survey was carried out in 2010 and the key findings are as follows:

  • rate of initial breastfeeding (includes all babies who were put to the breast at all, even if this was on one occasion only, and also includes giving expressed breastmilk) in the UK rose by 5%, from 76% in 2005 to 81% in 2010
    • the highest rate was observed in England (83%) followed by Scotland (74%), Wales (71%) and Northern Ireland (64%)
  • the incidence of breastfeeding increased between 2005 and 2010 in England, Scotland and Wales (from 78%, 70% and 67% respectively) but there was no statistically significant increase in Northern Ireland
  • across the UK, the prevalence of breastfeeding
    • fell from 81% at birth to 69% at one week and to 55% at six weeks
    • at six months, was just over a third of mothers (34%)
  • prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding
    • across UK at
      • birth - 69% (from 65% in 2005 to 69% in 2010)
      • 1 week - 46%
      • 6 weeks - 23%
      • 3 months - 17%  (up from 13% in 2005)
      • 4 months - 12% (up from 7% in 2005)
      • 6 months - around 1%
    • was higher in England and Scotland and lower in Northern Ireland and Wales
  • among mothers who breastfed exclusively at birth
    • 62% lost their exclusive breastfeeding status by the introduction of formula (or other milk)
    • 7% lost it by introducing both formula and other liquids at around the same age
    • 10% lost their exclusive feeding status by first giving their baby some other liquid,
    • 10% lost exclusivity through the introduction of solids
    • mothers who lost their exclusive breastfeeding status due to solids, breastfed exclusively for much longer than mothers who first introduced formula e.g. - among those who breastfed exclusively at birth, 79% of those who first introduced solids and one per cent of those who first introduced formula were still breastfeeding exclusively at four months.
  • highest incidences of breastfeeding were seen among
    • mothers aged 30 or over – 87%
    • those from minority ethnic groups – 97% for Chinese or other ethnic group, 96% for Black and 95% for Asian ethnic group
    • those who left education aged over 18 – 91%
    • those in managerial and professional occupations – 90%
    • those living in the least deprived areas – 89%
  • prevalence of breast feeding when babies were aged six months was
    • 44% in managerial and professional occupations
    • 46% in those who left education aged over 18
    • 45% in those aged 30 or over
    • 40% in those living in the least deprived areasthose
    • 66% for Chinese or other ethnic group, 61% for Black and 49% for both Asian and Mixed ethnic groups)

Worldwide, it is estimated that only 34.8% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life (2)

Reference: