Breastfeeding data: July 2014 to September 2024

Figure 1: Breastfeeding rates by age of child, July 2014 to September 2024

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Description of Figure 1: A line chart which shows that the percentage of babies breastfed at each age has increased steadily over time.

Source: National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD)

Breastfeeding rates have risen this quarter at birth and at 6 months; with breastfeeding at 6 months being the highest on record.

At birth, the breastfeeding rate for Wales was 64.4%. This is an increase of 0.2 percentage points on the previous quarter, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points on the same quarter last year, but an increase of 6.8 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (Jul to Sep 2014).

At 10 days, the breastfeeding rate for Wales was 57.2%. This is a decrease of 0.7 percentage points on the previous quarter, an increase of 1.2 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and an increase of 12.6 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (Jul to Sep 2014).

At 6 weeks, the breastfeeding rate for Wales was 44.8%. This is a decrease of 0.5 percentage points on the previous quarter, an increase of 3.2 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and an increase of 14.2 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (Jul to Sep 2014).

At 6 months, the breastfeeding rate for Wales was 32.6%, the highest on record. This is an increase of 0.5 percentage points on the previous quarter, an increase of 3.9 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and an increase of 14.2 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (Jul to Sep 2015).

Note there is a high proportion of missing data at 6 weeks and at 6 months, for the latest quarter 20.9% and 24.9% of records had no breastfeeding status, respectively.

Statistician: Craig Thomas
Email: stats.healthinfo@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099