Breastfeeding data: January to March 2026

Figure 1: breastfeeding rates by age of child, July 2014 to March 2026 [Note 1] [Note 2]

Image

Description of figure 1: line chart showing the percentage of babies breastfed at each age point has increased steadily over the last decade.

Source: National Community Child Health Database, Digital Health and Care Wales

[Note 1] Breastfeeding rates are calculated for records with a known breastfeeding status. Breastfeeding status is missing from between 9% (at 10 days) and 21% (at 6 months) of records, in the current quarter.

[Note 2] There was strike action by health visitors beginning on 23 February 2026 in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. Data for January to March 2026 may have been affected.

Breastfeeding, quarterly rates by age and local health board (StatsWales)

• Breastfeeding rates have fallen this quarter at birth, 10 days and 6 weeks, while rates at 6 months have risen to the highest on record. 

At birth

• The breastfeeding rate was 66.7%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points since the previous quarter.
• This is an increase of 0.8 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and an increase of 9.1 percentage points on the first quarter for which there are comparable data (July to September 2014).

At 10 days old

• The breastfeeding rate was 60.1%, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points on the previous quarter. 
• This is an increase of 1.3 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and an increase of 15.5 percentage points on the first quarter for which there are comparable data (July to September 2014).

At 6 weeks old

• The breastfeeding rate was 50.2%, a decrease of 1.1 percentage points on the previous quarter.
• This is an increase of 4.0 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and an increase of 19.6 percentage points on the first quarter for which there are comparable data (July to September 2014). 

At 6 months old

• The breastfeeding rate was 38.2%, an increase of 2.6 percentage points on the previous quarter. 
• This is an increase of 5.4 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and 19.8 percentage points on the first quarter for which there are comparable data (July to September 2015). 

Community and population health statistics
Email: stats.healthinfo@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099