Breastfeeding data: July to September 2025

Figure 1: breastfeeding rates by age of child, July 2014 to September 2025

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Description of figure 1: line chart showing the percentage of babies breastfed at each age point has increased steadily over the last decade, with highest levels recorded at each age in the latest quarter.

Source: National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD)

[Note 1] Breastfeeding rates are calculated for records with a known breastfeeding status; breastfeeding status is missing from between 10% (at 10 days) and 19% (at 6 months) of records.

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

• Breastfeeding rates have risen this quarter at all ages, with rates at all ages being the highest on record.
• At birth, the breastfeeding rate was 66.0%. This is an increase of; 1.4 percentage points since the previous quarter, 1.7 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and 8.5 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (July to September 2014).
• At 10 days, the breastfeeding rate was 60.7%. This is an increase of; 2.1 percentage points on the previous quarter, 3.5 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and 16.1 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (July to September 2014).
• At 6 weeks, the breastfeeding rate was 49.2%. This is an increase of; 1.8 percentage points on the previous quarter, 4.5 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and 18.7 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (July to September 2014).
• At 6 months, the breastfeeding rate was 35.0%. This is an increase of; 1.6 percentage points on the previous quarter, 2.5 percentage points on the same quarter last year, and 16.7 percentage points on the first quarter for which there is comparable data (July to September 2015).

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

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