WHO says fewer than half the world’s mothers and infants get breastfeeding support
Breastfeeding services reach fewer than half the world’s mothers and infants, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
Source: World Health Organization · August 6, 2026 at 2:54 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-source
KUALA LUMPUR, 6 AUGUST 2026 —
WHO: Fewer than half of mothers, infants globally receive breastfeeding support
Market Impact
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Fewer than half of the world’s mothers and infants receive adequate breastfeeding support, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, despite the practice’s proven health benefits.
Breastfeeding is a cost-effective way to protect child health, providing essential nutrition, boosting immunity, and supporting cognitive development. For mothers, it reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases. While global breastfeeding rates have improved—with exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months rising from 37% in 2012 to over 47% today—progress remains uneven, particularly in low-income and humanitarian settings.
The WHO highlighted that sustained investments in policies, health systems, and community-based counselling are key to scaling up breastfeeding support. However, enforcement of maternity protection policies and protection from aggressive marketing of commercial milk formulas remains inconsistent. Scaling up breastfeeding could prevent nearly 400,000 child deaths and 140,000 maternal deaths annually, with every US$1 invested generating an estimated US$59 in economic returns.
The WHO and UNICEF continue to advocate for stronger policies and investments to ensure every mother and child receives the necessary care.
Related: Intel