World Breastfeeding Week begins Saturday, August 1, and runs through August 7, 2026.
The annual global campaign, coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action and supported by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, focuses this year on the theme “Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works.”
The Pan American Health Organization announced on July 31 that the week aims to track progress, evaluate impact, and scale proven approaches that improve breastfeeding outcomes. Health authorities in multiple countries, including India and Hong Kong, launched related awareness efforts on the same day.
Global and U.S. Breastfeeding Rates
According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF Global Breastfeeding Scorecard data, nearly half (48%) of infants under 6 months worldwide are exclusively breastfed. This represents an increase of about 8 to 10 percentage points over recent years in many regions, though rates remain below the World Health Assembly target of 50% by 2025 (now extended toward 60% by 2030).
In the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Survey-Child data for infants born in 2022–2023 show higher initiation but lower exclusive rates: approximately 85.7% to 86.1% of infants were ever breastfed, 62.1% to 62.8% were breastfed at 6 months, 40.8% were breastfed at 12 months, and 27.9% to 29.8% were exclusively breastfed through 6 months.
About 1 in 4 U.S. infants meets the exclusive breastfeeding recommendation at 6 months. Rates vary by state and demographics, with lower exclusive rates in the Southeast and among certain racial and socioeconomic groups.
Recommended Duration
The World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, and CDC recommend exclusive breastfeeding (no other foods or liquids, including water) for about the first 6 months of life.
Complementary foods should be introduced around 6 months while continuing breastfeeding.
Continued breastfeeding is recommended until the child is 2 years of age or beyond, as mutually desired by mother and child.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
CDC and WHO data indicate breastfed infants have lower risks of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, severe lower respiratory disease, ear infections, gastrointestinal infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.
Breastfed children also tend to perform better on intelligence tests.
Mothers who breastfeed have reduced risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Low U.S. breastfeeding rates are associated with more than $3 billion annually in additional medical costs for mothers and children, according to CDC.
Influencing Factors
Sixty percent of mothers do not breastfeed as long as they intend.
Factors influencing duration include issues with lactation and latching, concerns about infant weight and nutrition, return to work without adequate support, limited maternity leave, and formula marketing.
Supportive hospital practices (such as the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative), workplace accommodations, community counseling, and reduced disparities by race, income, education, and WIC participation have contributed to improvements.
Regional and National Observances
The Pan American Health Organization called for stronger safeguards against digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
In India, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is observing the week to promote the “Golden Hour” (breastfeeding within the first hour of birth) and exclusive feeding for six months. Hong Kong’s Department of Health held a Fun Day on July 31 recognizing mothers who achieved exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
Events during the week include a PAHO webinar on August 7 and WHO-supported discussions on evidence for scaling effective support systems.
