Breastfeeding at birth by type of breastfeeding and Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile

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Year ( of 6 selected6 selectable options)

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Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile ( of 7 selected7 selectable options)

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Breastfeeding status ( of 6 selected6 selectable options)

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Data valuesData descriptionYearWelsh Index of Multiple Deprivation quintileBreastfeeding status
26,944Number2024All WalesTotal
15,387Number2024All WalesExclusive breastfeeding
15,923Number2024All WalesAny breastfeeding
8,942Number2024All WalesNot breastfeeding
2,079Number2024All WalesNot stated
24,865Number2024All WalesRecords with valid data
6,659Number20241Total
3,072Number20241Exclusive breastfeeding
3,237Number20241Any breastfeeding
2,932Number20241Not breastfeeding
490Number20241Not stated
6,169Number20241Records with valid data
5,574Number20242Total
2,985Number20242Exclusive breastfeeding
3,085Number20242Any breastfeeding
2,104Number20242Not breastfeeding
385Number20242Not stated
5,189Number20242Records with valid data
5,317Number20243Total
3,147Number20243Exclusive breastfeeding
3,260Number20243Any breastfeeding
1,605Number20243Not breastfeeding
452Number20243Not stated
4,865Number20243Records with valid data
4,796Number20244Total
3,044Number20244Exclusive breastfeeding
3,138Number20244Any breastfeeding
1,266Number20244Not breastfeeding
392Number20244Not stated
4,404Number20244Records with valid data
4,490Number20245Total
3,098Number20245Exclusive breastfeeding
3,161Number20245Any breastfeeding
1,031Number20245Not breastfeeding
298Number20245Not stated
4,192Number20245Records with valid data
108Number2024Not statedTotal
41Number2024Not statedExclusive breastfeeding
42Number2024Not statedAny breastfeeding
4Number2024Not statedNot breastfeeding
62Number2024Not statedNot stated
46Number2024Not statedRecords with valid data
27,457Number2023All WalesTotal
16,512Number2023All WalesExclusive breastfeeding
16,968Number2023All WalesAny breastfeeding
9,037Number2023All WalesNot breastfeeding
1,452Number2023All WalesNot stated
26,005Number2023All WalesRecords with valid data
6,801Number20231Total
3,334Number20231Exclusive breastfeeding
3,453Number20231Any breastfeeding
2,993Number20231Not breastfeeding
355Number20231Not stated
6,446Number20231Records with valid data
5,726Number20232Total
3,217Number20232Exclusive breastfeeding
3,305Number20232Any breastfeeding
2,141Number20232Not breastfeeding
280Number20232Not stated
5,446Number20232Records with valid data
5,316Number20233Total
3,343Number20233Exclusive breastfeeding
3,451Number20233Any breastfeeding
1,602Number20233Not breastfeeding
263Number20233Not stated
5,053Number20233Records with valid data
4,994Number20234Total
3,365Number20234Exclusive breastfeeding
3,446Number20234Any breastfeeding
1,278Number20234Not breastfeeding
270Number20234Not stated
4,724Number20234Records with valid data
4,525Number20235Total
3,210Number20235Exclusive breastfeeding
3,269Number20235Any breastfeeding
1,014Number20235Not breastfeeding
242Number20235Not stated
4,283Number20235Records with valid data
95Number2023Not statedTotal
43Number2023Not statedExclusive breastfeeding
44Number2023Not statedAny breastfeeding
9Number2023Not statedNot breastfeeding
42Number2023Not statedNot stated
53Number2023Not statedRecords with valid data
28,388Number2022All WalesTotal
16,276Number2022All WalesExclusive breastfeeding
16,692Number2022All WalesAny breastfeeding
9,686Number2022All WalesNot breastfeeding
2,010Number2022All WalesNot stated
26,378Number2022All WalesRecords with valid data
7,216Number20221Total
3,357Number20221Exclusive breastfeeding
3,465Number20221Any breastfeeding
3,275Number20221Not breastfeeding
476Number20221Not stated
6,740Number20221Records with valid data
5,934Number20222Total
3,122Number20222Exclusive breastfeeding
3,193Number20222Any breastfeeding
2,359Number20222Not breastfeeding
Showing 1 to 100 of 504 rows
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Next update expected:July 2026

Updates

19th December 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Accredited official statistics
Data provider
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)
Data source
National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD)

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

Number and percentage of babies breastfed at birth by type of breastfeeding and Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile.

These statistics are derived from the National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD) where data for breastfeeding at birth and for babies turning 10 days, 6 weeks and 6 months is extracted and refers to records where there was any breastfeeding. Data are provided to the Welsh Government by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW).

The NCCHD was established in 2004 and consists of anonymised records for all children born, resident or treated in Wales and born after 1987. The database brings together data from local Community Child Health System databases which are held by local health boards (LHBs), and its main function is to provide an online record of a child’s health and care from birth to leaving school age. The statistics used in this release are based on the data recorded at birth and shortly after birth.

Full details of every data item available on both the Maternity Indicators dataset and National Community Child Health Database are available through the NHS Wales Data Dictionary.

Data collection or calculation

The NCCHD includes records of all children born in, resident in or receiving services in their relevant local health boards. This means the database contains some information for some children not currently residing in Wales; however, unless otherwise stated, all statistics produced from data sourced from this database is filtered to only include those children born in Wales.

Data on breastfeeding at birth, 10 days, 6 weeks and 6 months refers to the time period in which the activity occurred, rather than when the child was born.

The percentages are of the total number of records with stated breastfeeding status. The total number of records for percentage calculations is all live births for 'birth'.

The NCCHD records both live and stillbirths, however the analysis in the statistical release refers only to live births.

Statistical quality

The NCCHD is a live database, meaning health boards can amend data for any period. For the statistics in this release, DHCW take data extracts from a single point in time, for the latest calendar year. Welsh Government will not make revisions to historical data unless errors are discovered.

Breastfeeding data at all points in time are subject to data quality issues as some mothers and babies have incomplete records. Not all records on the National Community Child Health Database have complete records for breastfeeding status. The completeness rate decreases with the age of the baby and in 2024, was as follows:

  • 92% at birth
  • 88% at 10 days
  • 79% at six weeks
  • 78% at 6 months.

A completeness table for all data items used in this release from both data sources is available in the quality report.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.healthinfo@gov.wales

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