As shown in Figure 20, in 2012 the rate of exclusive breastfeeding of infants under six months was 34.6, below the global prevalence of 37.0 percent, and below the World Health Assembly target of at least 50 percent exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life by 2025. Among the subregions the highest prevalence was in lower-middle-income countries, above the global estimate, at 39.7 percent, followed by low-income countries at 33.2 percent, Arab States LDCs at 29.4 percent and upper-middle-income countries at 19.9 percent (Table 12).
In the Arab States (Figure 21), for the latest period reported, the Sudan, with a prevalence of 54.6 percent of infants under six months of age exclusively breastfed in 2014, was the only country that has a prevalence above the WHA target of at least 50 percent, whereas the lowest prevalence was in Yemen at 9.7 percent in 2013. Five countries, in each of the subregions, have had a decrease or no change in rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the periods reported. Two countries, Mauritania and Somalia, had rates of increase above 20 percentage points.
| Area | 2012 | 2021 |
| World | 37.0 | 47.7 |
| Arab States | 34.6 | n.a. |
| Low-income countries | 33.2 | n.a. |
| Lower-middle-income countries | 39.7 | n.a. |
| Upper-middle-income countries | 19.9 | 24.4 |
| High-income countries | n.a. | n.a. |
| Arab States LDCs | 29.4 | n.a. |
| Conflict countries | 28.7 | n.a. |
| Non-conflict countries | 38.9 | n.a. |
