Breastfeeding rates in Scotland at record high

The UK has one of the lowest recorded breastfeeding rates in the world

Breastfeeding rates in Scotland are at the highest level since official records began in 2002, Public Health Scotland (PHS) data shows.

In the 12 months to March 2025, more than half of newborn babies were being breastfed at the time of their 6-8 week review (34% exclusively and 17% a mixture of formula and breastfeeding), while 49% were formula fed only.

Breastfeeding is medically proven to support the short and long-term health of babies and young children, as well as for mothers.

The Scottish government said it had provided an additional £11m over the past seven years towards breastfeeding support.

Figures show that over the past decade the proportion of babies receiving some breastfeeding increased at both the first visit (61% in 2024/25, compared with 48% in 2014/15) and 6-8 week reviews (51% in 2024/25 compared with 38% in 2014/15).

Mothers are also breastfeeding for longer periods.

Among those who reported breastfeeding at any point, a quarter (25%) had stopped breastfeeding by 6-8 weeks, compared with just over a third (36%) in 2016/17.

The Scottish government's target was to reduce the drop-off in breastfeeding rates at the 6-8 week point by 10% by 2025.

The figures also show geographical variations in the rate of breastfeeding across the country.

Last year almost three quarters (72.8%) of newborns in Edinburgh were breastfed (exclusive or mixed) at their 6-8 week review, compared with 32.1% of babies in Inverclyde.

However, babies born to mothers in Scotland's most deprived areas were still less likely to be breastfed than those in the least deprived areas but the gap is closing.

The data shows that 66% of babies born to mothers living in the least deprived areas were breastfed (exclusive or mixed) while 40% of babies born to mothers living in the most deprived areas were breastfed.

Minister for Public Health Jenni Minto said: "The Scottish government has targeted an additional £11m over the past seven years towards breastfeeding support.

"This extra funding has now been transferred to health boards so they can adapt their plans to suit local needs and it is particularly pleasing to see breastfeeding rates in the most deprived areas increasing.

"We have also seen good progress in health boards implementing the Unicef UK Baby Friendly standards as a strong foundation for this work."