Countries that have substantially aligned with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes report exclusive breastfeeding rates of 54%, compared with just 24% in countries with no legal measures. This finding comes from the latest report released on World Breastfeeding Protection Day, May 21, which assesses the extent of code implementation across nations.
India's Performance
India is categorized as 'substantially aligned with the Code,' and its most recent health survey (2019-21) indicates that nearly 64% of children under six months are exclusively breastfed, a significant improvement from 55% in 2015-16. The report was prepared by WHO's Department of Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) in collaboration with WHO's Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing.
Regional Highlights
Bangladesh, closely followed by India, achieved the highest scores in South Asia for code implementation. In contrast, China performed poorly, with an exclusive breastfeeding rate of only about 29%. India earned full marks for regulating promotion to the general public and within health facilities, as well as high scores on monitoring and labeling. However, it scored very low on producing informational materials to promote breastfeeding and on prohibiting industry-produced materials. Most European countries and the Americas also performed poorly on code implementation.
Global Trends
The report notes that between 2024 and early 2026, 19 countries enacted new legal measures to implement the Code, with 15 showing improved alignment. 'Thirty-seven countries have legislation substantially aligned with the code, protecting 45% of the world's newborns from unethical marketing. This is an increase from only 25 countries in 2020. A total of 148 countries—76% of WHO member states—have enacted laws covering at least some provisions. Alignment is highest in the WHO African, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asia regions,' stated the report.
Progress Toward Targets
Globally, rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life have increased by 10 percentage points over the past decade, reaching 48% according to the Global Breastfeeding Scorecard for 2025. This is slightly below the World Health Assembly target of 50%. WHO and UNICEF have set a new target to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months to at least 60% by 2030.
