Breastfeeding Among All Infants Born in Minnesota
Data on breastfeeding initiation from Minnesota birth records (residents and non-residents born in Minnesota birthing facilities).
On this page:
Trends by Cultural Identity
Maps by Cultural Identity
Data Tables
2017-2021 Trends
Breastfeeding Initiation
Minnesota exceeded the Healthy People 2020 breastfeeding initiation goal (81.9%) in every year reported, but the rate dropped for a third year in a row in 2021. Wide disparities in rates remain across cultures and communities, with declining rates among all groups except Other Black.
- Hmong breastfeeding initiation rates (59.7% in 2021) remain the lowest among the reported groups.
- American Indian rates declined 6.3 points from 2020 to 2021. They varied widely by region, with the highest rate (78.0%) in the Metro region and lowest (60.1%) in the Northwest.
- Black (African American) rates, after steadily improving for several years to a high of 80.4% in 2018, dropped in 2021 to 76.4%. The Northeast region reported the highest 2021 rate (77.6%) and the South Central reported the lowest (66.7%).
- Hispanic infants have high rates overall (88.1%) but declined 1.8points from 2018 to 2021. Hispanic rates vary greatly between regions. The Northeast had the highest rate (95.4%). South Central had the lowest rate (74.3%).
- White infants met and exceeded the Healthy People 2020 goal in all regions, with the highest rate in the Metro (94.5%).
- This report includes information on all infants born in Minnesota. Find breastfeeding data among Minnesota WIC participants (regardless of place of birth) in the WIC Breastfeeding Reports.
Trends by Cultural Identity
Maps by Cultural Identity
Cultural Identity
Benchmarks for Breastfeeding Outcomes (PDF)
Suggested citation: Minnesota WIC Information System. Breastfeeding Initiation Among Infants Born in Minnesota Birthing Facilities During Selected Time Period by Location and Cultural Identity. Minnesota WIC Program: 2022.
* Percentages are not calculated for locations with < 30 participants. For locations with small numbers of participants with a given cultural identity, participants are grouped with those of unknown identity under the ‘unspecified CID’ category.
Methodology and Interpretation: Location and Race/Ethnicity (PDF)
Data as of June 29, 2022 (updated annually)
For more information, please e-mail health.WIC@state.mn.us.