Overview

• The latest Health Survey shows 47% of Spanish infants are exclusively breastfed at six months, up from 39% in 2017 and close to the WHO’s 50% goal
• The Health Ministry convened a multi-agency working group with autonomous regions, Equality and Social Rights ministries and IHAN, allocating €200,000 to boost breastfeeding support
• Royal Decree-Law 9/2025 extends birth and care leave to 19 weeks per parent, with two weeks transferable until a child’s eighth birthday to ease the return to work
• Despite 98% of mothers intending to breastfeed, workplace pressures, cultural stigma and online myths lead half to abandon exclusive breastfeeding before six months
• WHO and UNICEF highlight the health, cognitive and environmental benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and call for sustained policy efforts to meet international targets