As far as reasons for why so many babies are forumla-fed, there are multiple possibilities:

1. Legit medical reasons, e.g. allergy or sensitivity to one or more naturally-occurring substances in breastmilk, Mommy can't deliver enough for a unidentifiable or unresolvable reason, Mommy isn't around to breastfeed at all

2. Convenience reasons, e.g. "I need my baby sleeping through the night ASAP", "It's easier to buy can(s) of powder and mix that up to feed than pump my own breast, plus I don't have to worry about cold storage", prior bad breasfeeding experiences

3. "Medical reasons" that are really a risk management decision by the healthcare team, e.g. baby's weight/growth pattern is within the lower end of normal, mother and baby can't agree on a workable feeding regime without forumla, SOP at some medical facilities where anything goes the least bit wrong

Mumsnet thread discussing breastfeeding risk management in terms of newborn weight management

As far as reasons for why so many babies are forumla-fed, there are multiple possibilities:

1. Legit medical reasons, e.g. allergy or sensitivity to one or more naturally-occurring substances in breastmilk, Mommy can't deliver enough for a unidentifiable reason, Mommy isn't around to breastfeed at all

2. Convenience reasons, e.g. "I need my baby sleeping through the night ASAP", "It's easier to buy can(s) of powder and mix that up to feed than pump my own breast, plus I don't have to worry about cold storage", prior bad breasfeeding experiences

3. "Medical reasons" that are really a risk management decision by the healthcare team, e.g. baby's weight/growth pattern is within the lower end of normal, mother and baby can't agree on a workable feeding regime without forumla, SOP at some medical facilities where anything goes the least bit wrong