Child malnutrition in Nicobar
Nicobar ranks 2nd of 3 districts in Andaman and Nicobar for child stunting, highest first, below Andaman and Nicobar's 23%. It rose 1.3 points since NFHS-4.
Nicobar against Andaman and Nicobar and India
| Measure | Nicobar | NFHS-4 | Andaman and Nicobar | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 21.6% | 20.3% | 22.5% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 15.7% | 7.4% | 16% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 7.8% | 2.3% | 4.8% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 24.6% | 10.5% | 23.7% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 1.5% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 37.7% | 50.5% | 40% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 38.3% | 55.2% | 57.5% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 8.2% | 4.5% | 9.4% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 18.7% | 9% | 19.5% | 11.3% |
Child stunting in Andaman and Nicobar's districts
- 1North & Middle Andaman27%
- 2Nicobar22%
- 3South Andaman21%
Water in Nicobar
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Nicobar can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Nicobar?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 22% of children under five in Nicobar district were stunted, 16% wasted and 25% underweight. Stunting is below Andaman and Nicobar's 23% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Nicobar?
Stunting in Nicobar rose from 20% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 22% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 1.3 points. District estimates come from a few hundred children each, so a change of a few points can be chance.
How many children are anaemic in Nicobar?
38% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Nicobar were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a moderate public health problem. So were 38% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Nicobar?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Nicobar shares these figures. The local anganwadi keeps growth records for the children it serves.
Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21, IIPS and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, district factsheet, tabulated by pratapvardhan/NFHS-5 (CC BY 4.0). All of Andaman and Nicobar.