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Hunger · India

Child malnutrition in Bihar

43%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Bihar ranks 2nd of 36 states and union territories for child stunting, highest first; India's figure is 36%. In towns it is 37%, in villages 44%.

23%children under 5 wasted
41%children under 5 underweight
69%children 6-59 months anaemic
11%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Bihar in NFHS-5, town and village

MeasureBiharUrbanRuralNFHS-4India
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)42.9%36.8%43.9%48.3%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)22.9%21.6%23.1%20.8%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted8.8%7.7%9%7%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight41%35.8%41.8%43.9%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight2.4%2.2%2.4%1.2%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic69.4%67.9%69.7%63.5%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic63.5%65.6%63.1%60.3%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)25.6%18.7%26.9%30.4%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet10.9%9.2%11.2%7.5%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed58.9%55.8%59.4%53.4%63.7%

Child stunting by district in Bihar

Children under five too short for their age, NFHS-5 district factsheets (2019-21).

  1. 1Sitamarhi54%
  2. 2Sheikhpura54%
  3. 3Araria50%
  4. 4Nawada49%
  5. 5Purba Champaran49%
  6. 6Saharsa48%
  7. 7Gaya47%
  8. 8Banka47%
  9. 9Madhepura46%
  10. 10Arwal46%
  11. 11Darbhanga45%
  12. 12Kaimur (Bhabua)44%
  13. 13Samastipur44%
  14. 14Katihar44%
  15. 15Pashchim Champaran44%
  16. 16Purnia44%
  17. 17Madhubani43%
  18. 18Jamui43%
  19. 19Lakhisarai43%
  20. 20Muzaffarpur43%
  21. 21Nalanda43%
  22. 22Supaul42%
  23. 23Jehanabad41%
  24. 24Aurangabad41%
  25. 25Bhojpur41%
  26. 26Bhagalpur40%
  27. 27Rohtas40%
  28. 28Saran40%
  29. 29Buxar40%
  30. 30Kishanganj39%
  31. 31Vaishali38%
  32. 32Begusarai38%
  33. 33Siwan37%
  34. 34Munger36%
  35. 35Khagaria35%
  36. 36Patna35%
  37. 37Sheohar34%
  38. 38Gopalganj34%

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Bihar?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 43% of children under five in Bihar were stunted, 23% wasted and 41% underweight, against 36%, 19% and 32% for India.

Is malnutrition falling in Bihar?

Stunting fell from 48% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 43% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 5.4 points.

Which district of Bihar has the most malnutrition?

Sitamarhi had the highest share of stunted children in NFHS-5, 54%, and Gopalganj the lowest, 34%.

How many children are anaemic in Bihar?

69% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Bihar were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 64% of women aged 15 to 49.

Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21, IIPS and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; districts from NFHS-5 district factsheets, tabulated by pratapvardhan/NFHS-5 (CC BY 4.0).

Malnutrition in other states