Skip to content
Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Araria

50%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Araria ranks 3rd of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, above Bihar's 43%. It rose 1.5 points since NFHS-4.

24%children under 5 wasted
48%children under 5 underweight
76%children 6-59 months anaemic
13%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Araria against Bihar and India

MeasureArariaNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)49.9%48.4%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)23.9%22.8%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted5.2%7.2%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight47.8%45.4%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight3%0.5%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic75.8%61.8%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic67.9%65.6%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)30.4%38.3%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet12.8%10.7%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed69%51.2%58.9%63.7%

Child stunting in Bihar's districts

  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%

Water in Araria

Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Araria can grow and what families can drink.

Groundwater in ArariaRainfall in ArariaWater table in Araria

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Araria?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 50% of children under five in Araria district were stunted, 24% wasted and 48% underweight. Stunting is above Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Araria?

Stunting in Araria rose from 48% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 50% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 1.5 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 Araria?

76% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Araria were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 68% of women aged 15 to 49.

Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Araria?

No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Araria 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 Bihar.