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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Bhagalpur

40%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Bhagalpur ranks 26th of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, below Bihar's 43%. It fell 6.6 points since NFHS-4.

21%children under 5 wasted
40%children under 5 underweight
79%children 6-59 months anaemic
8.1%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Bhagalpur against Bihar and India

MeasureBhagalpurNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)40%46.6%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)21.2%23.1%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted8.3%7.8%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight40.4%40.8%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight2.8%1.4%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic78.7%70.1%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic73%61.6%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)22.9%26.2%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet8.1%7.2%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed52.6%61.7%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 Bhagalpur

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

Groundwater in BhagalpurRainfall in BhagalpurWater table in Bhagalpur

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Bhagalpur?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 40% of children under five in Bhagalpur district were stunted, 21% wasted and 40% underweight. Stunting is below Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Bhagalpur?

Stunting in Bhagalpur fell from 47% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 40% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 6.6 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 Bhagalpur?

79% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Bhagalpur were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 73% of women aged 15 to 49.

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

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