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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Darbhanga

45%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Darbhanga ranks 11th of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, above Bihar's 43%. It fell 3.6 points since NFHS-4.

19%children under 5 wasted
39%children under 5 underweight
69%children 6-59 months anaemic
14%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Darbhanga against Bihar and India

MeasureDarbhangaNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)45.4%49%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)19.3%16.6%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted6.4%4.9%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight39.2%41.1%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight1.5%2.1%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic68.9%69.9%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic60.8%66.1%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)25.6%31.2%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet14%6.5%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed71.7%61.4%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 Darbhanga

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

Groundwater in DarbhangaRainfall in DarbhangaWater table in Darbhanga

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Darbhanga?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 45% of children under five in Darbhanga district were stunted, 19% wasted and 39% underweight. Stunting is above Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Darbhanga?

Stunting in Darbhanga fell from 49% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 45% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 3.6 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 Darbhanga?

69% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Darbhanga were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 61% of women aged 15 to 49.

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

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