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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Kishanganj

39%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Kishanganj ranks 30th of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, below Bihar's 43%. It fell 8.1 points since NFHS-4.

24%children under 5 wasted
41%children under 5 underweight
68%children 6-59 months anaemic
13%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Kishanganj against Bihar and India

MeasureKishanganjNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)38.8%46.9%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)23.9%22.8%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted7.6%9.2%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight41.1%45.4%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight1.5%1.4%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic67.5%65.2%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic65.1%67.6%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)29.1%34.5%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet13.1%9.5%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed53.5%66.8%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 Kishanganj

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

Groundwater in KishanganjRainfall in KishanganjWater table in Kishanganj

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Kishanganj?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 39% of children under five in Kishanganj district were stunted, 24% wasted and 41% underweight. Stunting is below Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Kishanganj?

Stunting in Kishanganj fell from 47% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 39% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 8.1 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 Kishanganj?

68% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Kishanganj were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 65% of women aged 15 to 49.

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

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