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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Patna

35%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Patna ranks 36th of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, below Bihar's 43%. It fell 9 points since NFHS-4.

28%children under 5 wasted
40%children under 5 underweight
65%children 6-59 months anaemic
8.3%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Patna against Bihar and India

MeasurePatnaNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)34.5%43.5%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)27.5%28.5%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted10.6%11.5%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight39.6%43.3%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight1.4%0.9%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic65.4%51.6%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic67.1%57.1%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)22.6%24%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet8.3%4%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed22.3%35.4%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 Patna

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

Groundwater in PatnaRainfall in PatnaWater table in Patna

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Patna?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 35% of children under five in Patna district were stunted, 28% wasted and 40% underweight. Stunting is below Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Patna?

Stunting in Patna fell from 44% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 35% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 9 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 Patna?

65% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Patna were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 67% of women aged 15 to 49.

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

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