Skip to content
Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Saran

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

Saran ranks 28th of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, below Bihar's 43%. It fell 6.4 points since NFHS-4.

29%children under 5 wasted
45%children under 5 underweight
70%children 6-59 months anaemic
7.1%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Saran against Bihar and India

MeasureSaranNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)39.7%46.1%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)28.8%18.1%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted10%4.6%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight45%40.4%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight2%1.5%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic69.8%61.9%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic62.8%53.9%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)22.1%23.9%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet7.1%4.9%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed45%73.8%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 Saran

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

Groundwater in SaranRainfall in SaranWater table in Saran

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Saran?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 40% of children under five in Saran district were stunted, 29% wasted and 45% underweight. Stunting is below Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Saran?

Stunting in Saran fell from 46% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 40% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 6.4 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 Saran?

70% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Saran were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 63% of women aged 15 to 49.

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

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