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Hunger · Bihar

Child malnutrition in Vaishali

38%of children under five stunted (NFHS-5, 2019-21)Very high

Vaishali ranks 31st of 38 districts in Bihar for child stunting, highest first, below Bihar's 43%. It fell 15.4 points since NFHS-4.

20%children under 5 wasted
38%children under 5 underweight
77%children 6-59 months anaemic
12%children 6-23 months with an adequate diet

Vaishali against Bihar and India

MeasureVaishaliNFHS-4BiharIndia
Children under 5 stunted (too short for age)38.3%53.7%42.9%35.5%
Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height)19.6%15.1%22.9%19.3%
Children under 5 severely wasted6.5%4.9%8.8%7.7%
Children under 5 underweight38.4%41.3%41%32.1%
Children under 5 overweight3.8%1.1%2.4%3.4%
Children 6-59 months anaemic77.1%67.4%69.4%67.1%
Women 15-49 anaemic63.1%62.1%63.5%57%
Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5)26.1%28.9%25.6%18.7%
Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet11.7%10%10.9%11.3%
Babies under 6 months only breastfed47%62.4%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 Vaishali

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

Groundwater in VaishaliRainfall in VaishaliWater table in Vaishali

Frequently asked questions

What is the malnutrition rate in Vaishali?

In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 38% of children under five in Vaishali district were stunted, 20% wasted and 38% underweight. Stunting is below Bihar's 43% and India's 36%.

Is child malnutrition falling in Vaishali?

Stunting in Vaishali fell from 54% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 38% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 15.4 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 Vaishali?

77% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Vaishali 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 Vaishali?

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