Child malnutrition in Leh (Ladakh)
Leh (Ladakh) ranks 2nd of 2 districts in Ladakh for child stunting, highest first, below Ladakh's 31%. It rose 3.7 points since NFHS-4.
Leh (Ladakh) against Ladakh and India
| Measure | Leh (Ladakh) | NFHS-4 | Ladakh | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 stunted (too short for age) | 24.3% | 20.6% | 30.5% | 35.5% |
| Children under 5 wasted (too thin for height) | 17.2% | 12.4% | 17.5% | 19.3% |
| Children under 5 severely wasted | 7.6% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 7.7% |
| Children under 5 underweight | 19% | 16.8% | 20.4% | 32.1% |
| Children under 5 overweight | 12.7% | 4% | 13.4% | 3.4% |
| Children 6-59 months anaemic | 95.5% | 95.8% | 92.5% | 67.1% |
| Women 15-49 anaemic | 93.5% | 84.1% | 92.8% | 57% |
| Women 15-49 underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 18.7% |
| Children 6-23 months with an adequate diet | 29.2% | 26.7% | 24% | 11.3% |
| Babies under 6 months only breastfed | 63.2% | – | 70.9% | 63.7% |
Child stunting in Ladakh's districts
- 1Kargil37%
- 2Leh (Ladakh)24%
Water in Leh (Ladakh)
Groundwater, rain and the water table shape what farms in Leh (Ladakh) can grow and what families can drink.
Frequently asked questions
What is the malnutrition rate in Leh (Ladakh)?
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), 24% of children under five in Leh (Ladakh) district were stunted, 17% wasted and 19% underweight. Stunting is below Ladakh's 31% and India's 36%.
Is child malnutrition falling in Leh (Ladakh)?
Stunting in Leh (Ladakh) rose from 21% in NFHS-4 (2015-16) to 24% in NFHS-5 (2019-21), 3.7 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 Leh (Ladakh)?
96% of children aged 6 to 59 months in Leh (Ladakh) were anaemic in NFHS-5, which WHO counts as a severe public health problem. So were 94% of women aged 15 to 49.
Is there malnutrition data for my town or neighbourhood in Leh (Ladakh)?
No survey publishes child nutrition below the district, so every town, village and neighbourhood in Leh (Ladakh) 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 Ladakh.