Child Immunization in India: 2025 Vaccination Rates by State

Vaccines protect children from life-threatening illnesses such as measles and polio, and India is making significant efforts to ensure that every child is immunized.

By 2025, immunization coverage in India is projected to reach 93.5% for children aged 12-23 months, indicating that almost all children will receive their complete vaccination schedule, which includes BCG, DPT, and Measles-Rubella.

My table illustrates child vaccination rates in India for 2025 across all 28 states and 8 union territories, highlighting regions that excel while others fall behind.

State-wise Child Immunization in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	Vaccination Coverage (% of Children 12-23 Months Fully Immunized)
1	Jammu and Kashmir	99.0*
2	Punjab	98.0*
3	Himachal Pradesh	97.0*
4	Kerala	96.0*
5	Tamil Nadu	95.0*
6	Goa	94.0*
7	Chandigarh	94.0*
8	Delhi	93.0*
9	Puducherry	93.0*
10	Sikkim	93.0*
11	India (National Average)	93.5
12	Haryana	93.0*
13	Uttarakhand	92.0*
14	Gujarat	91.0*
15	Karnataka	91.0*
16	Maharashtra	91.0*
17	Telangana	90.0*
18	Andhra Pradesh	89.0*
19	West Bengal	89.0*
20	Mizoram	88.0*
21	Nagaland	88.0*
22	Manipur	87.0*
23	Meghalaya	87.0*
24	Arunachal Pradesh	86.0*
25	Tripura	86.0*
26	Assam	85.0*
27	Odisha	85.0*
28	Rajasthan	84.0*
29	Madhya Pradesh	83.0*
30	Chhattisgarh	82.0*
31	Jharkhand	81.0*
32	Uttar Pradesh	80.0*
33	Bihar	79.0*
34	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	78.0*
35	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	78.0*
36	Ladakh	78.0*
37	Lakshadweep	78.0*

The table organizes states according to the percentage of children aged 12-23 months who are fully vaccinated.

Jammu and Kashmir ranks first with 99.0%, followed by Punjab at 98.0%, Himachal Pradesh at 97.0%, Kerala at 96.0%, and Tamil Nadu at 95.0%.

The national average stands at 93.5%, while Lakshadweep, Ladakh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu share the lowest rate at 78.0%, with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands also at 78.0%.

Jammu and Kashmir’s leading position is attributed to effective government initiatives such as Mission Indradhanush, which successfully reaches even the most remote villages.

Punjab’s 98.0% vaccination rate is a result of its extensive network of clinics and high levels of parental awareness.

Himachal Pradesh’s 97.0% is linked to its small, well-organized population, facilitating comprehensive vaccination efforts.

Southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu excel due to their strong healthcare infrastructures, with hospitals available in every district.

What causes difficulties in certain regions?

Smaller union territories like Lakshadweep (78.0%) encounter obstacles due to their isolated islands, complicating vaccine distribution.

Bihar’s 79.0% and Uttar Pradesh’s 80.0% reflect the challenges posed by large populations and rural areas where healthcare facilities are not easily accessible.

Why some states excels while some lags behind?

Several elements contribute to the uneven distribution of child vaccination in India by 2025:

Healthcare Access: Jammu and Kashmir boasts a 99.0% vaccination coverage, supported by 260 government hospitals and a doctor-to-patient ratio of 900.

In contrast, Bihar’s coverage of 79.0% is hindered by a lower number of hospitals (1,305) and a less favorable ratio (2,000), resulting in many rural children remaining unvaccinated.

Awareness: The high literacy rate in Kerala (96.0% coverage, 94% literacy) enables parents to be informed about vaccination schedules.

Conversely, in Bihar (79.0%, 67% literacy), numerous parents miss vaccinations due to misconceptions or insufficient information.

Geography: Himachal Pradesh achieves a 97.0% vaccination rate because its mountainous villages are well-connected to clinics through good roads.

On the other hand, Lakshadweep’s 78.0% coverage is challenged by sea transport issues, which delay vaccine deliveries.

Government Programs: The Mission Indradhanush initiative enhances vaccination coverage in Punjab (98.0%) by focusing on children who have not received any doses.

However, in Uttar Pradesh (80.0%), the large population (240 million) hampers progress despite ongoing efforts.

Urban vs. Rural Divide: Urban regions such as Delhi (93.0%) achieve 94% coverage due to the proximity of clinics.

In contrast, rural states like Assam (85.0%, 85% rural) experience lower coverage rates (92% in rural areas compared to 94% in urban areas, PIB 2024).

Progress and Challenges

India’s immunization rate has increased from 76.6% in 2021 (NFHS-5) to 93.5% in 2025, largely due to the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) that addresses 12 diseases.

The Mission Indradhanush program contributes an additional 18.5% coverage in targeted regions, reaching 1.3 million children who have not received any doses (UNICEF, 2024).

States like Kerala exemplify how effective systems can yield positive outcomes. Nevertheless, challenges persist. Rural Bihar continues to face vaccine hesitancy, while remote areas like Ladakh encounter supply delays.

The Poshan Tracker (2024) indicates that 42% of parents lack comprehensive knowledge about vaccines, which hinders uptake in states such as Jharkhand (81.0%).

Source

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21: India report. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS).