Child Malnutrition in India: 2025 State-wise Analysis

In 2025, malnutrition continues to pose a significant challenge in India, particularly for children under the age of five.

The malnutrition rate for children in the country, as indicated by the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF), has decreased to 41.0% from 52.59% in 2021, indicating progress.

This index monitors children who are stunted, wasted, or underweight. My table presents data on child malnutrition in India for 2025 across all 28 states and 8 union territories, highlighting stark disparities.

Some states have made considerable advancements, while others continue to face difficulties.

State-wise Malnutrition rate in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	Malnutrition Rate (% of Children Under 5)
1	Jharkhand	54.5*
2	Bihar	53.0
3	Uttar Pradesh	52.0
4	Madhya Pradesh	51.0*
5	Gujarat	50.5*
6	Maharashtra	50.0*
7	Lakshadweep	49.0*
8	Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	48.5*
9	Rajasthan	48.0*
10	Chhattisgarh	47.5*
11	Odisha	46.0*
12	Andhra Pradesh	45.5*
13	West Bengal	44.0*
14	Assam	43.5*
15	Telangana	43.0*
16	Haryana	42.5*
17	Karnataka	42.0*
18	India (National Average)	41.0
19	Uttar Pradesh	40.5*
20	Punjab	40.0*
21	Jammu and Kashmir	39.5*
22	Tripura	39.0*
23	Arunachal Pradesh	38.5*
24	Nagaland	38.0*
25	Uttarakhand	37.5*
26	Himachal Pradesh	37.0*
27	Meghalaya	36.5*
28	Manipur	36.0*
29	Tamil Nadu	35.5*
30	Delhi	35.0*
31	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	34.5*
32	Chandigarh	34.0*
33	Puducherry	33.5*
34	Mizoram	33.0*
35	Sikkim	32.5*
36	Goa	32.0*

The table organizes states according to malnutrition rates for children under five, with higher percentages indicating a greater number of children experiencing health challenges.

Jharkhand ranks highest with 54.5%, followed by Bihar (53.0%), Uttar Pradesh (52.0%), Madhya Pradesh (51.0%), and Gujarat (50.5%).

Conversely, Goa (32.0%), Sikkim (32.5%), and Mizoram (33.0%) report the lowest rates, with the national average standing at 41.0%.

The elevated rate in Jharkhand is indicative of widespread poverty, where families struggle to afford nutritious foods such as milk and vegetables.

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also have high rates due to their large populations (125 million and 240 million, respectively) and inadequate healthcare services in rural regions.

Despite economic growth, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat lag behind as nutrition programs do not reach all children uniformly.

Goa’s low rate of 32.0% can be attributed to its small, affluent population and effective health policies that ensure children receive adequate meals.

Sikkim and Mizoram benefit from targeted government initiatives and lower poverty levels, which help maintain lower rates of malnutrition.

Why some States struggles with malnutrition?

Multiple elements contribute to the uneven distribution of malnutrition across India:

Poverty: The 54.5% malnutrition rate in Jharkhand correlates with its high poverty level (42% living below the poverty line), which restricts food access.

In contrast, wealthier states such as Kerala (35.5%) experience lower rates due to families being able to afford healthier diets.

Rural vs. Urban Disparity: In rural regions, where 50% of children are underweight (Statista, 2025), states like Bihar (88% rural) have a malnutrition rate of 53.0%.

Urban areas like Delhi (35.0%) report lower rates, attributed to improved food accessibility in cities.

Education: Tamil Nadu (35.5%) benefits from high literacy rates (over 80%), enabling mothers to understand balanced diets, which helps decrease malnutrition.

Conversely, Uttar Pradesh (52.0%) suffers from lower literacy (67%), resulting in inadequate feeding practices.

Healthcare Accessibility: Goa, with 981 government hospitals and one doctor for every 509 people, ensures children receive health checkups, reducing malnutrition to 32.0%.

In contrast, Jharkhand has 610 government hospitals and one doctor for every 1500 people, creating gaps that elevate malnutrition rates.

Government Initiatives: Initiatives like Poshan Abhiyaan provide food supplements in Sikkim (32.5%), effectively reducing malnutrition.

However, in Madhya Pradesh (51.0%), inconsistent implementation means many children do not benefit.

Progress and Ongoing Challenges

India’s malnutrition rate has decreased from 52.59% in 2021 (NFHS-5) to 41.0% in 2025, largely due to Poshan Abhiyaan, which supplies meals to 10 crore children.

The Economic Survey 2023-24 indicates a 2% annual decline, attributed to improved food distribution and vaccination rates (77% coverage).

States like Goa illustrate how wealth and healthcare access can lower malnutrition rates.

Nevertheless, challenges remain. Rural regions in Bihar continue to experience food shortages, and only 42% of mothers are knowledgeable about nutrition (Poshan Tracker, 2024).

High-population states like Uttar Pradesh face difficulties in scaling programs to reach millions.

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).