West Bengal District Map

The map shades West Bengal’s 23districts on five indicators from the National Family Health Survey: sex ratio at birth, women’s literacy (15-49), institutional births, all basic vaccinations (children 12-23 months) and child stunting (under 5). NFHS-5 (2019-21) surveyed 20 districts; there is no separate estimate for Alipurduar, Jhargram and Kalimpong. NFHS-4 (2015-16) surveyed 19 districts.

Across the state, institutional births rose from 75.2% in NFHS-4 to 91.7% in NFHS-5, all basic vaccinations from 84.4% to 87.9%, and child stunting moved from 32.5% to 33.8%. Sex ratio at birth was 960 and 973 females per 1,000 males, and women’s literacy 70.9% and 76.1%. The NFHS-4 India figures were 78.9% institutional births, 62% all basic vaccinations and 38.4% stunting.

Of the 18 districts surveyed under the same name in both rounds, South 24 Parganas had the largest rise in institutional births, from 52.1% to 91%.

Alipurduar, Jhargram, Kalimpong, Paschim Bardhaman and Purba Bardhaman were not surveyed separately in NFHS-4, so they have no NFHS-4 estimate of their own. Darjiling, Jalpaiguri and Paschim Medinipur were surveyed in NFHS-4 before Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jhargram were formed from them, so their NFHS-4 figures cover the larger area. NFHS-4 district sex ratio at birth and women’s literacy appear only in the district fact sheets; official copies of 3 of the 19 were available, so the other districts have no NFHS-4 value for these two indicators.

All basic vaccinations means BCG, measles and three doses each of DPT and polio (excluding the birth dose), by vaccination card or mother’s report. NFHS-5 counts the same schedule and also accepts Penta for DPT and MCV/MR for measles.

Each district has a profile page:

AlipurduarBankuraBirbhumCooch BeharDakshin DinajpurDarjeelingHooghlyHowrahJalpaiguriJhargramKalimpongKolkataMaldaMurshidabadNadiaNorth 24 ParganasPaschim BardhamanPaschim MedinipurPurba BardhamanPurba MedinipurPuruliaSouth 24 ParganasUttar Dinajpur