Bihar Data Hub — Research Centre

Bihar in Numbers.
No Sugar-Coating.

Every statistic on this page is sourced from government data — Census 2011 & 2021, NFHS, NSSO, RBI, MoHFW, MoE and Bihar state reports. We believe in facts, not slogans.

Sources: Census of India • NFHS-5 • NSSO • RBI State Finances • Bihar Economic Survey • MoE UDISE+ • NITI Aayog SDG Index

13.07 CrPopulation (Census 2011 base)
61.8%Literacy rate (vs 74.4% national)
₹76,490Per capita income (vs ₹1.72L national)
11.3%Share of India's population
2.5%Share of India's GDP
38Districts across Bihar
Education Data

Education — Bihar vs India

Bihar's education crisis is the deepest in the country. These numbers show why education is our top priority.

Literacy Rate Comparison (%)
Bihar vs Top & Bottom States — Census 2021 estimates
Source: Census of India 2021 (provisional)
School Enrollment vs Dropout (%)
Bihar primary to secondary dropout progression — UDISE+ 2022-23
Source: MoE UDISE+ Report 2022-23
Literacy by Gender — Bihar vs India (%)
Male vs Female literacy gap — one of India's widest
Bihar Male Literacy73.4%
Bihar Female Literacy51.5%
India Male Literacy82.1%
India Female Literacy65.5%
Source: Census of India / NFHS-5
IndicatorBiharNational AvgBest StateStatus
Overall Literacy61.8%74.4%Kerala 96.2%Critical
Female Literacy51.5%65.5%Kerala 92.1%Worst 3
Higher Ed Enrolment13.6%27.3%Tamil Nadu 46%Very Low
Student-Teacher Ratio1:481:26Himachal 1:14Critical
Govt Medical Colleges9Tamil Nadu 23Insufficient
IIT/NIT Institutions1 IIT, 1 NITTN: 5 IIT/NITNeeds More

Sources: Census 2021 • MoE UDISE+ 2022-23 • AISHE 2021-22 • NMC data

Economy & Jobs Data

Economy & Employment

Bihar contributes 11.3% of India's population but only 2.5% of GDP. The gap tells the whole story.

Per Capita Income — State Comparison (₹/year)
Bihar vs major states — RBI State Finances Report 2023-24
Source: RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024
Bihar GDP Growth vs India (%)
Annual GSDP growth rate — Bihar has grown but from a very low base
Source: Bihar Economic Survey 2023-24 / MoSPI
IndicatorBiharNational AvgStatus
Per Capita Income (₹/yr)₹76,490₹1,72,000Lowest in India
Youth Unemployment~46-58%~23%Very High
Migration (persons/yr)1 Cr+Highest
FDI Share of India total<0.5%Negligible
GSDP Growth Rate (avg)~10.5%~7.5%Growing but low base
Share of India's GDP2.5%Underperforming
IT Sector EmploymentNegligibleHighAbsent

Sources: RBI Handbook of Statistics 2024 • Bihar Economic Survey 2023-24 • CMIE • NSSO

Health Data

Healthcare — Critical Gaps

Bihar has one of India's weakest health infrastructures. NFHS-5 data reveals the scale of the crisis.

Health Indicators — Bihar vs India (%)
Key NFHS-5 indicators — 2019-21
Source: NFHS-5 (2019-21), MoHFW
Hospital Beds per 1000 Population
Bihar has the lowest hospital bed density in India
Kerala5.1 beds
Goa4.3 beds
India Average1.3 beds
Bihar0.29 beds
Source: NHP / MoHFW Rural Health Statistics 2022
Health IndicatorBiharIndia AverageStatus
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000)4428Very High
Under-5 Mortality (per 1000)5632Very High
Institutional Delivery (%)76.4%88.6%Below Average
Children Fully Immunised (%)72.6%76.4%Below Average
Anaemia in Children (%)69.4%67.1%High
Hospital Beds / 1000 persons0.291.3Critical
Doctors / 10,000 population~3~7Very Low

Sources: NFHS-5 (2019-21) • NHP 2022 • Rural Health Statistics 2022 • SRS 2020

Infrastructure Data

Infrastructure — The Foundation Crisis

Roads, power, water, internet — the four pillars of development. Bihar lags on all four.

Infrastructure Access (% households)
Bihar vs National average — Census & NFHS data
Source: Census 2011/21 • NFHS-5 • TRAI 2023
Road Connectivity Index
State-wise rural road connectivity score (PMGSY data)
Source: PMGSY Dashboard 2023 • MoRTH
InfrastructureBiharIndia AverageStatus
Villages with paved road~60%~82%Below Average
Households with electricity~88%~96%Improving
Reliable 24hr power supply~40%~70%Low
Internet users (% population)~35%~55%Below Average
Piped water at home (%)~48%~71%Low
Airports (commercial)3 (1 intl)Limited
Railway route (km)5,479Average

Sources: Census 2021 • NFHS-5 • PMGSY 2023 • TRAI Annual Report 2023 • Jal Jeevan Mission 2023

Agriculture & Farmers Data

Farmers — The Forgotten Majority

80% of Bihar's population depends on agriculture. Yet farming in Bihar remains one of the most vulnerable livelihoods in India.

Farmer Income Comparison (₹/year)
Average annual farmer household income — NABARD NAFIS 2022
Source: NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2022
Irrigation Coverage (% of net sown area)
Bihar has one of the lowest irrigation coverages despite major rivers
Source: Bihar Agriculture Department / MoA&FW 2023
Agriculture IndicatorBiharIndia AverageStatus
Average farm size (hectares)0.391.08Fragmented
Irrigation coverage (%)~48%~52%Below Average
Monsoon dependency (%)~72%~48%Very High
Cold storage capacity (MT)~12 lakhVery Low
Flood-affected area/yr (ha)~76 lakhSevere
MSP procurement reach (%)<20%~35%Very Low
Avg farmer income (₹/yr)~₹38,000~₹1,22,000Lowest Tier

Sources: NABARD NAFIS 2022 • MoA&FW • Bihar Flood Management Report • CACP MSP Data 2023

City-wise Data

Our 5 Focus Cities

Patna, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur and Gaya — each city's key data and potential.

🏛️ Patna
Population~25 lakh
Literacy77.8%
GDP contribution~30% of Bihar
IndustriesGovt / Trade
IT sectorNegligible
AirportInternational
✈️ Darbhanga
Population~10 lakh
Literacy52.3%
Airport statusOperational
Madhubani artExport base
Medical facilityDMCH only
IT presenceAbsent
🎨 Madhubani
Population~4.4 lakh
Literacy49.3%
Art export value~₹100 Cr/yr
Artisans5 lakh+
Artisan income₹150–300/day
GI TagYes (2007)
🍋 Muzaffarpur
Population~3.8 lakh
Literacy68.7%
Shahi LitchiGI Tagged
Litchi production~40% of India
Cold storageInadequate
Food processingMinimal
☸️ Gaya
Population~4.7 lakh
Literacy67.6%
Tourists/yr~1 crore
Tourism revenueUnderutilised
Solar potential320+ sunny days
AirportInternational

Sources: Census 2011/2021 • District Gazetteer • Bihar Tourism Dept • GI Registry India

Nav Bihar Morcha Response

What this data demands

Every number above is a reason to act. Here is what Nav Bihar Morcha commits to addressing — based entirely on this data.

🎓

Education Emergency Response

1 lakh teacher appointments, free devices for Class 9+ students, AIIMS Darbhanga + AIIMS Gaya + IIT North Bihar. Literacy to 95% by 2035.

Based on UDISE+ & Census data
💼

50 Lakh Jobs Mission

5 IT Parks, Bihar Startup Mission ₹500 Cr, industrial corridors Patna-Gaya-Muzaffarpur, MNC invitation policy — stop 1 crore annual migration.

Based on RBI & CMIE employment data
🏥

Healthcare Infrastructure Drive

From 0.29 beds to 1.3 beds per 1000 — 16 new medical colleges, PHCs in every panchayat, free medicines for BPL families by 2035.

Based on NFHS-5 & NHP data
🌾

Farmer Income Tripled

From ₹38,000 to ₹1.1 lakh — canal irrigation, cold storage every block, direct MSP, FPOs, permanent North Bihar flood solution.

Based on NABARD NAFIS 2022 data