india's sex ratio

India’s Sex Ratio

Global Health & HealingApril 2011Suffolk UniversityGuest Lecturer: Diane D’Souza

What is a “sex ratio”? The proportion of

females to males in a population.

It is calculated as the number of females per thousand males.

It is measured at different points in the life cycle.

What’s a “Normal” Sex Ratio?

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Source: CIA Factbook; accessed on 20 April 2011 from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html

India’s Missing GirlsToday, 2,000 girls a day go missing in India.

That’s 700,000 a year.

Demographers estimate that 10 million girls disappeared from 1981 to 2005.

Source: P. M. Kulkarni, UNFPA Report: "Estimations of Missing Girls at Birth and Juvenile Ages in India”, United Nations Population Fund, 2007.

Death of mothers in childbirth.Neglect during early infancy and young childhood.

Killing after the female child is born.Illegal sex determination and consequent abortion.

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How it happens has changed over time:

State-wise diversity in sex ratio at birth

What might cause these differences?

Source: “Seven brothers: An aversion to having daughters is leading to millions of missing girls”, The Economist, 7 April 2011; accessed on 20 April 2011 at: www.economist.com/node/18530371

What contributes to India’s low sex ratio?

Females perceived as an economic burden (dowry,

marriage costs).

Males perceived as providing for one’s parents in old age (and inheriting

property).

A punishing patriarchal view of female worth—

which has been internalized by women.