Indian Sex Ratio 2024 State-wise, NFHS-5 Survey Estimated Sex Ratio

The sex ratio, which presents the number of females per 1,000 males, aids in various demographic analyses, which include mortality, migration, marital status, and economics. A ratio of 1,000 signifies gender parity, while ratios above 1,000 suggest an excess of females, and those below 1,000 indicate a deficit. Read this article to know about the Indian Sex Ratio 2024 State-wise and also the Estimated Women and Men 2024 Report

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Indian Sex Ratio 2024

According to the National Family Health Survey, the estimated Indian Sex Ratio 2024 is:

• Estimated India’s Sex ratio in 2024 is 1020 females per 1000 males.
• In the rural area, the Sex ratio is 1037
• In the urban areas, it’s 985 females to 1000 males.
• The sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years in India is 929 females per 1,000 males.

NFHS-5 Survey for Indian Sex Ratio

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2020-21, India’s Sex Ratio in 2023 was 1020 females per 1000 males.

• In rural areas, the sex ratio is 1037, and in urban areas, it’s 985 females to 1000 males.
  The sex ratio at birth also continues to be lower than what is expected.
• In 2022-23, the sex ratio at birth improved by 15 points to 933.
• However, in 2015-17, sex ratio in India at birth (SRB) came down to an all-time low of 896.
  Kerala has the highest sex ratio in India, with 1084 females for every 1000 males.
• The overall gender ratio of Indian states is poor compared to developed countries.

Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males)	2011 Census	2023 (NFHS-5 Survey)
Rural	949	1037
Urban	929	985
India	943	1020

Male Female Ratio in India

• India’s sex ratio in 2023 is 1,020 females per 1,000 males.
• The sex ratio in rural areas is 985 females to 1,000 males, and in urban areas, it’s 985 females to 1,000 males.
  The sex ratio at birth has improved by 15 points from 918 in 2014-15 to 933 in 2022-23.
• The sex ratio at birth went up by three points to 907 in 2018-20 from 904 in 2017-19.
• The current population of India is 1,441,459,746, with a current male population of 51.6% and a current female population of 48.4%.

Types of Sex Ratio

There are 4 types of sex ratios divided according to the stages of development.

• Primary Sex Ratio- (Fertilization)
• Secondary Sex Ratio- (Birth Ratio)
• Tertiary Sex Ratio- (in Developed Organism)
• Quaternary Sex Ratio or Adult Sex Ratio – (Post-Reproductive Orgaism, above the age of 60 years)

Sex Ratio in India

According to the 2011 census, the male and female populations in India are 623.7 million and 586.4 million, respectively, out of a total population of 1210.1 million. Sex Ratio in India stands at 943, indicating that for every 1,000 males, there are 943 females.

A skewed sex ratio favouring males is a concerning signal, often associated with a higher risk of female fetal mortality. This issue is particularly prevalent in regions where parents selectively choose the gender of their children, leading to the tragic practice of female foeticide. The declining sex ratios present a significant threat to India’s future female population.

Child Sex Ratio (CSR)

The Child Sex Ratio (CSR), representing the number of females per 1,000 males in the 0–6-year-old category, is a critical demographic indicator. India’s CSR was 927 in the 2001 census but saw a decline to 918 in the 2011 census. The sex ratio is calculated using the formula:

Sex Ratio = (Number of Females / Number of Males) x 1000

Historical Perspective of Sex Ratio in India Trends

The sex ratio in India, a critical demographic indicator, has consistently declined since 1901, as per Census data. The world sex ratio standard measures the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) as the number of boys born per 100 girls. India uses a different metric, recording female births per 1,000 male births. This alarming trend isn’t restricted to specific age groups; it reflects a broader imbalance, with the general sex ratio falling from 972 in 1901 to 940 in 2011.

India’s historical bias against females is evident in this data. The post-independence era saw a decline in the sex ratio for two decades, reaching a low of 930 in 1971, with some fluctuations after that. The latest provisional results suggest a slight improvement, but the issue of an unfavorable sex ratio persists as a significant concern, demanding continued attention and measures to promote gender equality.

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Syllabus 2024

Sex ratio of India From 1901 to 2021

S.N.	Census Year	Sex Ratio (females/1000 males)
1.	1901	972
2.	1911	964
3.	1921	955
4.	1931	950
5.	1941	945
6.	1951	946
7.	1961	941
8.	1971	930
9.	1981	934
10.	1991	927
11.	2001	933
12.	2011	943
13.	2021	1,020

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Mains Syllabus 2024 Here!

Sex Ratio of States and UTs Data

State/UT Rank	Name of state or Union Territory	Sex Ratio  of India 2021
1.	Kerala	1084
2.	Puducherry	1038
3.	Tamil Nadu	995
4.	Andhra Pradesh	992
5.	Chhattisgarh	991
6.	Manipur	987
7.	Meghalaya	986
8.	Odisha	978
9.	Mizoram	975
10.	Himachal Pradesh	974
11.	Karnataka	968
12.	Goa	968
13.	Uttarakhand	963
14.	Tripura	961
15.	Assam	954
16.	Jharkhand	947
17.	West Bengal	947
18.	Lakshadweep	946
19.	Nagaland	931
20.	Madhya Pradesh	930
21.	Rajasthan	926
22.	Maharashtra	925
23.	Arunachal Pradesh	920
24.	Gujarat	918
25.	Bihar	916
26.	Uttar Pradesh	908
27.	Punjab	893
28.	Sikkim	889
29.	Jammu& Kashmir	883
30.	Andaman & Nicobar islands	878
31.	Haryana	877
32.	NCT of Delhi	866
33.	Chandigarh	818
34.	Dadra and Nagar Haveli	775
35.	Daman and Diu	618
Overall	India	943

Sex ratio in India 2023 State-wise

Highest sex ratio of India

1. Kerala (1084)
2. Tamil Nadu (995)
3. Andhra Pradesh (992)

Lowest sex ratio of India

1. Haryana (877)
2. Jammu and Kashmir (883)
3. Sikkim (889)

Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) – Top Performers

1. Mizoram (971)
2. Meghalaya (970)
3. Chhattisgarh (964)

Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) – Lowest Performers

1. Haryana (830)
2. Punjab (846)
3. Jammu and Kashmir (859)

Union Territories (UTs) – Top Overall Sex Ratio

1. Puducherry (1038)
2. Lakshadweep (946)
3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (878)

Union Territories (UTs) – Lowest Overall Sex Ratio

1. Daman and Diu (618)
2. Dadra and Nagar Haveli (775)
3. Chandigarh (818)

States and UTs with Declining Overall Sex Ratios

1. Bihar
2. Jammu and Kashmir
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
4. Daman and Diu
5. Lakshadweep

Improving Child Sex Ratios (0-6 years) in Census 2011

1. Punjab (798 to 846, +57 points)
2. Haryana (819 to 830, +11 points)
3. Himachal Pradesh (896 to 906, +10 points)
4. Chandigarh (845 to 867, +22 points)
5. Gujarat (883 to 886, +3 points)
6. Tamil Nadu (942 to 946, +4 points)
7. Mizoram (964 to 971, +7 points)
8. Andaman & Nicobar Islands (957 to 966, +9 points)

Telangana Demographics (formed in 2014)

• Total Population: 351.94 lakhs
• Male Population: 177.04 lakhs
• Female Population: 174.90 lakhs
• Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 Males): 988
• Child Sex Ratio: 933

Sex Ratio at Birth

While the overall sex ratio is positive, it’s important to note that the sex ratio at birth (SRB) is still skewed towards boys compared to the natural SRB, which is 952 girls per 1,000 boys. States like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Maharashtra exhibit lower SRB.

Check Out:- UPSC Exam 2024

Women and Men in India 2022 Report

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the Women and Men in India 2022 report.

Improvement in Sex Ratio

• India’s expected sex ratio is projected to improve significantly from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036, per the Women and Men in India 2022 report.
• The sex ratio at birth increased by three points from 904 in 2017-19 to 907 in 2018-20, according to the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Gender Disparities in the Labour Force

• Women’s participation in the labour force remains low in India, hindering their financial independence.
• India’s Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for those above 15 years of age has risen since 2017-2018, but women significantly lag behind men.
• In 2021-22, the LFPR was 77.2% for males but only 32.8% for females, with no improvement in this disparity.
• The low participation of women in the labor force is attributed to social factors, educational qualifications, and gender discrimination in wages and opportunities.
• Wage disparities persist, with men in rural areas earning more than women in urban areas for similar work.

Population Trends

• India’s population growth has been on a downward trend, decreasing from 2.2% in 1971 to 1.1% in 2021, and is projected to fall further to 0.58% by 2036.
• The female population share is expected to marginally improve from 48.5% in Census 2011 to 48.8% in 2036.
• Population projections indicate a decline in the population under 15 years of age and an increase in the population above 60 years by 2036. This shift will reshape the population pyramid.
• The age and sex structure of the population significantly impact gender-related issues, influenced by trends in fertility and mortality.
• Gender disparities in access to healthcare persist, with women facing challenges due to limited access to resources, decision-making power, and mobility.

Age-Specific Fertility Rate

• The age-specific fertility rate, reflecting live births in specific age groups of women per thousand females in that age group, has shown changes.
• For the age groups of 20-24 years and 25-29 years, the fertility rate decreased from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6, respectively, between 2016 and 2020. This decrease is associated with economic independence through education and employment.
• However, the same indicator for the 35-39 age group increased from 32.7 in 2016 to 35.6 in 2020.
• The mean age for marriage has marginally improved from 22.1 years in 2017 to 22.7 years in 2020.
• Other positive trends include a decline in infant and under-five mortality rates, as indicated by data from the National Family Health Survey.

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Notes 2024

Reasons for Declining Sex Ratio in India

The declining sex ratio of India can be attributed to several factors, including:

• Son Preference: Cultural preference for male children leads to sex-selective practices.
• Gender Disparity at Birth: More male births compared to female births.
• Female Infanticide: Despite being illegal, it still occurs in some regions.
• Sex Determination Testing: Preference for males leads to sex determination tests and potential pregnancy termination.
• Ineffective Laws: Challenges in implementing laws against sex selection.
• Small Family Norms: Some couples opt for smaller families if they have a male child.
• Dowry Practices: Economic pressures due to dowry can lead to neglect of female children.
• Surplus of Males: Imbalance can lead to difficulties in finding suitable partners for men, resulting in social issues.

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024 Here!

National Family Health Survey-5 Findings

Key findings from the NFHS-5 survey reveal significant demographic trends in India:

Sex Ratio Improvement

The data from 2019-2021 indicates a notable improvement in the sex ratio, with 1,020 women for every 1,000 men, marking the highest sex ratio recorded in NFHS surveys since the first modern synchronous census in 1881.

Steps Taken to Improve Sex Ratio

Several steps have been taken in India to improve the sex ratio, including:

• Legal Ban on Sex Determination: The PCPNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act strictly prohibits sex determination during pregnancy, aiming to prevent selective abortions based on gender.

• National Girl Child Day: In 2012, January 24th was declared National Girl Child Day, emphasizing the importance of the girl child and promoting gender equality.

• Sabla Scheme: Launched on International Women’s Day in 2011, the Sabla scheme focuses on empowering adolescent girls by promoting self-development, improving their health and nutrition, and raising awareness about various aspects of health, hygiene, nutrition, and reproductive health.

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme: Initiated in 2015 in Panipat, Haryana, this scheme has three main objectives:

• • Prevention of gender-biased sex-selective elimination.
  • Ensuring the survival and protection of the girl child.
  • Promoting education and active participation of the girl child.

These measures represent a concerted effort by the Indian government and various stakeholders to combat gender discrimination and improve the sex ratio, with a particular focus on empowering and safeguarding the rights of girls and women.

Check the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme in detail here.

Difference Between Sex Ratio and Gender Ratio

Sex Ratio	Gender Ratio
Biological sex	Social gender
Sex ratio is the ratio of females to males per 1000 individuals in a population.	The proportion of males to females in a society is known as the gender ratio.
Sex ratio $=\frac{\text{Number of females/}}{\text{Number of males}}$	The gender ratio is not stable but instead shaped by biological, social, technological, cultural, and economic forces.

Sex Ratio in India UPSC

• Sex ratio of India has steadily declined since 1901, with the 2011 census reporting 943 females per 1,000 males.
• Root causes include cultural son preference, gender disparities at birth, and sex-selective practices like female infanticide.
• Measures to address this issue include banning sex determination during pregnancy, promoting National Girl Child Day, and schemes like Sabla and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
• Despite efforts, gender disparities persist in labour force participation and healthcare access.
• India’s future demographics indicate declining population growth and an evolving age structure, underscoring the ongoing need to combat gender imbalances and promote equality.

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