How Many Women Compared To Men In The World?

How many women compared to men in the world? COMPARE.EDU.VN explores this vital demographic question, offering a comprehensive overview of global gender ratios and the factors influencing them. Understanding these ratios is crucial for addressing societal imbalances and promoting gender equity. Discover insights into the female to male populations and contributing factors.

1. Understanding Global Gender Ratios: An Introduction

The world’s population is not evenly split between men and women, and the ratio of males to females varies significantly across different regions and age groups. This ratio, often referred to as the sex ratio or gender ratio, is a critical demographic indicator that reflects biological, social, cultural, and economic influences. The World Health Organization also provides valuable information on this topic. Understanding the global gender ratio is essential for addressing inequalities, planning for resource allocation, and formulating effective social policies. At COMPARE.EDU.VN, we analyze these trends to provide clear, data-driven insights that empower informed decision-making.

2. Global Overview: Female vs. Male Population

In 2021, the global female share of the population stood at just under 50%. However, this proportion fluctuates across different countries and regions due to various factors:

Birth Rates: The sex ratio at birth typically favors males, with more boys born than girls in almost all countries.
Mortality Rates: Women generally live longer than men, which tends to increase the female share of the population in older age groups.
Migration: Immigration and emigration patterns can also skew the sex ratio, as labor markets, conflicts, and other factors can disproportionately affect one gender.

The balance between these factors determines the overall gender ratio in a given area. For example, countries with high rates of male immigration, such as some in the Middle East, often have a higher male share of the population. Conversely, countries with significant sex differences in life expectancy, such as those in Eastern Europe, tend to have a higher female share.

3. Regional Variations in Gender Ratios

The female share of the population varies substantially across different regions:

East and South Asia: Some countries in these regions, including India and China, have a significantly lower female share due to skewed sex ratios at birth, often driven by cultural preferences for sons.
Middle East: Countries like Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia often have a higher male share due to male-dominated immigration patterns.
Eastern Europe: These countries tend to have a higher female share due to larger sex gaps in life expectancy, with higher mortality rates among adult men.

These regional differences highlight the complex interplay between biological factors, cultural norms, and socioeconomic conditions in shaping gender ratios. COMPARE.EDU.VN offers detailed comparisons of these trends to help you understand the underlying causes and potential impacts.

4. Gender Ratio Through the Lifespan

The gender ratio changes dramatically throughout a person’s life. At birth, there are typically more boys than girls. However, as people age, the ratio shifts due to differences in mortality rates.

Early Years: The sex ratio at birth and in childhood is usually higher than 100 (more males per 100 females) due to the natural male bias in birth rates.
Adolescence and Young Adulthood: The ratio remains higher than 100, influenced by the male bias at birth and the impact of countries with skewed sex ratios like China and India.
Adulthood: The sex ratio gradually declines as women tend to live longer. By age 50, the ratio is close to 100, and by age 70, there are significantly fewer men per 100 women.
Elderly: In the oldest age brackets (100+), there are far fewer men than women, reflecting the greater longevity of women.

5. The Sex Ratio at Birth: A Closer Look

Across the world, the sex ratio at birth consistently favors males. This means that in nearly every country, more boys are born than girls.

Natural Male Bias: Even without sex-selective practices, births are typically male-biased. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the “expected sex ratio at birth” to be around 105 males per 100 females.
Biological Reasons: Research suggests that the male-biased sex ratio at birth is due to differences in the probability of miscarriage during pregnancy. Female fetuses have a higher risk of miscarriage in certain stages of pregnancy.

6. Why Are Births Naturally Male-Biased?

A comprehensive study by Orzack et al. (2015) found that the sex ratio at conception is equal, meaning there is no difference in the number of males and females conceived. However, the male-biased sex ratio at birth arises from other factors during pregnancy:

Early Pregnancy: Male zygotes with chromosomal abnormalities have a higher probability of mortality in the first week of pregnancy.
Mid-Pregnancy: Female fetuses have a higher risk of mortality in the next 10–15 weeks of pregnancy.
Later Pregnancy: Around week 20, male and female mortality is approximately the same. However, between weeks 28-35, male fetuses have a higher risk of mortality.

Overall, these factors result in a male-biased sex ratio at birth.

7. Skewed Sex Ratios: When Biology Isn’t the Only Factor

While a slight male bias at birth is expected, some countries exhibit sex ratios that are too skewed to be explained by biological factors alone. In these cases, deliberate selection practices are likely at play.

Outliers: Countries like China, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan have unusually high sex ratios at birth, indicating a preference for sons.
Son Preference: In these regions, cultural norms and socioeconomic factors often lead families to prefer male children.

8. The Influence of Birth Order on Sex Ratios

In some countries, the sex ratio is influenced by the birth order of children. This is particularly evident in regions with a strong preference for sons.

India: Data from India shows that the sex ratio among first-born children is close to the expected natural ratio. However, for subsequent children, the ratio is skewed towards girls, suggesting that parents are more likely to continue having children until they have a son.
Last Child Born: The sex ratio is even more skewed towards boys when the child is the last one born in the family, indicating that families are more likely to stop having children when they have a boy.

9. Sex-Selective Practices and Birth Order

The birth order also influences the use of prenatal sex selection. In several countries, evidence suggests that parents are more likely to use sex-selective abortion if they already have daughters.

India: Research using Indian national survey data shows a significant skew in the sex ratio since the 1980s, particularly when the firstborn or first- and second-born child was a girl.
South Korea: There was a steep rise in the sex ratio of third-, fourth-, and later children through the 1980s, indicating the use of sex-selective practices.
China: Sex ratios in China have also been affected by birth order, with a bias for male first-born children and a more significant skew in second or third-born children.

10. The Sex Ratio in Childhood: From Birth to Age Five

The sex ratio at birth is male-biased in every country, but how does this ratio evolve in early childhood?

Global Trends: The highest sex ratios are found in several Asian countries, where the share of boys is higher than expected.
China and India: In 2021, China had close to 115 boys per 100 girls at age five, while India had around 109 boys per 100 girls.
Comparison with Birth Ratios: Many countries have a higher sex ratio for newborns than for five-year-olds, indicating that male bias tends to weaken through the first years of childhood.

11. Why Boys Die More Often Than Girls

Infant and child mortality rates are generally higher for boys than for girls across countries.

Global Child Mortality: Child mortality is more common for boys in nearly all countries, with the exception of India.
Historical Perspective: As early as 1786, physicians observed that “mortality of males exceeds that of females in almost all stages of life, and particularly the earliest stages.”

12. Common Causes of Infant Mortality

Understanding the causes of infant mortality can shed light on why boys are more vulnerable.

Major Causes: For many major causes of death, mortality rates are higher in boys.
Vulnerability: Boys are more vulnerable due to higher risks of birth complications and infectious diseases.
Exceptions: Some causes, such as HIV/AIDS and nutritional deficiencies, have higher mortality rates in girls.

13. Boys and Birth Complications

Boys are at a higher risk of birth complications compared to girls.

Premature Births: Boys are more likely to be born prematurely, which increases the risks of various health issues.
Organ Maturity: Although boys tend to have a higher birthweight, their organs are often less physically mature at birth, leading to developmental delays.
Physiological Functions: Boys may experience delays in the development of physiological functions such as lung function, increasing their vulnerability to respiratory infections.

14. Boys and Infectious Diseases

Boys are also at a higher risk of contracting several infectious diseases.

Immune System: Boys tend to have a less developed immune system compared to girls, making them more susceptible to infections.
Chromosomes: The Y chromosome in boys increases their vulnerability, as the X chromosome contains a larger number of immune-related genes.
Sex Hormones: Higher levels of testosterone in males may inhibit the immune system, while estrogen in females tends to enhance immune function.

15. The Male Disadvantage

The higher susceptibility of boys to various health conditions is often referred to as the “male disadvantage.” This disadvantage extends into adulthood and contributes to the greater longevity of women.

Biological Sex Differences: The primary explanations for the “male disadvantage” are based on biological sex differences, including variations in organ maturity, sex chromosomes, and hormones.
Equal Treatment: Even when both sexes are treated equally, infant and child mortality rates are expected to be slightly higher for boys due to these inherent biological factors.

16. Understanding “Missing Girls and Women”

The term “missing women” refers to the gap between the actual number of women in a population and the expected number if sex discrimination were absent. This includes women missing due to sex-selective abortions, infanticide, neglect, and maltreatment.

Skewed Sex Ratios: In countries with skewed sex ratios at birth, the number of missing women can be substantial.
Cultural Preferences: Strong preferences for sons in some cultures have led to practices such as sex-selective abortion and neglect of female children.

17. Biology vs. Discrimination: The Skewed Sex Ratios at Birth

In some countries, the sex ratio at birth is too skewed to be explained by biological differences alone, indicating that discrimination is a significant factor.

Identified Countries: Studies have identified several countries with strong evidence of skewed sex ratios, including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Montenegro, South Korea, Taiwan, Tunisia, and Vietnam.
Sex-Selective Abortions: There is strong evidence for sex-selective abortion and discrimination against girls across several countries, driven by cultural preferences and the availability of prenatal sex determination technology.

18. The Debunked Hepatitis B Hypothesis

Initially, it was hypothesized that high rates of hepatitis B carriers in Asia could explain the skewed sex ratios, as people infected with hepatitis B appeared to have a higher proportion of male offspring. However, this hypothesis has been refuted by later studies.

Refuted Hypothesis: Research found no link between hepatitis B status and offspring sex ratio, concluding that hepatitis B rates could not explain the skewed sex ratio in China.
Alternative Explanations: The primary driver of skewed sex ratios is now recognized as sex-selective abortions and discrimination against girls.

19. The Role of Technology in Sex Selection

The availability of technology to determine prenatal sex has significantly contributed to the rise in sex-selective abortions.

Prenatal Diagnosis: In India, prenatal diagnosis became available in the 1970s and was soon used to determine the fetus’s sex, despite regulations intended to prevent this.
Medical Profession: Studies suggest that many gynecologists did not believe sex-selection abortion was unethical, viewing it as a means to balance population control with the desire for sons.

20. Historical Evidence of Infanticide

Infanticide, the deliberate killing of newborns and infants, has a long history across various cultures and time periods.

Prevalence: Infanticide has been practiced on every continent and by people on every level of cultural complexity.
Misconceptions: While the term is often associated with female infanticide, the gender specifics and drivers of infanticide depend on the context and time in history.

21. Historical Estimates of Infanticide

Estimates for infanticide in prehistoric societies are very high, with some studies suggesting that 15% to 50% of newborns were killed in the first year of life.

Hunter-Gatherer Societies: Studies of recent hunter-gatherer societies, such as the Hiwi group of Venezuela, have found high rates of infant death from violence.
Sex Differences: In some societies, infanticide rates were significantly higher among girls than boys, reflecting a preference for male children.

22. Infanticide: Not Just a Female Issue

While female infanticide is more widely prevalent and has a significant impact on gender ratios, both sexes have been victims of infanticide throughout history.

Gender Discrimination: The role and direction of gender discrimination in infanticide vary between contexts.
Historical Evidence: There is significant evidence of female-selective infanticide throughout history, although cases of male-selective infanticide also exist.
Modern Infanticide: Even today, cases of infanticide still occur, with boys sometimes making up a higher share of infant homicides in Western countries.

23. Estimating the Number of “Missing Women”

The term “missing women” describes the gap between the actual number of women in a population and the expected number if sex discrimination were absent.

Challenges in Calculation: Estimating the number of missing women is challenging due to issues with the accuracy of reported births and the determination of the expected sex ratio.
Global Estimates: Despite the uncertainties, estimates suggest that there were over 50 million missing women by 1990, and likely upwards of 100 million today.

24. Recent Estimates of Missing Women

Recent estimates indicate a significant increase in the number of missing women over the past several decades.

Trends: Bongaarts & Guilmoto (2015) estimated that there were 61 million missing women in 1970, and by 2015, this number had risen to 136 million.
Geographic Distribution: The majority of missing women are projected to be from China and India.

25. Missing Women Each Year

In addition to the total number of missing women, it is important to consider how many women are “missing” each year due to prenatal sex discrimination and excess female mortality.

Trends: Until 1980, nearly all missing women were the result of excess female mortality. However, sex-selective abortions have become more common since the 1970s.
Annual Estimates: In 2015, an estimated 3 million women were missing, with around half due to missing births and the other half due to excess female mortality.

26. The Root Causes of Son Preference

In countries with imbalanced sex ratios, a preference for sons is a significant driving factor.

East and South Asia: Son preference is most common in countries across East and South Asia, as well as in some countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Patrilineality: These countries tend to have a strong logic of “patrilineality,” where productive assets move through the male line within the family.

27. Economic and Social Benefits of Having a Son

The preference for sons is often driven by economic and social benefits, including:

Inheritance: Sons typically inherit land and property, ensuring the continuation of family wealth.
Financial Support: Sons are expected to provide financial support for their parents in old age.
Family Lineage: The family name and lineage are passed down through the male line.
Social Status: In some cultures, having a son is seen as essential for maintaining social status and prestige.
Dowry: In some contexts, daughters require a dowry upon marriage, which can be a significant financial burden for families.

28. The Consequences of Skewed Sex Ratios

Highly imbalanced numbers of men and women in society can have several adverse consequences, affecting men, women, family structures, and society as a whole.

Unmarriageable Men: One of the most obvious consequences is a large number of unmarriageable men.
Marriage Dynamics: This can lead to delayed marriage, increased competition for partners, and a significant number of men foregoing marriage altogether.

29. The Potential Impact on Women

While it might be assumed that a shortage of women would favor them, they can also suffer negative consequences.

Reduced Value: Women may be increasingly valued for their role as a wife, daughter-in-law, or mother, limiting their alternative pathways.
Increased Pressure: Women may face increased pressure to marry or have children earlier in life, potentially closing off economic or labor opportunities.
Increased Risk: Women may be at increased risk of violence or trafficking.

30. Societal Consequences of Imbalanced Gender Ratios

Imbalanced gender ratios can also have negative effects on society more broadly.

Increased Crime and Violence: Some hypothesize that an excess of unmarried men, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status, can lead to more crime, violence, and disorder.
Social Stability: Others suggest that excluded men will be more marginalized, lonely, and at risk of psychological problems.

31. The Influence of Wealth and Education

A key question is whether economic development and increased education can help address the issue of skewed sex ratios and female discrimination.

Counterintuitive Findings: Studies suggest that richer, urban families may discriminate more than poorer families.
Fertility Rates: Rising incomes and development can lead to falling fertility rates, which in turn exacerbate gender preference.

32. The Fertility Squeeze

Falling fertility rates can intensify gender preference.

Smaller Families: In smaller families, the likelihood of having a son by chance is reduced.
Increased Son Preference: Parents who want a son are more likely to resort to sex-selective abortion when they have fewer children.

33. The Indian Example

Data from India illustrates the impact of declining fertility rates on sex ratios.

Son Preference: Surveys show a strong preference for sons, particularly when parents have a small family.
Fertility Decline: The desired fertility rate has declined in India in recent decades, while the child sex ratio has increased.
Quantifying the Impact: Estimates suggest that between one-third and one-half of the change in sex ratio in India since 1981 can be attributed to the decline in fertility rates.

34. The Complexities of Development

Development can drive factors that both increase and decrease sex preference, making it difficult to predict the overall impact.

Education: Increased education can reduce the preference for sons but also contribute to falling fertility rates, which increases son preference.
Access to Technology: Richer, urban families often have greater access to technologies for sex identification and abortion.

35. The Importance of Willingness, Ability, and Readiness

Sex-selection practices result from the intersection of willingness (sex preference), ability (access to technology), and readiness (the decision to act on sex preferences).

Modeling the Impact: Research has modeled how changes in willingness, ability, and readiness affect the sex ratio in specific countries.
Economic Development: Even low levels of son preference can have a significant impact on the sex ratio if sex-selection technology diffuses steadily across the population and fertility declines quickly.

36. The Effectiveness of Banning Prenatal Practices

Given the role of technology in sex selection, policies that aim to regulate prenatal sex determination and abortion can play a role.

Implemented Bans: Several governments, including South Korea, China, and India, have implemented sex-selective abortion bans.
Limited Success: Much of the literature suggests that bans alone were not effective enough to address the problem.

37. The South Korean Example

South Korea enacted a ban on prenatal sex identification in 1987–1988.

Initial Impact: The sex ratio at birth continued to increase after the introduction of the ban, reaching over 115 males per 100 female births in 1990.
Later Success: However, South Korea provides an important example where the male bias can be successfully addressed.

38. The Chinese Example

China introduced a ban on prenatal sex determination in 1994.

Continued Increase: The sex ratio at birth continued to increase after the introduction of the ban.
Limited Impact: This suggests that the ban, on its own, was not effective in preventing the practice.

39. The Indian Example

India introduced the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PNDT) in 1994, prohibiting sex selection practices.

No Immediate Improvement: In the decade following the introduction of the act, the sex ratio at birth did not improve.
Potential for Prevention: While the bans were not effective enough to stop the practice, they may have prevented a worsening of gender imbalance.

40. Moving Forward: A Holistic Approach

What’s clear is that the persistence of imbalanced sex ratios means there will be demographic consequences for many decades to come. While banning sex-selection practices may have some impact, they clearly do not come close to ending the practice on their own. A more holistic approach is needed, addressing cultural norms, economic incentives, and access to education and healthcare.

Here’s a summary table for quick reference:

Factor	Impact on Gender Ratio
Birth Rates	More male births than female births in almost all countries
Mortality Rates	Women tend to live longer than men, increasing the female share of the population in older age groups
Migration	Can skew the sex ratio depending on patterns; male-dominated immigration increases the male share
Cultural Preferences	Strong son preference leads to skewed sex ratios at birth in some regions
Economic Factors	Patrilineality and economic benefits of sons drive son preference
Technological Access	Availability of prenatal sex determination technology increases sex-selective abortions
Fertility Rates	Falling fertility rates exacerbate gender preference
Policy Interventions	Banning sex-selective practices alone is often insufficient; requires comprehensive approaches
Development/Education	Development can drive factors that both increase and decrease sex preference

At COMPARE.EDU.VN, we strive to provide comprehensive and objective comparisons to help you make informed decisions. Understanding the global gender ratio and its underlying factors is crucial for promoting gender equality and addressing societal imbalances. We provide the data and analysis you need to navigate these complex issues.

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FAQ: Understanding Gender Ratios Around the World

Here are some frequently asked questions about gender ratios and related issues:

What is the global gender ratio?
- In 2021, the global female share of the population was just under 50%. This varies by country and region.
Why are more boys born than girls?
- There is a natural male bias at birth due to differences in miscarriage rates during pregnancy.
What countries have skewed sex ratios at birth?
- Countries like China, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan have unusually high sex ratios at birth.
What is the role of technology in sex selection?
- The availability of prenatal sex determination technology has contributed to the rise in sex-selective abortions.
What does “missing women” mean?
- “Missing women” refers to the gap between the actual number of women in a population and the expected number if sex discrimination were absent.
Why do some cultures prefer sons?
- Son preference is often driven by economic and social benefits, such as inheritance, financial support, and family lineage.
What are the consequences of skewed sex ratios?
- Consequences include a large number of unmarriageable men, potential impacts on women’s value and opportunities, and societal issues like increased crime.
Does economic development fix skewed sex ratios?
- Economic development can have mixed effects, as it can lead to falling fertility rates, which exacerbate gender preference.
Are bans on sex-selective abortions effective?
- Bans alone are often not enough to address the problem and require comprehensive approaches.
What can be done to address skewed sex ratios?
- A holistic approach is needed, addressing cultural norms, economic incentives, and access to education and healthcare.