Sex Ratio in India 2024: Current Trends and Population Insights

Sex Ratio in India

Sex composition is a fundamental demographic indicator, commonly expressed as the "Sex Ratio." It serves as a vital social metric for evaluating the balance and equity between males and females within a population at a specific time. Accurate sex-disaggregated data is essential for effective socio-economic planning and the analysis of critical demographic variables, including fertility, mortality, migration, workforce participation, and marital status. Maintaining a balanced sex ratio is crucial, as both genders fulfill unique and complementary roles that drive societal and economic development. Significant gender imbalances can lead to profound and long-term societal consequences. 

What is the Sex Ratio? 

• Sex Ratio refers to the “number of females per 1000 males in a given area at a specific time period”. It is used to indicate the Sex Composition. Certain countries confute it as the number of males to females.
• Historically, all over the world, it has been found that there are slightly more males than females in most countries.

Types of Sex Ratio

The sex ratio of a population is dynamic and influenced by various biological and environmental factors across different stages of life. Generally, demographers classify sex ratios into four distinct categories based on developmental milestones. 

1. Primary Sex Ratio- (Fertilization)
2. Secondary Sex Ratio- (Birth Ratio)
3. Tertiary Sex Ratio- (in Developed Organism)
4. Quaternary Sex Ratio or Adult Sex Ratio - (Post-Reproductive Orgaism, above the age of 60 years)

Here is a detailed breakdown of the four primary types of sex ratios:

Primary Sex Ratio (PSR)

The primary sex ratio represents the proportion of males to females at the moment of conception. The Primary Sex Ratio is determined as the ratio at the time of conception. It is calculated by analyzing the frequency of male and female conceptions, including clinical data on abortions, miscarriages, and stillbirths alongside live birth statistics. 

Secondary Sex Ratio (SSR)

The secondary sex ratio measures the proportion of males to females at the time of birth. While easy to track, this metric does not account for fetal or embryonic mortality. Also referred to as the ‘Natural Sex Ratio’, it consistently shows a higher number of male births compared to female births globally.

Tertiary Sex Ratio (TSR)

The tertiary sex ratio focuses on mature adolescents and young adults in their 20s. At this developmental stage, the male population typically outnumbers the female population. 

Quaternary Sex Ratio (QSR) 

Also known as the Adult Sex Ratio, this metric represents the gender distribution of the population aged 60 years and above.

Sex Ratio in India

1. According to the 2011 Census, out of a total population of 1,210.1 million, the male population stood at 623.7 million, while the female population reached 586.4 million.

• India’s sex ratio of the Indian population, according to the 2011 Census is 943.

2. Findings from the United Nations report (World Population Prospects 2019) provide global context for these trends.

• India’s total population comprises a sex ratio of 108.18 males per 100 females in 2020.
• In India, the population of males is 717,100,970 (717.10 million) and 662,903,415 females (662.90 million).
• Females are 48.04 percent of the total population, whereas males are 51.96 percent.
• India has the highest male population, with 54.20 million.
• In India, the sex ratio is lower than that of Asia which is 927.

3. Kerala maintains a consistently high sex ratio due to several socio-economic factors:

• High Literacy (100%).
• Low mortality rate.
• Ideal Social System.
• Out-migration of the male population for better jobs.

Sex Ratio in India 2024

According to the most recent data from the National Family Health Survey, 2020-21 (NFHS-5):

• In 2024, India’s Sex Ratio is 1020 Females per 1000 Males.
• In Rural areas, the sex ratio is 985 females to 1000 males.
• Prior, the census which was held in 2011, shows India’s total sex ratio was 943 females per 1000 males.
• The Government's efforts to curb sex selection and to identify the child’s sex test have been banned. This is the reason that has made social change among the citizens in the last decade, thus normalizing the sex ratio.
• The sex ratio at birth in the last five years in India is 929 females per 1000 males.

Comparing demographic data between the last census and recent surveys:

Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males)	2011 Census	2024 (NFHS-5 Survey)
Rural	949	1037
Urban	929	985
India	943	1020

Lowest Sex Ratio in the Indian States 

Based on the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, these states currently record the lowest sex ratios in India:

SNo	States	Sex Ratio
1	Haryana	926
2	Punjab	938
3	Gujrat	965
4	Maharashtra	966
5	Madhya Pradesh	970
6	Sikkim	990
7	Arunachal Pradesh	997

Highest Sex Ratio in the Indian States

Based on the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, these states currently record the highest sex ratios in India:

SNO.	States	Sex Ratio
1	Kerala	1121
2	Rajasthan	1099
3	Bihar	1090
4	Tamil Nadu	1088
5	Manipur	1066
6	Odisha	1063
7	Jharkhand	1050
8	Telangana	1049
9	West Bengal	1049
10	Andra	1045

Factors for Low-declining Sex Ratio

• Male/Son Preference - The preference for a male child over a female child will always be there. Son is to be considered the breadwinner for the family and who can perform the last rites in the family. Males are considered to be responsible children.
• Prioritizing small families- Many couples choose not to have a second child if the first child is male/son.

Factors for Neglecting the Girl Child

• Dowry System- The Dowry system is still practised in many States. This is one of the reasons that parents do not want the girl child, who can not bear the burden of dowry.
• Female Infanticide- Earlier when there was no ban on the sex determination of the child, people used to abort their girl child.

Measures Initiated by Indian Government to Improve the Sex Ratio

To address and improve the declining sex ratio, the Government of India has implemented several targeted measures, including:

• The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, of 1994, was enacted to stop female foeticides. The practice has been banned to know the sex determination of a child.
• 24th January is known and celebrated as “National Girl Child Day”, declared by the Ministry of Women & Child Development in 2012, as to spread awareness of the rights of a girl child and lay emphasis on girl’s education, health, and nutrition
• On International Women’s Day, the Sabla Yojana was launched in 2011. Aims the empowerment of teenagers, or adolescent girls for the improvement of their health, nutrition, education, etc.
• The Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao Scheme was launched in Panipat in 2015. The main Objectives are-
• The discrimination inherent in the society that is faced by girls, this scheme aims at changing the mindset of citizens in the country.
• The scheme seeks to address the issue of reducing the child sex ratio (CSR) and to enhance women's empowerment, by eliminating gender-biased inequalities and also safeguarding the girl child.
• Ensuring that every girl child gets the necessity of education.
• The Schemes aim at improving the girl-child ratio in States like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
• The promotion of Gender Equality.
• Aim at the financial security of the girl child, securing their education, growth, and development
• Prevention of Child-Marriage.

Some Other Measures-

• Steps were taken to abolish Dowry System
• Law was made against the child-marriage.
• Social Media also awakens the citizens of India.