Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth 2019

Explore the global average sex ratio at birth, highlighting the natural baseline in different countries.

236 data points••Global Coverage•Sex ratio at birth | Our World in Data•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
Sint Maarten (Dutch part) flag
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
118.235 male/female
2
Northern Mariana Islands flag
Northern Mariana Islands
114.815 male/female
3
China flag
China
113.811 male/female
4
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
111.941 male/female
5
Tokelau flag
Tokelau
111.111 male/female
6
Maldives flag
Maldives
109.499 male/female
7
Armenia flag
Armenia
109.13 male/female
8
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
108.865 male/female
9
Tuvalu flag
Tuvalu
108.547 male/female
10
Niue flag
Niue
108.333 male/female
11
United States Virgin Islands flag
United States Virgin Islands
108.277 male/female
12
Brunei Darussalam flag
Brunei Darussalam
108.246 male/female
13
Albania flag
Albania
108.196 male/female
14
India flag
India
108.174 male/female
15
Jersey flag
Jersey
108.145 male/female
16
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
108.095 male/female
17
Tonga flag
Tonga
107.983 male/female
18
Iceland flag
Iceland
107.935 male/female
19
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
107.81 male/female
20
Montenegro flag
Montenegro
107.753 male/female
21
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
107.638 male/female
22
Nauru flag
Nauru
107.586 male/female
23
French Polynesia flag
French Polynesia
107.582 male/female
24
Samoa flag
Samoa
107.509 male/female
25
Cuba flag
Cuba
107.402 male/female
26
Taiwan flag
Taiwan
107.399 male/female
27
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
107.109 male/female
28
Papua New Guinea flag
Papua New Guinea
107.047 male/female
29
Senegal flag
Senegal
106.917 male/female
30
Georgia flag
Georgia
106.879 male/female
31
Bosnia and Herzegovina flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
106.856 male/female
32
Fiji flag
Fiji
106.851 male/female
33
Solomon Islands flag
Solomon Islands
106.839 male/female
34
Vanuatu flag
Vanuatu
106.793 male/female
35
Marshall Islands flag
Marshall Islands
106.695 male/female
36
Guam flag
Guam
106.694 male/female
37
Puerto Rico flag
Puerto Rico
106.577 male/female
38
Latvia flag
Latvia
106.517 male/female
39
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
106.507 male/female
40
Kiribati flag
Kiribati
106.429 male/female
41
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
106.4 male/female
42
Micronesia (Fed. States of) flag
Micronesia (Fed. States of)
106.376 male/female
43
Malta flag
Malta
106.36 male/female
44
Gibraltar flag
Gibraltar
106.341 male/female
45
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
106.278 male/female
46
Thailand flag
Thailand
106.205 male/female
47
Cook Islands flag
Cook Islands
106.195 male/female
48
Norway flag
Norway
106.192 male/female
49
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
106.148 male/female
50
Australia flag
Australia
106.092 male/female
51
Croatia flag
Croatia
106.035 male/female
52
Denmark flag
Denmark
106.034 male/female
53
Sweden flag
Sweden
106.028 male/female
54
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
106.006 male/female
55
Hungary flag
Hungary
105.972 male/female
56
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
105.962 male/female
57
Turkmenistan flag
Turkmenistan
105.914 male/female
58
Cabo Verde flag
Cabo Verde
105.817 male/female
59
Panama flag
Panama
105.788 male/female
60
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
105.778 male/female
61
Tajikistan flag
Tajikistan
105.763 male/female
62
Poland flag
Poland
105.76 male/female
63
Spain flag
Spain
105.723 male/female
64
Russia flag
Russia
105.69 male/female
65
New Caledonia flag
New Caledonia
105.671 male/female
66
Greece flag
Greece
105.65 male/female
67
North Korea flag
North Korea
105.638 male/female
68
South Korea flag
South Korea
105.57 male/female
69
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
105.562 male/female
70
Italy flag
Italy
105.559 male/female
71
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
105.552 male/female
72
Iran flag
Iran
105.538 male/female
73
Greenland flag
Greenland
105.529 male/female
74
Libya flag
Libya
105.507 male/female
75
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
105.504 male/female
76
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
105.494 male/female
77
Belarus flag
Belarus
105.492 male/female
78
Venezuela flag
Venezuela
105.461 male/female
79
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
105.441 male/female
80
Germany flag
Germany
105.326 male/female
81
Finland flag
Finland
105.31 male/female
82
Yemen flag
Yemen
105.279 male/female
83
Nepal flag
Nepal
105.274 male/female
84
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
105.27 male/female
85
Iraq flag
Iraq
105.262 male/female
86
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
105.261 male/female
87
Israel flag
Israel
105.244 male/female
88
Japan flag
Japan
105.158 male/female
89
British Virgin Islands flag
British Virgin Islands
105.147 male/female
90
Austria flag
Austria
105.14 male/female
91
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
105.121 male/female
92
Argentina flag
Argentina
105.084 male/female
93
China, Hong Kong SAR flag
China, Hong Kong SAR
105.059 male/female
94
Canada flag
Canada
105.057 male/female
95
France flag
France
105.005 male/female
96
Turkey flag
Turkey
104.996 male/female
97
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
104.965 male/female
98
Egypt flag
Egypt
104.96 male/female
99
Belize flag
Belize
104.941 male/female
100
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
104.939 male/female
101
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
104.864 male/female
102
State of Palestine flag
State of Palestine
104.861 male/female
103
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
104.847 male/female
104
Honduras flag
Honduras
104.844 male/female
105
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
104.841 male/female
106
Seychelles flag
Seychelles
104.835 male/female
107
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
104.828 male/female
108
Monaco flag
Monaco
104.813 male/female
109
Ethiopia flag
Ethiopia
104.801 male/female
110
Syrian Arab Republic flag
Syrian Arab Republic
104.765 male/female
111
Mongolia flag
Mongolia
104.726 male/female
112
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
104.715 male/female
113
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
104.713 male/female
114
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
104.702 male/female
115
Turks and Caicos Islands flag
Turks and Caicos Islands
104.669 male/female
116
Afghanistan flag
Afghanistan
104.659 male/female
117
El Salvador flag
El Salvador
104.643 male/female
118
Jordan flag
Jordan
104.626 male/female
119
Wallis and Futuna Islands flag
Wallis and Futuna Islands
104.615 male/female
120
China, Macao SAR flag
China, Macao SAR
104.607 male/female
121
Laos flag
Laos
104.605 male/female
122
Portugal flag
Portugal
104.559 male/female
123
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
104.533 male/female
124
United States flag
United States
104.523 male/female
125
Estonia flag
Estonia
104.516 male/female
126
Timor-Leste flag
Timor-Leste
104.514 male/female
127
Qatar flag
Qatar
104.501 male/female
128
Romania flag
Romania
104.448 male/female
129
Western Sahara flag
Western Sahara
104.435 male/female
130
Bhutan flag
Bhutan
104.422 male/female
131
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
104.373 male/female
132
Morocco flag
Morocco
104.282 male/female
133
Colombia flag
Colombia
104.243 male/female
134
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
104.229 male/female
135
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
104.226 male/female
136
Brazil flag
Brazil
104.187 male/female
137
Algeria flag
Algeria
104.185 male/female
138
Curaçao flag
Curaçao
104.116 male/female
139
Oman flag
Oman
104.092 male/female
140
Palau flag
Palau
104.082 male/female
141
Aruba flag
Aruba
104.037 male/female
142
Ireland flag
Ireland
104.034 male/female
143
Mayotte flag
Mayotte
104.03 male/female
144
Grenada flag
Grenada
104.017 male/female
145
Guernsey flag
Guernsey
103.984 male/female
146
Anguilla flag
Anguilla
103.947 male/female
147
Belgium flag
Belgium
103.912 male/female
148
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
103.907 male/female
149
Chile flag
Chile
103.88 male/female
150
Suriname flag
Suriname
103.857 male/female
151
Peru flag
Peru
103.773 male/female
152
Bermuda flag
Bermuda
103.759 male/female
153
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
103.755 male/female
154
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
103.738 male/female
155
Philippines flag
Philippines
103.716 male/female
156
Somalia flag
Somalia
103.69 male/female
157
Guinea flag
Guinea
103.669 male/female
158
Mexico flag
Mexico
103.638 male/female
159
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
103.618 male/female
160
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
103.548 male/female
161
Chad flag
Chad
103.467 male/female
162
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
103.451 male/female
163
Niger flag
Niger
103.447 male/female
164
Sudan flag
Sudan
103.411 male/female
165
Saint Kitts and Nevis flag
Saint Kitts and Nevis
103.39 male/female
166
Singapore flag
Singapore
103.375 male/female
167
Guadeloupe flag
Guadeloupe
103.317 male/female
168
Barbados flag
Barbados
103.306 male/female
169
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
103.279 male/female
170
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
103.253 male/female
171
Benin flag
Benin
103.238 male/female
172
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
103.231 male/female
173
Serbia flag
Serbia
103.214 male/female
174
Dominica flag
Dominica
103.183 male/female
175
Nicaragua flag
Nicaragua
103.169 male/female
176
Guinea-Bissau flag
Guinea-Bissau
103.162 male/female
177
Ghana flag
Ghana
103.139 male/female
178
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
103.088 male/female
179
Guyana flag
Guyana
103.079 male/female
180
Djibouti flag
Djibouti
103.068 male/female
181
Togo flag
Togo
103.039 male/female
182
Antigua and Barbuda flag
Antigua and Barbuda
103.012 male/female
183
Liberia flag
Liberia
102.925 male/female
184
Saint Lucia flag
Saint Lucia
102.918 male/female
185
Saint Martin (French part) flag
Saint Martin (French part)
102.871 male/female
186
South Sudan flag
South Sudan
102.863 male/female
187
Bahamas flag
Bahamas
102.632 male/female
188
Mali flag
Mali
102.623 male/female
189
San Marino flag
San Marino
102.609 male/female
190
Mauritania flag
Mauritania
102.602 male/female
191
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Sao Tome and Principe
102.596 male/female
192
Comoros flag
Comoros
102.594 male/female
193
Eritrea flag
Eritrea
102.548 male/female
194
Gambia flag
Gambia
102.516 male/female
195
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
102.303 male/female
196
Haiti flag
Haiti
102.259 male/female
197
South Africa flag
South Africa
102.227 male/female
198
Sierra Leone flag
Sierra Leone
102.218 male/female
199
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
102.193 male/female
200
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
102.192 male/female
201
Liechtenstein flag
Liechtenstein
102.186 male/female
202
Equatorial Guinea flag
Equatorial Guinea
102.173 male/female
203
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
102.168 male/female
204
Saint Barthélemy flag
Saint Barthélemy
102.083 male/female
205
Uganda flag
Uganda
102.072 male/female
206
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
102.03 male/female
207
Central African Republic flag
Central African Republic
101.942 male/female
208
Congo flag
Congo
101.888 male/female
209
Côte d'Ivoire flag
Côte d'Ivoire
101.871 male/female
210
Botswana flag
Botswana
101.853 male/female
211
Burundi flag
Burundi
101.783 male/female
212
Lesotho flag
Lesotho
101.694 male/female
213
Isle of Man flag
Isle of Man
101.681 male/female
214
Angola flag
Angola
101.663 male/female
215
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
101.61 male/female
216
Kenya flag
Kenya
101.553 male/female
217
French Guiana flag
French Guiana
101.476 male/female
218
Gabon flag
Gabon
101.401 male/female
219
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
101.322 male/female
220
Cayman Islands flag
Cayman Islands
101.309 male/female
221
Andorra flag
Andorra
101.266 male/female
222
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
101.167 male/female
223
Réunion flag
Réunion
100.982 male/female
224
Faroe Islands flag
Faroe Islands
100.58 male/female
225
Malawi flag
Malawi
100.573 male/female
226
Zambia flag
Zambia
100.335 male/female
227
Martinique flag
Martinique
100.191 male/female
228
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) flag
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
100 male/female
229
Saint Pierre and Miquelon flag
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
100 male/female
230
Holy See flag
Holy See
100 male/female
231
Namibia flag
Namibia
99.954 male/female
232
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
98.382 male/female
233
American Samoa flag
American Samoa
96.288 male/female
234
Saint Helena flag
Saint Helena
95.455 male/female
235
Montserrat flag
Montserrat
89.286 male/female
236
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba flag
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
88.618 male/female

↑Top 10 Countries

  1. #1Sint Maarten (Dutch part) flagSint Maarten (Dutch part)
  2. #2Northern Mariana Islands flagNorthern Mariana Islands
  3. #3China flagChina
  4. #4Azerbaijan flagAzerbaijan
  5. #5Tokelau flagTokelau
  6. #6Maldives flagMaldives
  7. #7Armenia flagArmenia
  8. #8Vietnam flagVietnam
  9. #9Tuvalu flagTuvalu
  10. #10Niue flagNiue

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #236Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba flagBonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
  2. #235Montserrat flagMontserrat
  3. #234Saint Helena flagSaint Helena
  4. #233American Samoa flagAmerican Samoa
  5. #232Mauritius flagMauritius
  6. #231Namibia flagNamibia
  7. #230Holy See flagHoly See
  8. #229Saint Pierre and Miquelon flagSaint Pierre and Miquelon
  9. #228Falkland Islands (Malvinas) flagFalkland Islands (Malvinas)
  10. #227Martinique flagMartinique

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Analysis & Context

In 2019, Sint Maarten (Dutch part) recorded the highest Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth at 118.24 males per 100 females, while the range across 200 countries spanned from a minimum of 102.19 to this maximum. The global average sex ratio for the same year was 105.23, with a median of 104.94, indicating a slight male bias in births worldwide.

Understanding the Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth

The Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth naturally hovers around 105 males to 100 females due to biological factors. However, deviations from this baseline can occur due to a variety of reasons, including cultural, economic, and policy influences. For instance, China and Azerbaijan have ratios significantly higher than the global average, at 113.81 and 111.94 respectively. These elevated figures can be attributed to cultural preferences for male offspring, which may result in sex-selective practices.

Conversely, countries like Cameroon and Eswatini report much lower ratios of 102.19 and 102.19 respectively, aligning more closely with natural biological expectations. These variations underscore the complex interplay of local customs and policies influencing the sex ratio at birth across different regions.

Economic and Policy Influences on Sex Ratio

Economic conditions and policy frameworks significantly impact sex ratios at birth. For example, in Vietnam, with a sex ratio of 108.87, economic growth and family planning policies have historically shaped demographic patterns. Similarly, Armenia (109.13) reflects a similar trend where economic factors and historical family planning policies have influenced demographic outcomes.

In contrast, countries like Maldives (109.50) and Tuvalu (108.55) may experience different influences, where economic development and small population sizes can lead to fluctuations in sex ratios due to migration and other demographic factors.

Year-over-Year Changes and Their Implications

The year-over-year analysis reveals notable shifts in sex ratios for several countries. Jersey experienced the most significant increase, with a rise of 3.44 (3.3%), while Sint Maarten (Dutch part) followed with an increase of 2.47 (2.1%). These changes may reflect shifts in immigration patterns, policy adjustments, or even improved reporting accuracy.

Conversely, countries like San Marino and Tuvalu saw substantial decreases in their sex ratios, by 6.48 (5.9%) and 5.87 (5.1%) respectively. Such declines could be attributed to changes in migration trends, where an influx of females or emigration of males could alter the demographic landscape.

Significance of Deviations in Sex Ratio

Deviations from the natural sex ratio at birth have broader implications for societal balance and future demographic trends. In countries like China and Vietnam, skewed sex ratios can lead to long-term gender imbalances, potentially affecting marriage markets and social stability.

On the other hand, countries with ratios closer to the natural baseline, such as Sierra Leone (102.22) and South Africa (102.23), might experience more balanced demographic growth. Understanding these patterns is crucial for policymakers aiming to address the social and economic challenges posed by skewed sex ratios at birth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth in 2019

Which country had the highest sex ratio at birth in 2019?

The highest sex ratio at birth in 2019 was in Sint Maarten (Dutch part) with 118 male/female.

What was the lowest sex ratio at birth recorded in 2019?

The lowest sex ratio at birth in 2019 was in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba with 88.62 male/female.

What was the average sex ratio at birth across all countries in 2019?

The average sex ratio at birth across all countries in 2019 was 104 male/female.

How many countries were included in the dataset for the global average sex ratio at birth in 2019?

The dataset for the global average sex ratio at birth in 2019 included 236 countries.

What was the median sex ratio at birth among countries in 2019?

The median sex ratio at birth among countries in 2019 was 105 male/female.

Which countries were in the top 3 for the highest sex ratio at birth in 2019?

The top 3 countries with the highest sex ratio at birth in 2019 were Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Northern Mariana Islands, and China.

Insights by country

1

Guyana

In 2019, Guyana had a Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth of 103.07932 male/female, ranking #179 out of 236 countries. This figure is slightly above the global average of approximately 104 male births for every 100 female births, indicating a relatively balanced sex ratio at birth. Contributing factors include cultural preferences for male children and varying access to healthcare services that can influence birth outcomes.

2

Jamaica

In 2019, Jamaica ranked #159 globally with a sex ratio at birth of 103.618004 male/female. This figure is slightly above the global average, indicating a typical biological trend where more males are born than females. Contributing factors to this statistic in Jamaica include cultural preferences and the impact of health policies on maternal and child health, which can influence birth outcomes.

3

Hungary

In 2019, Hungary ranked #55 globally with a sex ratio at birth of 105.97154 male/female. This figure is slightly above the global average, reflecting a common trend in many European countries where the natural sex ratio at birth tends to be higher than the global benchmark. Contributing factors include Hungary's cultural preferences for male children and demographic policies that may influence family planning decisions.

4

Austria

In 2019, Austria ranked #90 globally with a Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth of 105.13957 male/female. This figure is slightly above the global average, which typically hovers around 105 male births for every 100 female births. Austria's sex ratio can be attributed to its stable healthcare system and cultural norms that favor balanced gender ratios, alongside a relatively low incidence of gender-selective practices compared to some other regions.

5

Luxembourg

In 2019, Luxembourg's Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth was 102.16768 male/female, ranking it #203 out of 236 countries. This figure is slightly above the global average, indicating a typical male-biased birth ratio. Contributing factors include Luxembourg's diverse population and immigration patterns, which influence demographic trends and family planning practices within the country.

6

Denmark

In 2019, Denmark ranked #52 globally with a Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth of 106.03405 male/female. This figure is slightly above the global average, reflecting a typical pattern seen in many developed countries. Denmark's relatively high sex ratio can be attributed to its advanced healthcare system and societal norms that support gender equality, which may influence parental preferences and reproductive choices.

7

Chad

In 2019, Chad ranked #161 globally with a sex ratio at birth of 103.46699 male/female. This figure is slightly above the global average, indicating a common trend in many developing countries where a higher number of males are born. Contributing factors include cultural preferences for male offspring, which can influence reproductive choices, and demographic patterns related to fertility rates in Chad's predominantly young population.

8

France

In 2019, France had a Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth of 105.00476 male/female, ranking #95 out of 236 countries. This ratio is slightly above the global average, reflecting a common trend where the natural birth ratio favors males. Contributing factors in France include its comprehensive healthcare system and social policies that promote gender equality, which influence family planning and reproductive choices.

9

Cyprus

In 2019, Cyprus achieved a global rank of #41 with a Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth of 106.39965 male/female. This figure is slightly above the global average, which typically hovers around 105 male births for every 100 female births. Contributing factors to this ratio in Cyprus include cultural preferences for male children and demographic trends influenced by migration patterns, where families may favor a balanced gender ratio for future stability.

10

Lithuania

In 2019, Lithuania's Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth was 104.93873 male/female, ranking #100 out of 236 countries. This ratio is slightly above the global average, reflecting a common trend in Eastern Europe where cultural preferences may influence birth outcomes. Contributing factors in Lithuania include its demographic policies and social attitudes towards gender, which have evolved in recent years, promoting gender equality while still grappling with traditional views.

Data Source

Sex ratio at birth | Our World in Data

Our World in Data is a research organization that provides comprehensive datasets on global development issues, including the sex ratio at birth across various countries. The dataset offers insights into demographic trends and disparities related to gender at the national level.

Visit Data Source

Historical Data by Year

Explore Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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