Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth 2019
Explore the global average sex ratio at birth, highlighting the natural baseline in different countries.
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Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 118.235 male/female | |
2 | Northern Mariana Islands | 114.815 male/female | |
3 | China | 113.811 male/female | |
4 | Azerbaijan | 111.941 male/female | |
5 | Tokelau | 111.111 male/female | |
6 | Maldives | 109.499 male/female | |
7 | Armenia | 109.13 male/female | |
8 | Vietnam | 108.865 male/female | |
9 | Tuvalu | 108.547 male/female | |
10 | Niue | 108.333 male/female | |
11 | United States Virgin Islands | 108.277 male/female | |
12 | Brunei Darussalam | 108.246 male/female | |
13 | Albania | 108.196 male/female | |
14 | India | 108.174 male/female | |
15 | Jersey | 108.145 male/female | |
16 | Uzbekistan | 108.095 male/female | |
17 | Tonga | 107.983 male/female | |
18 | Iceland | 107.935 male/female | |
19 | Lebanon | 107.81 male/female | |
20 | Montenegro | 107.753 male/female | |
21 | North Macedonia | 107.638 male/female | |
22 | Nauru | 107.586 male/female | |
23 | French Polynesia | 107.582 male/female | |
24 | Samoa | 107.509 male/female | |
25 | Cuba | 107.402 male/female | |
26 | Taiwan | 107.399 male/female | |
27 | Slovenia | 107.109 male/female | |
28 | Papua New Guinea | 107.047 male/female | |
29 | Senegal | 106.917 male/female | |
30 | Georgia | 106.879 male/female | |
31 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 106.856 male/female | |
32 | Fiji | 106.851 male/female | |
33 | Solomon Islands | 106.839 male/female | |
34 | Vanuatu | 106.793 male/female | |
35 | Marshall Islands | 106.695 male/female | |
36 | Guam | 106.694 male/female | |
37 | Puerto Rico | 106.577 male/female | |
38 | Latvia | 106.517 male/female | |
39 | Ukraine | 106.507 male/female | |
40 | Kiribati | 106.429 male/female | |
41 | Cyprus | 106.4 male/female | |
42 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 106.376 male/female | |
43 | Malta | 106.36 male/female | |
44 | Gibraltar | 106.341 male/female | |
45 | Kuwait | 106.278 male/female | |
46 | Thailand | 106.205 male/female | |
47 | Cook Islands | 106.195 male/female | |
48 | Norway | 106.192 male/female | |
49 | Republic of Moldova | 106.148 male/female | |
50 | Australia | 106.092 male/female | |
51 | Croatia | 106.035 male/female | |
52 | Denmark | 106.034 male/female | |
53 | Sweden | 106.028 male/female | |
54 | Myanmar | 106.006 male/female | |
55 | Hungary | 105.972 male/female | |
56 | Bulgaria | 105.962 male/female | |
57 | Turkmenistan | 105.914 male/female | |
58 | Cabo Verde | 105.817 male/female | |
59 | Panama | 105.788 male/female | |
60 | Uruguay | 105.778 male/female | |
61 | Tajikistan | 105.763 male/female | |
62 | Poland | 105.76 male/female | |
63 | Spain | 105.723 male/female | |
64 | Russia | 105.69 male/female | |
65 | New Caledonia | 105.671 male/female | |
66 | Greece | 105.65 male/female | |
67 | North Korea | 105.638 male/female | |
68 | South Korea | 105.57 male/female | |
69 | Indonesia | 105.562 male/female | |
70 | Italy | 105.559 male/female | |
71 | United Kingdom | 105.552 male/female | |
72 | Iran | 105.538 male/female | |
73 | Greenland | 105.529 male/female | |
74 | Libya | 105.507 male/female | |
75 | Kyrgyzstan | 105.504 male/female | |
76 | New Zealand | 105.494 male/female | |
77 | Belarus | 105.492 male/female | |
78 | Venezuela | 105.461 male/female | |
79 | Tunisia | 105.441 male/female | |
80 | Germany | 105.326 male/female | |
81 | Finland | 105.31 male/female | |
82 | Yemen | 105.279 male/female | |
83 | Nepal | 105.274 male/female | |
84 | Slovakia | 105.27 male/female | |
85 | Iraq | 105.262 male/female | |
86 | Bangladesh | 105.261 male/female | |
87 | Israel | 105.244 male/female | |
88 | Japan | 105.158 male/female | |
89 | British Virgin Islands | 105.147 male/female | |
90 | Austria | 105.14 male/female | |
91 | Kazakhstan | 105.121 male/female | |
92 | Argentina | 105.084 male/female | |
93 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 105.059 male/female | |
94 | Canada | 105.057 male/female | |
95 | France | 105.005 male/female | |
96 | Turkey | 104.996 male/female | |
97 | Switzerland | 104.965 male/female | |
98 | Egypt | 104.96 male/female | |
99 | Belize | 104.941 male/female | |
100 | Lithuania | 104.939 male/female | |
101 | Czech Republic | 104.864 male/female | |
102 | State of Palestine | 104.861 male/female | |
103 | Pakistan | 104.847 male/female | |
104 | Honduras | 104.844 male/female | |
105 | United Arab Emirates | 104.841 male/female | |
106 | Seychelles | 104.835 male/female | |
107 | Netherlands | 104.828 male/female | |
108 | Monaco | 104.813 male/female | |
109 | Ethiopia | 104.801 male/female | |
110 | Syrian Arab Republic | 104.765 male/female | |
111 | Mongolia | 104.726 male/female | |
112 | Saudi Arabia | 104.715 male/female | |
113 | Cambodia | 104.713 male/female | |
114 | Paraguay | 104.702 male/female | |
115 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 104.669 male/female | |
116 | Afghanistan | 104.659 male/female | |
117 | El Salvador | 104.643 male/female | |
118 | Jordan | 104.626 male/female | |
119 | Wallis and Futuna Islands | 104.615 male/female | |
120 | China, Macao SAR | 104.607 male/female | |
121 | Laos | 104.605 male/female | |
122 | Portugal | 104.559 male/female | |
123 | Malaysia | 104.533 male/female | |
124 | United States | 104.523 male/female | |
125 | Estonia | 104.516 male/female | |
126 | Timor-Leste | 104.514 male/female | |
127 | Qatar | 104.501 male/female | |
128 | Romania | 104.448 male/female | |
129 | Western Sahara | 104.435 male/female | |
130 | Bhutan | 104.422 male/female | |
131 | Ecuador | 104.373 male/female | |
132 | Morocco | 104.282 male/female | |
133 | Colombia | 104.243 male/female | |
134 | Sri Lanka | 104.229 male/female | |
135 | Costa Rica | 104.226 male/female | |
136 | Brazil | 104.187 male/female | |
137 | Algeria | 104.185 male/female | |
138 | Curaçao | 104.116 male/female | |
139 | Oman | 104.092 male/female | |
140 | Palau | 104.082 male/female | |
141 | Aruba | 104.037 male/female | |
142 | Ireland | 104.034 male/female | |
143 | Mayotte | 104.03 male/female | |
144 | Grenada | 104.017 male/female | |
145 | Guernsey | 103.984 male/female | |
146 | Anguilla | 103.947 male/female | |
147 | Belgium | 103.912 male/female | |
148 | Dominican Republic | 103.907 male/female | |
149 | Chile | 103.88 male/female | |
150 | Suriname | 103.857 male/female | |
151 | Peru | 103.773 male/female | |
152 | Bermuda | 103.759 male/female | |
153 | Trinidad and Tobago | 103.755 male/female | |
154 | Bolivia | 103.738 male/female | |
155 | Philippines | 103.716 male/female | |
156 | Somalia | 103.69 male/female | |
157 | Guinea | 103.669 male/female | |
158 | Mexico | 103.638 male/female | |
159 | Jamaica | 103.618 male/female | |
160 | Burkina Faso | 103.548 male/female | |
161 | Chad | 103.467 male/female | |
162 | Bahrain | 103.451 male/female | |
163 | Niger | 103.447 male/female | |
164 | Sudan | 103.411 male/female | |
165 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 103.39 male/female | |
166 | Singapore | 103.375 male/female | |
167 | Guadeloupe | 103.317 male/female | |
168 | Barbados | 103.306 male/female | |
169 | Madagascar | 103.279 male/female | |
170 | Guatemala | 103.253 male/female | |
171 | Benin | 103.238 male/female | |
172 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 103.231 male/female | |
173 | Serbia | 103.214 male/female | |
174 | Dominica | 103.183 male/female | |
175 | Nicaragua | 103.169 male/female | |
176 | Guinea-Bissau | 103.162 male/female | |
177 | Ghana | 103.139 male/female | |
178 | Nigeria | 103.088 male/female | |
179 | Guyana | 103.079 male/female | |
180 | Djibouti | 103.068 male/female | |
181 | Togo | 103.039 male/female | |
182 | Antigua and Barbuda | 103.012 male/female | |
183 | Liberia | 102.925 male/female | |
184 | Saint Lucia | 102.918 male/female | |
185 | Saint Martin (French part) | 102.871 male/female | |
186 | South Sudan | 102.863 male/female | |
187 | Bahamas | 102.632 male/female | |
188 | Mali | 102.623 male/female | |
189 | San Marino | 102.609 male/female | |
190 | Mauritania | 102.602 male/female | |
191 | Sao Tome and Principe | 102.596 male/female | |
192 | Comoros | 102.594 male/female | |
193 | Eritrea | 102.548 male/female | |
194 | Gambia | 102.516 male/female | |
195 | Tanzania | 102.303 male/female | |
196 | Haiti | 102.259 male/female | |
197 | South Africa | 102.227 male/female | |
198 | Sierra Leone | 102.218 male/female | |
199 | Eswatini | 102.193 male/female | |
200 | Cameroon | 102.192 male/female | |
201 | Liechtenstein | 102.186 male/female | |
202 | Equatorial Guinea | 102.173 male/female | |
203 | Luxembourg | 102.168 male/female | |
204 | Saint Barthélemy | 102.083 male/female | |
205 | Uganda | 102.072 male/female | |
206 | Rwanda | 102.03 male/female | |
207 | Central African Republic | 101.942 male/female | |
208 | Congo | 101.888 male/female | |
209 | Côte d'Ivoire | 101.871 male/female | |
210 | Botswana | 101.853 male/female | |
211 | Burundi | 101.783 male/female | |
212 | Lesotho | 101.694 male/female | |
213 | Isle of Man | 101.681 male/female | |
214 | Angola | 101.663 male/female | |
215 | Zimbabwe | 101.61 male/female | |
216 | Kenya | 101.553 male/female | |
217 | French Guiana | 101.476 male/female | |
218 | Gabon | 101.401 male/female | |
219 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 101.322 male/female | |
220 | Cayman Islands | 101.309 male/female | |
221 | Andorra | 101.266 male/female | |
222 | Mozambique | 101.167 male/female | |
223 | Réunion | 100.982 male/female | |
224 | Faroe Islands | 100.58 male/female | |
225 | Malawi | 100.573 male/female | |
226 | Zambia | 100.335 male/female | |
227 | Martinique | 100.191 male/female | |
228 | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 100 male/female | |
229 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 100 male/female | |
230 | Holy See | 100 male/female | |
231 | Namibia | 99.954 male/female | |
232 | Mauritius | 98.382 male/female | |
233 | American Samoa | 96.288 male/female | |
234 | Saint Helena | 95.455 male/female | |
235 | Montserrat | 89.286 male/female | |
236 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 88.618 male/female |
- #1
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
- #2
Northern Mariana Islands
- #3
China
- #4
Azerbaijan
- #5
Tokelau
- #6
Maldives
- #7
Armenia
- #8
Vietnam
- #9
Tuvalu
- #10
Niue
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #236
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
- #235
Montserrat
- #234
Saint Helena
- #233
American Samoa
- #232
Mauritius
- #231
Namibia
- #230
Holy See
- #229
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- #228
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- #227
Martinique
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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