India's sex ratio at birth, skewed in favour of males, will remain the worst in South Asia in 2050, according to estimates from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Between 2015 and 2020, India's sex ratio at birth was 111 males per 100 females, which will improve to 108 males per 100 females between 2045-2050, but will still be the worst in South Asia and higher than the average 105 males per 100 females in the world.

The natural "sex ratio at birth" is considered to be around 105, according to the World Health Organization, because nature provides for the higher risk of men dying as they age, because of sex differentials in death rates and higher risk from external causes.

India's sex ratio in 2050 will be the same as Pakistan's, but higher than Afghanistan (106 males per 100 females), Bangladesh (105), Bhutan (104), Nepal (106) and Sri Lanka (104).

GIF

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2017). World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision, custom data acquired via website.

(Shah is a reporter/writer with IndiaSpend.)

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