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UN DESA Population Division · Sex Ratio at Birth
Sex ratio at birth by country
How many boys are born for every 100 girls?
Of the 222 countries compared in 2023, Liechtenstein had the highest reading, 116.3, and 2 countries shared the lowest reading, 101.1. In the middle country the figure was 105.1. Among the 222 countries measured in every edition since 1950, the middle one moved from 105.0 to 105.1.
Sex ratio at birth · 2023
Context statistic
Highest of 222Liechtenstein
116.3012023 · values only
The highest and the lowest
The three countries with the highest values of 222 compared, the three with the lowest, and the highest on each continent. This statistic has no better end, so no country is shown as leading.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Highest on each continent
- Africa
Libya105.7 - Americas
Cuba107.1 - AsiaAzerbaijan111.8
- EuropeLiechtenstein116.3
- Oceania
- Every region
02Every measured country
Sex ratio at birth on a map
Each country is shaded by its value, in five groups holding the same number of countries. Hover a country for its value, or select it to open its profile. Below the map, each continent’s middle country.
Darker is a higher value. This statistic has no better end, so the shades describe size, not success.
- 101.1–103.7
- 103.8–104.8
- 104.9–105.5
- 105.6–106.5
- 106.6–116.3
- No reading in 2023
- Oceania
107.0
the middle country, of 21 measured · 21 members
Northern Mariana Islands115.1
New Zealand105.3Highest and lowest reading in Oceania.
- Europe
106.0
the middle country, of 48 measured · 49 members
Liechtenstein116.33 share 104.9
Highest and lowest reading in Europe.
- Asia
105.7
the middle country, of 51 measured · 52 members
Azerbaijan111.8
Bahrain103.8Highest and lowest reading in Asia.
- Americas
104.3
the middle country, of 48 measured · 48 members
Cuba107.1
Bahamas102.8Highest and lowest reading in Americas.
- Africa
103.3
the middle country, of 54 measured · 55 members
Libya105.72 share 101.1
Highest and lowest reading in Africa.
- Every region
22 sub-regions, highest middle country first
- Micronesia
107.1
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Northern Mariana Islands115.13 share 107.0
Highest and lowest reading in Micronesia.
- Melanesia
107.0
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Papua New Guinea107.7
New Caledonia105.9Highest and lowest reading in Melanesia.
- Polynesia
107.0
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Tonga108.1
French Polynesia105.9Highest and lowest reading in Polynesia.
- South-eastern Asia
106.5
the middle country, of 11 measured · 11 members
Vietnam110.9
Cambodia105.2Highest and lowest reading in South-eastern Asia.
- Southern Europe
106.5
the middle country, of 17 measured · 17 members
North Macedonia107.7
Vatican City105.0Highest and lowest reading in Southern Europe.
- Central Asia
106.4
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Uzbekistan107.9
Kyrgyzstan105.6Highest and lowest reading in Central Asia.
- Eastern Asia
106.4
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
China110.8
Mongolia104.4Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Asia.
- Eastern Europe
105.9
the middle country, of 10 measured · 10 members
Ukraine106.3
Czechia105.3Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Europe.
- Northern Europe
105.7
the middle country, of 12 measured · 13 members
Faroe Islands106.7
Isle of Man105.0Highest and lowest reading in Northern Europe.
- Western Europe
105.2
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Liechtenstein116.33 share 104.9
Highest and lowest reading in Western Europe.
- Western Asia
105.2
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Azerbaijan111.8Bahrain103.8Highest and lowest reading in Western Asia.
- Southern Asia
105.1
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
India107.3
Sri Lanka104.4Highest and lowest reading in Southern Asia.
- Northern Africa
104.9
the middle country, of 6 measured · 6 members
Libya105.7
Sudan104.1Highest and lowest reading in Northern Africa.
- Central America
104.7
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
Panama105.4
Nicaragua103.5Highest and lowest reading in Central America.
- South America
104.5
the middle country, of 12 measured · 12 members
Uruguay105.5
Guyana103.7Highest and lowest reading in South America.
- Caribbean
103.9
the middle country, of 24 measured · 24 members
Cuba107.1Bahamas102.8Highest and lowest reading in Caribbean.
- Western Africa
103.6
the middle country, of 16 measured · 16 members
Guinea104.5
Togo102.8Highest and lowest reading in Western Africa.
- Eastern Africa
103.2
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Ethiopia105.5
Zambia101.1Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Africa.
- Southern Africa
102.9
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
South Africa104.0
Namibia101.1Highest and lowest reading in Southern Africa.
- Middle Africa
102.7
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Chad104.2
Gabon102.1Highest and lowest reading in Middle Africa.
- Australia and New Zealand
2 of 2 measured — too few for a middle: Australia, New Zealand.
Australia105.6New Zealand105.3Highest and lowest reading in Australia and New Zealand.
- Northern America
4 of 4 measured — too few for a middle: Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, United States.
Canada105.5
Bermuda104.0Highest and lowest reading in Northern America.
03The whole field at once
The spread
222 countries, one dot each, on one scale — further right is a higher value. Half the countries are above 105.1; a quarter are above 106.1, and a quarter below 103.9. The bar in each row marks that continent’s middle country.
04All 222 ever measured
Every country
In order, highest value first. No rank or position is shown: too many countries share the same value for an order to mean anything. Neither end is better, so this table is not a ranking. What matters is how far a reading sits above the natural level of about 105. Very small populations can read high or low from a few births in either direction, and because the UN publishes this figure to one decimal, many countries share a value.
Showing 25 of 222 countries
Values for 2023. The change column compares 2023 with 2022 only; the sparkline covers the recent editions.
051950–2023 · 74 reference years
Over time
Each point is one year's estimate, 1950 to 2023, as restated by the 2024 revision. In most countries the line is flat near the natural level; a rise that begins in the 1980s or 1990s, when prenatal sex determination became available, and falls later, is the pattern to look for.
- the middle country
- the middle half of countries
- the middle of the 222 countries measured every time
- each continent’s middle country
The same, year by year
| Year | Countries | Middle country | Middle half | Measured every time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.1 | 105.1 |
| 2022 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.1 | 105.1 |
| 2021 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.1 |
| 2020 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.1 | 105.1 |
| 2019 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.1 | 105.1 |
| 2018 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.3 | 105.1 |
| 2017 | 222 | 105.2 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.2 |
| 2016 | 222 | 105.2 | 103.9 – 106.1 | 105.2 |
| 2015 | 222 | 105.2 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.2 |
| 2014 | 222 | 105.2 | 104.0 – 106.1 | 105.2 |
| 2013 | 222 | 105.1 | 104.0 – 106.2 | 105.1 |
| 2012 | 222 | 105.2 | 103.9 – 106.3 | 105.2 |
| 2011 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.1 |
| 2010 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.3 | 105.0 |
| 2009 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 2008 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 2007 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 2006 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.3 | 105.0 |
| 2005 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.3 | 105.0 |
| 2004 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.0 |
| 2003 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.3 | 105.0 |
| 2002 | 222 | 105.1 | 104.0 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 2001 | 222 | 105.0 | 104.0 – 106.4 | 105.0 |
| 2000 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1999 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1998 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1997 | 222 | 105.1 | 104.0 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1996 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1995 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1994 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1993 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.4 | 105.1 |
| 1992 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.8 – 106.3 | 105.1 |
| 1991 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.3 | 105.1 |
| 1990 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.1 |
| 1989 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.1 |
| 1988 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.3 | 105.0 |
| 1987 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1986 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1985 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.1 |
| 1984 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1983 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1982 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1981 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1980 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1979 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1978 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.9 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1977 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.1 |
| 1976 | 222 | 105.1 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.1 |
| 1975 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1974 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1973 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1972 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1971 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1970 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1969 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1968 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1967 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1966 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1965 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1964 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1963 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1962 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.7 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1961 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1960 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1959 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1958 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1957 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1956 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1955 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1954 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1953 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1952 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.2 | 105.0 |
| 1951 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
| 1950 | 222 | 105.0 | 103.8 – 106.1 | 105.0 |
062022 → 2023
Who rose and fell
The biggest changes in value between the two newest editions — reference years recalculated in one report, not two separate publications. Places are shown second, because they also move when other countries do.
Rose most
before → after- China110.6 → 110.8+0.2
Belgium104.8 → 104.9+0.1
Burkina Faso104.1 → 104.2+0.1
Belarus105.8 → 105.9+0.1
Spain106.3 → 106.4+0.1
Fell most
before → after- Azerbaijan112.2 → 111.8−0.4
Kosovo107.5 → 107.1−0.4
Armenia109.1 → 108.7−0.4
Albania107.2 → 107.0−0.2- India107.5 → 107.3−0.2
222 countries were measured in both 2022 and 2023.
07Across every edition
Sex ratio at birth in records
The extremes of the statistic. A record reached by more than one country names none of them.
Highest reading on record
128.2
Male births per 100 female births
Lowest reading on record
96.7
Male births per 100 female births
Biggest rise between editions
+4.0
104.0 → 108.0
Biggest fall between editions
−4.4
113.9 → 109.5
Biggest change since first measured
+14.3
102.0 → 116.3
Highest most often
15 of 74
editions, alone at the first-listed end
08The measure
About sex ratio at birth
The sex ratio at birth is the number of boys born for every 100 girls. Left to nature it sits at about 105 everywhere, so a figure well above that is the usual sign that some parents are choosing the sex of their children, most often through sex-selective abortion.
What the number is: Male births per 100 female births.
What it does not measure
It records births, not the reasons behind them; a reading above the natural level is evidence of sex selection, not a measure of how widespread it is.
09Where it fits
Connections
Its part in the Country Index, the statistics whose values line up most closely with it across countries, and others on the same subject.
In the Country Index
Context, with no vote
This statistic is published in full under Gender & Equality and People & Population, but does not help decide any Country Index standing.
Gender & EqualityPeople & PopulationWhich statistics vote, and why
Moves with
Where sex ratio at birth is higher, these tend to be higher too.
- GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 102 countries in commonρ 0.65
- Smartphone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 140 countries in commonρ 0.60
- Adult Literacy RateUIS · 124 countries in commonρ 0.59
Moves against
Where sex ratio at birth is higher, these tend to be lower.
- Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 169 countries in commonρ −0.64
- Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityKeyFAO · 133 countries in commonρ −0.62
- Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 144 countries in commonρ −0.59
Rank correlation (ρ, from −1 to 1) across countries, on each statistic’s newest edition, out of 190 statistics sharing at least 80 countries with this one. Two statistics that move together do not cause each other.
10Keep reading
Explore further
The subject
The countries at either end
11Questions
Sex ratio at birth: questions and answers
Which country has the highest sex ratio at birth?
Liechtenstein, at 116.3, among the 222 countries compared in 2023.
Which country has the lowest sex ratio at birth?
2 countries share the lowest reading, 101.1, among the 222 compared in 2023, so no single country is named.
How many countries does the Sex Ratio at Birth cover?
222 in 2023.
What is the world average sex ratio at birth?
This site does not calculate a world average, which would depend on how countries are weighted. In the middle country of the 222 compared in 2023, the figure was 105.1.
Is this UN DESA Population Division’s own ranking?
No ranking is shown. UN DESA Population Division publishes values only, and too many countries share the same value for an ordering to mean anything, so none is derived.
How often is the Sex Ratio at Birth published?
This site holds 74 reference years, 1950–2023, all recalculated in UN DESA Population Division’s 2024 report on one method — not 74 separate publications.
Where does the data come from, and can I download it?
From UN DESA Population Division, under CC BY 3.0 IGO. From World Population Prospects 2024, read from the Population Division's own CSV download, and published there to one decimal. Projections are excluded. Every edition is on this site’s Datasets pages as a full table, and downloads as a CSV file with every value unrounded.
12Method
Sources, method and citation
Source
Sex Ratio at Birth — UN DESA Population Division
From World Population Prospects 2024, read from the Population Division's own CSV download, and published there to one decimal. Projections are excluded.
Newest edition
Report year 2023Data year 2023
Cite the source as: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2024. New York: United Nations.
Licence: CC BY 3.0 IGO, checked 2026-09-26.
How this page reads the numbers
- No rank or position is shown: UN DESA Population Division publishes values only, and too many countries share the same value for an ordering to mean anything.
- This statistic has no better end, so the page describes higher and lower values and never calls a country a leader.
- A country is named at an end only when it holds that value alone. Where several share it, the page says how many and names none first.
- Values are stored exactly as published and trimmed only for display. “The middle country” is the median of the countries measured, not a world average.
The file itself, column by column — where it came from, what each column holds, and every edition as a CSV — is on its dataset page.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Sex ratio at birth by country: Sex Ratio at Birth, data from UN DESA Population Division. https://nationsinquiry.com/statistics/sex-ratio-at-birth