India’s sex ratio at birth (SRB) has shown a slight improvement from its previous low, though it remains concerningly below expected levels. According to the most recent Sample Registration System (SRS) data for 2022-2024, the SRB stands at 918 girls for every 1,000 boys, an increase from the low of 896 recorded between 2015-2017. Despite this upward trend, the figure is still significantly lower than the biologically expected ratio of approximately 952 girls per 1,000 boys, based on a natural level of about 105 male births for every 100 female births.
It is essential to distinguish SRB from overall sex ratios and child sex ratios. The SRB measures recent births, whereas the child sex ratio accounts for both births and survival rates among children, and the overall sex ratio represents the entire population. Given that the SRS data is based on sampling, it is crucial to focus on broad three-year averages and long-term trends rather than minor year-to-year fluctuations, especially in smaller states and Union Territories.
A troubling aspect of the data is that while India has improved from its lowest point, the current national SRB has only increased by four points since the period of 2005-2007. Rural areas, in particular, report a worse SRB than urban centers. Urban India, once perceived as more likely to engage in sex selection, now exhibits a better SRB compared to its rural counterparts. This indicates that while the problem of missing girls has somewhat ameliorated, it has not been resolved. With declining fertility rates and smaller family sizes, there is a risk that some states may experience a rise in “son-only” families.
