Sex ratio at birth

Viet Nam’s sex ratio at birth was higher than the natural and biological level, although the situation has improved in recent years due to efforts to "bring the sex ratio at birth to the natural balance" from the Central Party and Government. More efforts will be needed to reach the goal of "By 2030: the sex ratio at birth will be less than 109 boys per 100 girls".

The sex ratio at birth (SRB)²⁶ reflects the sex balance of the number of boys and girls born. This ratio globally is usually 104-106 boys per 100 girls. Any significant change in the SRB deviating from the normal biological level reflects intentional interventions and will affect the natural imbalance, threatening the stability of the nation and the global population.

The SRB of Viet Nam has been above the normal biological level since 2006, suggesting a sex imbalance at birth in Viet Nam. The SRB decreased in 2019 compared to 2018 (down to 111.5 boys per 100 girls in 2019 from 114.8 boys per 100 girls in 2018), but remained high. The unusual increase in Viet Nam's SRB in recent years has been a central concern among policymakers. However, warnings about the consequences of sex imbalance at birth and the implementation of policies to avoid intentional fetal intervention in sex choice during pregnancy appear to have been ineffective, as Viet Nam’s sex imbalance at birth has not adequately improved.

Table 5.6: Sex ratio at birth by urban and rural area, 2009-2019

Unit: Boys per 100 girls 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

ENTIRE COUNTRY 110.5 111.2 111.9 112.3 113.8 112.2 112.8 112.2 112.1 114.8 111.5 Urban 110.6 108.9 114.2 116.8 110.3 109.9 114.8 110.4 114.4 118.0 110.8 Rural 110.5 112.0 111.1 110.4 115.5 113.2 111.9 113.0 111.1 113.4 111.8 Source: Year 2009-2018: The 2018 Statistical Yearbook (General Statistics Office), Page 102.

26Sex ratio at birth (SRB) is determined by the number of boys per 100 girls born in a study period, usually 12 months prior the Census.

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The SRB in urban areas was lower than in rural areas, with 110.8 and 111.8 boys per 100 girls, respectively. There were significant differences in the SRB across regions, with the highest SRB in the Red River Delta (115.5 boys per 100 girls) and the lowest in the Mekong River Delta (106.9 boys per 100 girls). The difference between the SRB in urban and rural areas in the Red River Delta was also the highest in the country.

The SRB in the Northern midlands and mountain areas region was 108.5 boys per 100 girls in 2009 but increased to 114.2 boys per 100 girls in 2019. The SRB in the Red River Delta was 115.3 boys per 100 girls in 2009 with a slight increase to 115.5 boys per 100 girls in 2019. Over the last 10 years, the SRB increase in the Northern midlands and mountain areas region was greater than that of the Red River Delta.

Figure 5.6: Sex ratio at birth by urban and rural area, and socio-economic region

Unit: Boys per 100 girls

The imbalance in the sex ratio at birth in Viet Nam was the result of a number of factors, including son preference in the context of lower fertility, family temple and ancestral worship traditions, Confucian culture, and underestimating the value of women in the family and society.

Various regions also have easier access to health services in fetal sex selection during pregnancy, including access to sex selective abortions.

Prenatal sex selection reflects profound gender inequality. International and Vietnamese studies have also pointed out the implications for future family structures and social issues rising from the current sex imbalance. The shortage of girls observed in many countries will lead to a shortage of women in all age groups in the future. The population structure in the coming decades will be marked by the current sex imbalance, with the size of the male population dominating for a long time. According to social scientists, the main impact of the imbalance of sex ratio at birth will

114.2 115.5

109.4 108.6

111.0

106.9 117.7

112.1

109.1 108.8

111.1

105.1 113.4

117.2

109.5

108.5

110.8

107.5

100 102 104 106 108 110 112 114 116 118 120

Northern midlands

and moutain areas Red River Delta North Central and Central coastal

areas

Central Highlands South East Mekong River Delta

Total Urban Rural

114.2 115.5

109.4

108.6

111.0

106.9 117.7

112.1

109.1 108.8

111.1

105.1 113.4

117.2

109.5

108.5

110.8

107.5

100 102 104 106 108 110 112 114 116 118 120

Northern midlands and moutain areas

Red River Delta North Central and Central coastal areas

Central Highlands South East Mekong River Delta

Total Urban Rural

RESULTS - THE VIET NAM POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS OF 00:00 HOURS ON 1 APRIL 2019 RESULTS - THE VIET NAM POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS OF 00:00 HOURS ON 1 APRIL 2019 / 87| 85 be related to forming families and the marital system. Younger men will be more abundant than women, as the proportion of women has been decreasing in the same cohort, and as a result, they may face serious difficulties in finding a partner. Delaying marriage in men or increasing the rate of single people is becoming a likely future outcome due to the shortage of women of marital age, with adverse effects on future family systems.

Prenatal sex selection directly affects the sex imbalance at birth. Data to monitor SRB developments will be necessary to provide timely intervention policies and programs.

The Party and Government of Viet Nam have heavily focused on the imbalance in sex at birth.

On 25 October 2017, at the Sixth Conference, Session XII, the Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW on population work in the new context. The Resolution stated that “the sex imbalance at birth has increased rapidly and seriously” and set the goal of “bringing the sex ratio at birth to the natural balance”, “By 2030: The sex ratio at birth will be less than 109 boys per 100 girls”.

The Party's direction on bringing the sex ratio at birth to the natural balance has been concretized and implemented through Decision No. 1679/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated 22 November 2019 on approving the Viet Nam National Population Strategy by 2030.

Photo: UNFPA Viet Nam/ Nguyen Minh Duc

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