What is the male to female ratio in the world?

The global male to female ratio is approximately 101.2 males per 100 females, with 4.1 billion males and 4.0 billion females worldwide. Males slightly outnumber females overall because more boys are born than girls, though women outnumber men in older age groups.

What is the ratio of men to women globally?

Globally, there are roughly 101.2 men for every 100 women, making the population approximately 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

What is the human sex ratio?

The human sex ratio at birth is naturally about 105 males per 100 females. Over a lifetime this evens out because males have higher mortality at every age. By age 65+, women outnumber men in nearly every country.

What is the sex ratio at birth?

The natural human sex ratio at birth is approximately 105 boys per 100 girls. Some countries show ratios above 110 due to sex-selective practices, while others are near the natural rate.

What country has the highest male to female ratio?

Qatar has the highest male to female ratio at 248.2 per 100, driven primarily by male migrant workers.

What is the gender ratio in the United States?

The US has a sex ratio of 101.0 males per 100 females, with approximately 173.6 million males and 171.9 million females.

Male to Female Ratio by Country 2026: Global Gender Demographics

Male-to-female ratio measures how many males exist per 100 females in a population. The global average is 101.2 males per 100 females, but this varies dramatically worldwide — from 85.2 in Moldovato 248.2 in Qatar. These imbalances reflect migration patterns, cultural factors, conflict history, and varying male-female life expectancy gaps across regions.

Gender Ratio Explorer & Country Comparison

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🌍 World

101.2per 100

males per 100 females

Balanced

Male population: 4,083,933,806

Female population: 4,037,342,156

Difference: 46,591,650 more males

50.3%

49.7%

MalesFemales

Age Group Breakdown:

At Birth (0-4):105.2

Working Age (15-64):103.1

Elderly (65+):80.0

Filter & Sort Gender Ratios

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Rank	Country	Sex Ratio ↓	Male %	Female %	At Birth	Elderly
1	🇶🇦 Qatar	248.2	71.3%	28.7%	104.1	152.8
2	🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	177.0	63.9%	36.1%	102.1	126.4
3	🇴🇲 Oman	164.6	62.2%	37.8%	103.8	93.2
4	🇧🇭 Bahrain	163.4	62.0%	38.0%	103.5	111.3
5	🇲🇻 Maldives	162.6	61.9%	38.1%	107.6	109.8
6	🇰🇼 Kuwait	157.2	61.1%	38.9%	103.1	114.4
7	🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	153.4	60.5%	39.5%	104.3	122.9
8	🇸🇨 Seychelles	123.0	55.2%	44.8%	104.4	87.1
9	🇵🇼 Palau	116.8	53.9%	46.1%	106.4	87.3
10	🇧🇹 Bhutan	114.8	53.4%	46.6%	104.4	98.3
11	🇧🇳 Brunei	113.2	53.1%	46.9%	107.7	87.9
12	🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea	111.5	52.7%	47.3%	102.1	89.7
13	🇲🇾 Malaysia	109.9	52.4%	47.6%	106.2	92.5
14	🇲🇹 Malta	107.9	51.9%	48.1%	107.3	85.7
15	🇸🇬 Singapore	106.9	51.7%	48.3%	104.3	85.4
16	🇮🇳 India	106.5	51.6%	48.4%	107.6	90.7
17	🇯🇴 Jordan	106.5	51.6%	48.4%	104.6	94.4
18	🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea	105.9	51.4%	48.6%	107.0	105.7
19	🇲🇭 Marshall Islands	105.1	51.2%	48.8%	107.2	98.6
20	🇮🇸 Iceland	104.9	51.2%	48.8%	106.9	94.0
21	🇹🇻 Tuvalu	104.8	51.2%	48.8%	112.2	63.3
22	🇸🇧 Solomon Islands	104.6	51.1%	48.9%	106.6	96.7
23	🇦🇩 Andorra	104.6	51.1%	48.9%	108.0	95.6
24	🇩🇿 Algeria	104.1	51.0%	49.0%	104.2	93.2
25	🇨🇳 China	103.8	50.9%	49.1%	111.1	81.9
26	🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	103.8	50.9%	49.1%	103.2	92.4
27	🇳🇷 Nauru	103.7	50.9%	49.1%	102.7	60.3
28	🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire	103.6	50.9%	49.1%	101.5	98.4
29	🇨🇻 Cabo Verde	103.5	50.9%	49.1%	104.6	64.6
30	🇱🇾 Libya	103.4	50.8%	49.2%	105.6	84.9
31	🇸🇳 Senegal	103.4	50.8%	49.2%	105.1	94.8
32	🇮🇷 Iran	103.3	50.8%	49.2%	105.2	94.4
33	🇳🇪 Niger	103.1	50.8%	49.2%	103.1	87.5
34	🇬🇦 Gabon	103.1	50.8%	49.2%	101.4	86.0
35	🇵🇰 Pakistan	102.9	50.7%	49.3%	104.6	86.1
36	🇾🇪 Yemen	102.7	50.7%	49.3%	105.2	77.4
37	🇳🇬 Nigeria	102.3	50.6%	49.4%	102.5	90.4
38	🇪🇬 Egypt	102.0	50.5%	49.5%	105.1	75.7
39	🇦🇫 Afghanistan	102.0	50.5%	49.5%	104.4	73.6
40	🇻🇺 Vanuatu	101.9	50.5%	49.5%	106.7	96.9
41	🇧🇿 Belize	101.8	50.5%	49.5%	104.9	92.4
42	🇲🇱 Mali	101.8	50.5%	49.5%	102.1	84.5
43	🇺🇿 Uzbekistan	101.8	50.4%	49.6%	107.7	71.0
44	🇲🇦 Morocco	101.7	50.4%	49.6%	104.4	89.5
45	🇹🇱 Timor-Leste	101.7	50.4%	49.6%	104.9	86.0
46	🇳🇴 Norway	101.6	50.4%	49.6%	105.1	89.3
47	🇨🇾 Cyprus	101.5	50.4%	49.6%	106.3	85.7
48	🇸🇪 Sweden	101.5	50.4%	49.6%	105.6	88.2
49	🇼🇸 Samoa	101.5	50.4%	49.6%	107.4	85.1
50	🇭🇳 Honduras	101.4	50.3%	49.7%	104.8	80.0

Showing 50 of 195 results

All 195 Countries Ranked by Male-to-Female Ratio

Rank	Country	Region	Sex Ratio	Male %	Female %	2024 Population
1	🇶🇦Qatar	Asia	248.2	71.3%	28.7%	3.0M
2	🇦🇪United Arab Emirates	Asia	177.0	63.9%	36.1%	11.0M
3	🇴🇲Oman	Asia	164.6	62.2%	37.8%	5.3M
4	🇧🇭Bahrain	Asia	163.4	62.0%	38.0%	1.6M
5	🇲🇻Maldives	Asia	162.6	61.9%	38.1%	0.5M
6	🇰🇼Kuwait	Asia	157.2	61.1%	38.9%	4.9M
7	🇸🇦Saudi Arabia	Asia	153.4	60.5%	39.5%	34.0M
8	🇸🇨Seychelles	Africa	123.0	55.2%	44.8%	0.1M
9	🇵🇼Palau	Oceania	116.8	53.9%	46.1%	0.0M
10	🇧🇹Bhutan	Asia	114.8	53.4%	46.6%	0.8M
11	🇧🇳Brunei	Asia	113.2	53.1%	46.9%	0.5M
12	🇬🇶Equatorial Guinea	Africa	111.5	52.7%	47.3%	1.9M
13	🇲🇾Malaysia	Asia	109.9	52.4%	47.6%	35.6M
14	🇲🇹Malta	Europe	107.9	51.9%	48.1%	0.5M
15	🇸🇬Singapore	Asia	106.9	51.7%	48.3%	5.8M
16	🇮🇳India	Asia	106.5	51.6%	48.4%	1450.9M
17	🇯🇴Jordan	Asia	106.5	51.6%	48.4%	11.6M
18	🇵🇬Papua New Guinea	Oceania	105.9	51.4%	48.6%	10.6M
19	🇲🇭Marshall Islands	Oceania	105.1	51.2%	48.8%	0.0M
20	🇮🇸Iceland	Europe	104.9	51.2%	48.8%	0.4M
21	🇹🇻Tuvalu	Oceania	104.8	51.2%	48.8%	0.0M
22	🇸🇧Solomon Islands	Oceania	104.6	51.1%	48.9%	0.8M
23	🇦🇩Andorra	Europe	104.6	51.1%	48.9%	0.1M
24	🇩🇿Algeria	Africa	104.1	51.0%	49.0%	46.8M
25	🇨🇳China	Asia	103.8	50.9%	49.1%	1419.3M
26	🇻🇨Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Americas	103.8	50.9%	49.1%	0.1M
27	🇳🇷Nauru	Oceania	103.7	50.9%	49.1%	0.0M
28	🇨🇮Côte d'Ivoire	Africa	103.6	50.9%	49.1%	31.9M
29	🇨🇻Cabo Verde	Africa	103.5	50.9%	49.1%	0.5M
30	🇱🇾Libya	Africa	103.4	50.8%	49.2%	7.4M
31	🇸🇳Senegal	Africa	103.4	50.8%	49.2%	18.5M
32	🇮🇷Iran	Asia	103.3	50.8%	49.2%	91.6M
33	🇳🇪Niger	Africa	103.1	50.8%	49.2%	27.0M
34	🇬🇦Gabon	Africa	103.1	50.8%	49.2%	2.5M
35	🇵🇰Pakistan	Asia	102.9	50.7%	49.3%	251.3M
36	🇾🇪Yemen	Asia	102.7	50.7%	49.3%	40.6M
37	🇳🇬Nigeria	Africa	102.3	50.6%	49.4%	232.7M
38	🇪🇬Egypt	Africa	102.0	50.5%	49.5%	116.5M
39	🇦🇫Afghanistan	Asia	102.0	50.5%	49.5%	42.6M
40	🇻🇺Vanuatu	Oceania	101.9	50.5%	49.5%	0.3M
41	🇧🇿Belize	Americas	101.8	50.5%	49.5%	0.4M
42	🇲🇱Mali	Africa	101.8	50.5%	49.5%	24.5M
43	🇺🇿Uzbekistan	Asia	101.8	50.4%	49.6%	36.4M
44	🇲🇦Morocco	Africa	101.7	50.4%	49.6%	38.1M
45	🇹🇱Timor-Leste	Asia	101.7	50.4%	49.6%	1.4M
46	🇳🇴Norway	Europe	101.6	50.4%	49.6%	5.6M
47	🇨🇾Cyprus	Asia	101.5	50.4%	49.6%	1.4M
48	🇸🇪Sweden	Europe	101.5	50.4%	49.6%	10.6M
49	🇼🇸Samoa	Oceania	101.5	50.4%	49.6%	0.2M
50	🇭🇳Honduras	Americas	101.4	50.3%	49.7%	10.8M
51	🇱🇺Luxembourg	Europe	101.3	50.3%	49.7%	0.7M
52	🇹🇬Togo	Africa	101.3	50.3%	49.7%	9.5M
53	🇰🇲Comoros	Africa	101.2	50.3%	49.7%	0.9M
54	🇱🇦Laos	Asia	101.0	50.2%	49.8%	7.8M
55	🇸🇮Slovenia	Europe	101.0	50.2%	49.8%	2.1M
56	🇺🇸United States	Americas	101.0	50.2%	49.8%	345.4M
57	🇫🇲Micronesia	Oceania	101.0	50.2%	49.8%	0.5M
58	🇮🇩Indonesia	Asia	100.9	50.2%	49.8%	283.5M
59	🇮🇶Iraq	Asia	100.8	50.2%	49.8%	46.0M
60	🇹🇩Chad	Africa	100.6	50.2%	49.8%	20.3M
61	🇲🇬Madagascar	Africa	100.6	50.2%	49.8%	32.0M
62	🇧🇯Benin	Africa	100.6	50.1%	49.9%	14.5M
63	🇵🇾Paraguay	Americas	100.6	50.1%	49.9%	6.9M
64	🇬🇩Grenada	Americas	100.5	50.1%	49.9%	0.1M
65	🇪🇹Ethiopia	Africa	100.4	50.1%	49.9%	132.1M
66	🇧🇴Bolivia	Americas	100.4	50.1%	49.9%	12.4M
67	🇸🇴Somalia	Africa	100.4	50.1%	49.9%	19.0M
68	🇸🇾Syria	Asia	100.1	50.0%	50.0%	24.7M
69	🇵🇦Panama	Americas	100.0	50.0%	50.0%	4.5M
70	🇩🇲Dominica	Americas	100.0	50.0%	50.0%	0.1M
71	🇨🇬Congo	Africa	100.0	50.0%	50.0%	6.3M
72	🇸🇷Suriname	Americas	99.8	50.0%	50.0%	0.6M
73	🇬🇭Ghana	Africa	99.8	49.9%	50.1%	34.4M
74	🇱🇷Liberia	Africa	99.7	49.9%	50.1%	5.6M
75	🇲🇺Mauritius	Africa	99.7	49.9%	50.1%	1.3M
76	🇹🇷Turkey	Asia	99.7	49.9%	50.1%	87.5M
77	🇰🇷South Korea	Asia	99.7	49.9%	50.1%	51.7M
78	🇵🇭Philippines	Asia	99.5	49.9%	50.1%	115.8M
79	🇸🇱Sierra Leone	Africa	99.5	49.9%	50.1%	8.6M
80	🇲🇳Mongolia	Asia	99.4	49.9%	50.1%	3.5M
81	🇪🇨Ecuador	Americas	99.4	49.9%	50.1%	18.1M
82	🇧🇼Botswana	Africa	99.4	49.8%	50.2%	2.5M
83	🇨🇲Cameroon	Africa	99.3	49.8%	50.2%	29.1M
84	🇧🇫Burkina Faso	Africa	99.3	49.8%	50.2%	23.5M
85	🇬🇲Gambia	Africa	99.2	49.8%	50.2%	2.8M
86	🇮🇱Israel	Asia	99.2	49.8%	50.2%	9.4M
87	🇲🇲Myanmar	Asia	99.1	49.8%	50.2%	54.5M
88	🇵🇪Peru	Americas	98.9	49.7%	50.3%	34.2M
89	🇰🇪Kenya	Africa	98.9	49.7%	50.3%	56.4M
90	🇩🇴Dominican Republic	Americas	98.9	49.7%	50.3%	11.4M
91	🇸🇹Sao Tome and Principe	Africa	98.8	49.7%	50.3%	0.2M
92	🇩🇰Denmark	Europe	98.8	49.7%	50.3%	6.0M
93	🇨🇱Chile	Americas	98.8	49.7%	50.3%	19.8M
94	🇱🇮Liechtenstein	Europe	98.8	49.7%	50.3%	0.0M
95	🇳🇿New Zealand	Oceania	98.8	49.7%	50.3%	5.2M
96	🇳🇱Netherlands	Europe	98.7	49.7%	50.3%	18.2M
97	🇧🇮Burundi	Africa	98.7	49.7%	50.3%	14.0M
98	🇨🇭Switzerland	Europe	98.7	49.7%	50.3%	8.9M
99	🇨🇦Canada	Americas	98.6	49.7%	50.3%	39.7M
100	🇵🇸Palestine	Asia	98.6	49.6%	50.4%	5.5M
101	🇦🇷Argentina	Americas	98.5	49.6%	50.4%	45.7M
102	🇫🇯Fiji	Oceania	98.5	49.6%	50.4%	0.9M
103	🇦🇺Australia	Oceania	98.5	49.6%	50.4%	26.7M
104	🇨🇩Democratic Republic of the Congo	Africa	98.5	49.6%	50.4%	109.3M
105	🇬🇹Guatemala	Americas	98.4	49.6%	50.4%	18.4M
106	🇺🇬Uganda	Africa	98.4	49.6%	50.4%	50.0M
107	🇸🇩Sudan	Africa	98.3	49.6%	50.4%	50.4M
108	🇩🇯Djibouti	Africa	98.3	49.6%	50.4%	1.2M
109	🇹🇿Tanzania	Africa	98.3	49.6%	50.4%	68.6M
110	🇮🇪Ireland	Europe	98.0	49.5%	50.5%	5.3M
111	🇿🇲Zambia	Africa	98.0	49.5%	50.5%	21.3M
112	🇦🇴Angola	Africa	98.0	49.5%	50.5%	37.9M
113	🇬🇳Guinea	Africa	98.0	49.5%	50.5%	14.8M
114	🇭🇹Haiti	Americas	98.0	49.5%	50.5%	11.8M
115	🇰🇵North Korea	Asia	97.9	49.5%	50.5%	26.5M
116	🇯🇲Jamaica	Americas	97.8	49.4%	50.6%	2.8M
117	🇹🇹Trinidad and Tobago	Americas	97.8	49.4%	50.6%	1.5M
118	🇰🇬Kyrgyzstan	Asia	97.8	49.4%	50.6%	7.2M
119	🇦🇱Albania	Europe	97.8	49.4%	50.6%	2.8M
120	🇹🇳Tunisia	Africa	97.7	49.4%	50.6%	12.3M
121	🇫🇮Finland	Europe	97.7	49.4%	50.6%	5.6M
122	🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau	Africa	97.7	49.4%	50.6%	2.2M
123	🇨🇷Costa Rica	Americas	97.7	49.4%	50.6%	5.1M
124	🇻🇪Venezuela	Americas	97.6	49.4%	50.6%	28.4M
125	🇩🇪Germany	Europe	97.6	49.4%	50.6%	84.6M
126	🇱🇨Saint Lucia	Americas	97.5	49.4%	50.6%	0.2M
127	🇪🇷Eritrea	Africa	97.5	49.4%	50.6%	3.5M
128	🇨🇴Colombia	Americas	97.4	49.3%	50.7%	52.9M
129	🇨🇺Cuba	Americas	97.4	49.3%	50.7%	11.0M
130	🇨🇿Czech Republic	Europe	97.3	49.3%	50.7%	10.7M
131	🇧🇪Belgium	Europe	97.3	49.3%	50.7%	11.7M
132	🇬🇧United Kingdom	Europe	97.0	49.2%	50.8%	69.1M
133	🇦🇹Austria	Europe	97.0	49.2%	50.8%	9.1M
134	🇧🇷Brazil	Americas	96.8	49.2%	50.8%	212.0M
135	🇳🇮Nicaragua	Americas	96.8	49.2%	50.8%	6.9M
136	🇸🇸South Sudan	Africa	96.8	49.2%	50.8%	11.9M
137	🇸🇲San Marino	Europe	96.7	49.2%	50.8%	0.0M
138	🇧🇩Bangladesh	Asia	96.7	49.2%	50.8%	173.6M
139	🇹🇯Tajikistan	Asia	96.6	49.1%	50.9%	10.6M
140	🇸🇿Eswatini	Africa	96.5	49.1%	50.9%	1.2M
141	🇪🇸Spain	Europe	96.4	49.1%	50.9%	47.9M
142	🇹🇲Turkmenistan	Asia	96.4	49.1%	50.9%	7.5M
143	🇲🇷Mauritania	Africa	96.3	49.1%	50.9%	5.2M
144	🇦🇿Azerbaijan	Asia	96.1	49.0%	51.0%	10.3M
145	🇰🇭Cambodia	Asia	96.1	49.0%	51.0%	17.6M
146	🇻🇳Vietnam	Asia	96.0	49.0%	51.0%	101.0M
147	🇲🇨Monaco	Europe	95.8	48.9%	51.1%	0.0M
148	🇮🇹Italy	Europe	95.6	48.9%	51.1%	59.3M
149	🇳🇦Namibia	Africa	95.5	48.8%	51.2%	3.0M
150	🇸🇰Slovakia	Europe	95.4	48.8%	51.2%	5.5M
151	🇲🇼Malawi	Africa	95.3	48.8%	51.2%	21.7M
152	🇯🇵Japan	Asia	95.3	48.8%	51.2%	123.8M
153	🇷🇼Rwanda	Africa	95.2	48.8%	51.2%	14.3M
154	🇱🇸Lesotho	Africa	95.0	48.7%	51.3%	2.3M
155	🇰🇿Kazakhstan	Asia	95.0	48.7%	51.3%	20.6M
156	🇹🇭Thailand	Asia	94.9	48.7%	51.3%	71.7M
157	🇬🇾Guyana	Americas	94.9	48.7%	51.3%	0.8M
158	🇿🇦South Africa	Africa	94.8	48.7%	51.3%	64.0M
159	🇲🇰North Macedonia	Europe	94.7	48.6%	51.4%	1.8M
160	🇱🇧Lebanon	Asia	94.7	48.6%	51.4%	5.8M
161	🇰🇮Kiribati	Oceania	94.3	48.5%	51.5%	0.1M
162	🇲🇿Mozambique	Africa	94.2	48.5%	51.5%	34.6M
163	🇺🇾Uruguay	Americas	94.2	48.5%	51.5%	3.4M
164	🇲🇽Mexico	Americas	94.2	48.5%	51.5%	130.9M
165	🇫🇷France	Europe	94.1	48.5%	51.5%	66.5M
166	🇵🇱Poland	Europe	94.0	48.4%	51.6%	38.5M
167	🇬🇷Greece	Europe	93.9	48.4%	51.6%	10.0M
168	🇷🇴Romania	Europe	93.9	48.4%	51.6%	19.0M
169	🇧🇬Bulgaria	Europe	93.8	48.4%	51.6%	6.8M
170	🇱🇰Sri Lanka	Asia	93.7	48.4%	51.6%	23.1M
171	🇭🇷Croatia	Europe	93.2	48.2%	51.8%	3.9M
172	🇲🇪Montenegro	Europe	92.8	48.1%	51.9%	0.6M
173	🇭🇺Hungary	Europe	92.4	48.0%	52.0%	9.7M
174	🇨🇫Central African Republic	Africa	92.3	48.0%	52.0%	5.3M
175	🇧🇧Barbados	Americas	92.1	47.9%	52.1%	0.3M
176	🇳🇵Nepal	Asia	91.9	47.9%	52.1%	29.7M
177	🇰🇳Saint Kitts and Nevis	Americas	91.8	47.9%	52.1%	0.0M
178	🇻🇦Vatican City	Europe	91.5	47.8%	52.2%	0.0M
179	🇧🇸Bahamas	Americas	91.4	47.7%	52.3%	0.4M
180	🇿🇼Zimbabwe	Africa	91.1	47.7%	52.3%	16.6M
181	🇵🇹Portugal	Europe	91.0	47.6%	52.4%	10.4M
182	🇦🇬Antigua and Barbuda	Americas	90.9	47.6%	52.4%	0.1M
183	🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovina	Europe	90.8	47.6%	52.4%	3.2M
184	🇪🇪Estonia	Europe	90.6	47.5%	52.5%	1.4M
185	🇸🇻El Salvador	Americas	90.5	47.5%	52.5%	6.3M
186	🇷🇸Serbia	Europe	90.3	47.4%	52.6%	6.7M
187	🇹🇴Tonga	Oceania	89.5	47.2%	52.8%	0.1M
188	🇱🇹Lithuania	Europe	89.4	47.2%	52.8%	2.9M
189	🇬🇪Georgia	Asia	87.3	46.6%	53.4%	3.8M
190	🇧🇾Belarus	Europe	87.3	46.6%	53.4%	9.1M
191	🇺🇦Ukraine	Europe	86.9	46.5%	53.5%	37.9M
192	🇦🇲Armenia	Asia	86.7	46.4%	53.6%	3.0M
193	🇷🇺Russia	Europe	86.6	46.4%	53.6%	144.8M
194	🇱🇻Latvia	Europe	86.4	46.4%	53.6%	1.9M
195	🇲🇩Moldova	Europe	85.2	46.0%	54.0%	3.0M

Global Gender Demographics: Understanding Sex Ratios

Gulf States Lead in Male-Heavy Demographics

The world's most extreme gender imbalances occur in Gulf states, where massive male labor migration creates unprecedented sex ratios.Qatar leads globally with 248.2 males per 100 females, meaning 71.3% of its population is male. This pattern extends across the region: United Arab Emirates (177.0), Oman (164.6), and Bahrain (163.4). These ratios reflect economic structures built on foreign male workers in construction, oil, and service industries, creating societies where men dramatically outnumber women.

Eastern Europe's Female Majority: War's Long Shadow

Eastern European nations show the opposite extreme, with women significantly outnumbering men. Moldovahas the world's lowest sex ratio at 85.2 males per 100 females, where54.0% of the population is female. Countries like Latvia (86.4) and Russia (86.6) reflect historical impacts from World War II, Soviet-era policies, and ongoing male health crises. Higher male mortality rates, emigration of working-age men, and significant gender gaps in life expectancy create these female-heavy demographics.

Why Sex Ratios Vary: Migration, Culture, and Conflict

Gender ratios reflect complex interactions of economic migration, cultural preferences, conflict history, and health disparities. Gulf states import predominantly male workers for labor-intensive industries, while maintaining family structures in origin countries. South Asian countries like India historically showed male preferences leading to sex-selective practices, though this is changing. Eastern Europe faces "masculinity crises" where men experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease, alcohol-related mortality, and workplace accidents, combined with post-Soviet emigration patterns that favor male out-migration for work.

Societal Implications of Gender Imbalances

Extreme gender ratios create profound social and economic challenges. Male-surplus societies face "marriage squeezes" where millions of men cannot find partners, affecting everything from crime rates to savings patterns. Countries like China and India have created entire generations of surplus males, leading to increased bride trafficking, delayed marriage ages, and altered family structures. Conversely, female-heavy societies struggle with eldercare burdens, pension sustainability, and workforce gaps in traditionally male industries.

Economic effects ripple through consumption patterns, housing markets, and labor dynamics. Male-heavy countries show distinct spending patterns favoring durables over services, while female-majority nations face challenges in physically demanding industries. These imbalances also drive international migration, as people move to regions with more balanced demographics for family formation. Understanding these patterns helps policymakers anticipate social needs, from healthcare services to housing demand to immigration policies.

The United States: Near-Global Average Gender Balance

The United States maintains a relatively balanced gender ratio at 101.0 males per 100 females, close to the global average. With 173.6 million males and 171.9 million females, America represents 50.2% male and 49.8% female. This balance shifts with age: 104.8 males per 100 females at birth, 104.8 among working-age adults, and 84.6 among those 65 and older, reflecting typical patterns where female longevity advantages emerge with age.