Gender (Sex) Ratio:

• The number of females in the country per 1000 males is known as gender ratio, sex ratio or female-male ratio.
• Gender ratio occupies an important place in the study of population. If the number of females is decreasing compared to males then it creates various problems in the country.
• If the gap between number of females and males increases then it leads to a number of problems related to marriage, family, reproduction, etc.

By studying the gender-ratio we can find out the numbers and then focus our attention to understand the causes of adversity in gender ratio and efforts needed to solve them.

Gender ratio in India

Source: Census of India 2011

Analysis and conclusion:

1. From the data it can be clearly seen that between 1901 and 1991 the number of females per 1000 males has continuously decreased both at India level and at Gujarat level.

The trend changed in the decade of 2001 to 2011 where in female population per 1000 males increased at India level, although negligibly. The “Beti Bachao” programme has played a good role in encouraging people to give birth to girl child and raise her with pride.

2. Looking at the data of Gujarat, was can see that the female to male ratio has continuously fallen from the period between 1901 and 2011.

Such a fall is not a healthy sign for the region. It creates, social and cultural problems.