Home >> Census of India >> >> Sex-Ratio

Sex-Ratio

In 2001 the sex -ratio stood at 933 for the whole of India.The only state to show a higher number of females per 1000 males was Kerala with a sex ratio of 1,058.Among Union territories Pondicherry had the highest sex-ratio of 1,001 it was the only UT to reach a figure above 950.In the Indian context a sex ratio of 950 and above can be considered as favourable to females. The other states are Chattisgarh 989, Tamil Nadu 987, Andhra Pradesh 978, Manipur 978, Meghalaya 972, Orissa 972, Himachal Pradesh 968, Karnataka 965, Uttaranchal 962 and Goa 961.

The sex ratio of 933 for the country is an improvement over the figure for 1991.The sex-ratio in India has always been unfavorable to females. It showed a continuous decline from 1901 to 1941, improved marginally in 1951 then dropped steeply to 930 in 1971.The sharpest decline is seen during the period 1961-1971 after which the sex ratio has been fluctuating around this figure.

The sex ratio in the age-group 0-6 has decreased at a much faster rate than the overall ratio in the country after 1981.The relative share of states and union territories with sex-ratio of 951 and above in the 0-6 age-group has shown a sharp decline and the number of states/ut with sex-ratio in this group of population below 915 has increased from four in 1991 to nine in 2001.Some states have shown sharper decline in sex ratio in this group of population than others.

The Christian population has the highest sex-ratio of 1009 females per thousand males in the 2001 census followed by other religions and persuasions 992, Buddhist 953 and Jains 940.Sex ratio among Sikh population is 893 which is lowest among the different religious communities.Sex -ratio among Muslim Population is 936 which is just above the national average of 933 for all religions and Hindu population sex-ratio is 931.

Current Affairs Magazine