Vietnam Seeks to Correct Alarming Boy-Girl Birth Ratio Imbalance

Vietnam is confronting an alarming imbalance in the sex ratio of newborns, with significantly more boys being born than girls. In response, the Ministry of Health has drafted a plan to intervene and steer the country toward a more natural ratio, aiming for approximately 106 boys per 100 girls by the year 2035.

This demographic skew is largely attributed to a deeply ingrained societal preference for male heirs, often exacerbated by access to prenatal sex selection technologies. The imbalance poses significant long-term social challenges, including potential difficulties in marriage for men and broader societal instability.

The government's proposed measures are expected to include public awareness campaigns and potentially stricter regulations on sex determination during pregnancy. The initiative reflects a growing concern among Vietnamese authorities about the demographic consequences of this persistent gender imbalance.