India’s sex ratio at birth (SRB) has improved from recent lows, but not by much. The latest SRS 2024 data puts it at 918 girls per 1,000 boys for 2022-24, up from a low of 896 in 2015-17, which is still well below biologically expected levels. WHO data reports the sex ratio at birth as male births per female births; The commonly observed natural level is about 105 boys per 100 girls, which translates to about 952 girls per 1,000 boys.A slightly higher number of boys at birth is normal because male infants are biologically more sensitive, so it appears that nature is building in a small cushion.SRB should not be confused with overall sex ratio or child sex ratio. The SRB measures births in the recent period; Child sex ratio reflects both the birth and survival of children; The overall sex ratio reflects the entire population. Furthermore, the SRS is sample based, so the safest readings are not small year-on-year fluctuations, especially in smaller states/UTs, but broader three-year averages and longer trends.

The worrying message from the data is this: India has improved from its worst point, but after almost two decades, the national SRB is only four points better than in 2005-07, and the rural numbers are actually worse. Urban India, once thought to be more susceptible to sex selection, now reports better SRB than rural India. So, the problem of missing girls in India has reduced a little but has not ended. Due to falling fertility rates and smaller families, some states may see an increase in ‘son only’ families.