Yes — there are slightly more men than women on Earth, roughly 50.3% male versus 49.7% female. Behavioural and genetic disparities, gender-selective practices, and entrenched gender inequalities all shape this gap.
Short answer: as of the latest UN World Population Prospects (2024 revision), the global population sits at roughly 4.17 billion men and 4.13 billion women — a surplus of about 42 million more men than women, or 101 men for every 100 women. The split has stayed near 50.3% male to 49.7% female since the mid-1960s, but the gap actually peaked around 2016 and has been slowly shrinking ever since.
The same UN projections expect the world to reach near-parity around 2050, and women are forecast to outnumber men later this century, around the 2080s. So although there are currently more men than women globally, the underlying trend is heading in the opposite direction.
To comprehend the underlying reasons behind this gender disparity and to understand why there are still more men than women in the world today, it’s critical to examine a range of demographic, social, and cultural factors contributing to this phenomenon.
Recommended Video for you:
Demographic Trends
Historically, the global population has tilted slightly in favor of males, a pattern observed since the mid-1960s. The global sex ratio peaked at around 101.4 males per 100 females in 2016 and has been gradually declining since. Several demographic phenomena drive these shifts, including falling fertility rates, an aging global population, and the persistent female advantage in life expectancy.
Improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and access to medical services have led to increased life expectancy globally. Consequently, people are living longer lives, resulting in an aging population. As populations age, the median global age rises, indicating that a larger proportion of individuals are in older age groups. Within these older demographics, females tend to outnumber males.
Behavioral and genetic disparities play a significant role in the higher mortality rates among males, thereby contributing to their lower life expectancy compared to females. Across various cultures and societies, traditional gender roles often encourage risk-taking behaviors among men, leading to a higher likelihood of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Additionally, genetic factors may predispose men to certain health conditions or diseases, further impacting their mortality rates.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these existing disparities, with data consistently showing that men were more susceptible to severe outcomes from the virus than women. In the United States, for example, the gender gap in life expectancy widened to 5.8 years in 2021, before narrowing back to about 4.9 years in 2024 as COVID-19 dropped out of the top causes of death, according to CDC NCHS data.
Factors Contributing To The Gender Imbalance
Various factors contribute to the male bias in these sex ratios. Throughout history, gender imbalances have existed for various reasons. Traditional patriarchal societies often favored male offspring due to economic, social, and cultural reasons. Sons were seen as heirs, responsible for carrying on the family lineage and providing support in old age, while daughters were considered a liability due to dowry systems or limited economic opportunities.
One significant contributor is the phenomenon of more boys being born than girls, resulting in a higher sex ratio at birth. Globally, the natural sex ratio at birth is about 105 boys per 100 girls, a figure that has remained remarkably stable across populations and centuries. There may even be an evolutionary factor behind this imbalance, as boys historically faced higher infant and childhood mortality, so a slight oversupply at birth helps the numbers even out by reproductive age.
For there to be a relatively equal number of males and females reaching adulthood, there must be a slight bias towards male births. This idea is rooted in the understanding of the different roles and risks, both biological and social, associated with each gender throughout human history.
There is also the artificial enhancement of more boys being born than girls. This trend has historically been most pronounced in countries like India and China, where cultural preferences for male offspring lead to sex-selective abortions and female infanticide. Advancements in technology, particularly in the field of prenatal sex determination, have facilitated sex-selective practices, leading to skewed sex ratios.
The good news is that the gap has been narrowing. India’s latest Sample Registration System (SRS) 2023 report recorded 917 girls per 1,000 boys at birth (2021–23), up from 914 the previous period — still below the natural ratio, but slowly improving thanks to government schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and stricter enforcement of the PCPNDT Act. China’s sex ratio at birth has also moderated to roughly 108–110 boys per 100 girls as of 2023 (from highs above 117 in the mid-2000s), although UNFPA notes that son preference persists even after the country relaxed its one-child policy.
The long-term effects of decades of sex-selective practices continue to ripple through these populations as “missing women” — an estimated demographic shortfall of tens of millions of females across South and East Asia.
Which Countries Have The Most Skewed Male-To-Female Ratio?
While the global ratio is close to even, country-level numbers are extreme on both ends. According to World Population Review and UN data:
- Most male-skewed: Qatar (~246 males per 100 females), the United Arab Emirates (~176), and Oman (~166) — driven almost entirely by huge male migrant labour populations in construction and oil-and-gas industries, not by birth ratios.
- Most female-skewed: Eastern European nations such as Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, where men die significantly younger than women due to higher rates of cardiovascular disease, alcohol-related deaths, accidents, and the lingering demographic shadow of past wars.
So whether a country has more men or more women depends heavily on three things: the sex ratio at birth, life expectancy gaps between the sexes, and migration patterns.
Gender Inequalities And How They Impact Sex Ratios
Gender inequalities significantly contribute to sex ratios due to disparities in health outcomes, exacerbating the existing imbalance in sex ratios. In many societies, girls and women face systematic discrimination and barriers to accessing healthcare, education, and other resources. These inequalities leave them more vulnerable to poor health outcomes, further widening the gap between males and females in terms of mortality rates and overall well-being.
In regions with entrenched gender inequalities, cultural norms and practices may also contribute to the neglect of female health needs. Gender-based violence, early marriage, and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation further compromise the health and well-being of girls and women. These practices not only result in immediate health risks, but also have long-term consequences for women’s physical and mental health.
Conclusion
The global disparity in gender ratios is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by demographic, social, and cultural factors. While males have outnumbered females since the mid-1960s, changing demographic trends and societal shifts are already nudging the global ratio downward. UN projections expect near-parity around 2050, and women are forecast to outnumber men globally later this century — most estimates put the crossover in the 2080s.
Keeping track of these underlying causes of gender imbalance is crucial for addressing issues like gender-based discrimination, healthcare disparities, and population aging. The political and legal environment can either perpetuate or mitigate gender imbalances. Laws and policies that promote gender equality, such as access to education, reproductive rights, and employment opportunities, are crucial in addressing structural inequalities.
However, in many cases, legal frameworks may be inadequate or poorly enforced, allowing discriminatory practices to persist. Political representation is therefore another critical catalyst, as the underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions can hinder efforts to address gender disparities effectively.
As the world progresses towards greater gender equality, efforts to promote social justice and empower women will play a pivotal role in shaping future demographic landscapes.
