Vietnam is facing a demographic challenge with far-reaching social consequences: a rapidly widening gender gap at birth. According to the country’s first national report on civil registration and vital statistics for 2021–2024, released by the General Statistics Office, the sex ratio at birth (SRB) has continued to rise well beyond natural levels, with Hanoi now recording the most extreme imbalance nationwide.
A Disturbing National Trend
In most countries, the natural SRB ranges from 104 to 106 boys for every 100 girls. Any deviation from this norm suggests artificial intervention—most often the result of gender-selective practices.
In Vietnam, this imbalance first emerged in the early 2000s but has intensified sharply since 2006. By 2024, the national SRB reached 110.7 boys per 100 girls. In Hanoi alone, that figure spiked to a staggering 123.3—the highest in the country and the city’s worst in recent years.
Despite nearly two decades of public education campaigns, legal regulations, and reproductive health programs, the preference for sons—rooted in longstanding cultural values—continues to drive gender-biased practices, especially in the northern provinces.
Hotspots of Imbalance: The North Leads the Crisis
The gender gap is especially severe in northern Vietnam. From 2021 to 2024, 10 out of 11 provinces in the Red River Delta reported SRBs higher than 110. The top five are:
- Bac Ninh: 119.6
- Vinh Phuc: 118.5
- Hanoi: 118.1 (rising to 123.3 in 2024 alone)
- Hung Yen: 116.7
- Hai Duong: 115.3
Other provinces such as Bac Giang, Son La, and Lang Son also reported significantly distorted ratios, often exceeding 113 boys per 100 girls.
By contrast, provinces from Hue southward have maintained ratios close to the natural average—between 105 and 108—highlighting a clear geographic divide.
A Modern Problem Fueled by Technology and Tradition
Experts warn that Vietnam’s gender imbalance is not just a legacy issue but a modern crisis. Dr. Pham Vu Hoang, Deputy Director of the General Department of Population, emphasized that imbalances are appearing even at the first birth—and grow more extreme among families with two daughters and no sons.
Ironically, the issue is more pronounced among well-educated, wealthier families. With easier access to reproductive technology, some are misusing prenatal diagnostics and ultrasound services to choose the sex of their child—despite legal prohibitions.
Coupled with a falling fertility rate (1.91 children per woman), many families limit themselves to just one or two children—making the pressure to have a son even greater.
A Male Surplus and Its Social Costs
This imbalance is not merely statistical—it carries serious long-term implications. The General Statistics Office warns that by 2034, Vietnam could have 1.5 million more men than women of marriageable age. That number may rise to 2.5 million by 2059.
“This surplus of men will distort marriage markets and family formation,” said Dr. Hoang. “Many men may face lifelong bachelorhood—not by choice, but by demographic circumstance.”
Social scientists also warn of potential ripple effects, such as increased human trafficking, gender-based violence, and the exploitation of women in underserved regions.
A Call for Targeted Action
Experts recommend shifting focus from nationwide interventions to region-specific solutions, especially in northern Vietnam where the issue is most severe. Efforts must also tackle the underlying cultural norms and economic anxieties that perpetuate son preference.
As Vietnam positions itself for economic and social modernization, solving this hidden demographic crisis will be essential to ensuring stability, gender equity, and sustainable growth.
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Source: Vietnam Insider