State's sex ratio shows mixed trends, low SRB
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 07 2025: Manipur has shown a fluctuating yet comparatively high sex ratio over the decades, according to the 26th edition of "Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data" released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Sunday.

However, the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), based on registered births between 2012 and 2020, presents a more concerning picture with Manipur reporting lowest SRB among the states and UTs .

The state recorded a sex ratio of 1036 females per 1000 males in the 1951 Census, one of the highest in the country at the time.

However, subsequent decades saw a gradual decline, dropping to 1015 in 1961, 980 in 1971, 971 in 1981, and down to 958 in 1991, reflecting a disturbing demographic imbalance.

The trend began to reverse in early 2000s, with the sex ratio improving to 974 in the 2001 Census and 985 in 2011 against the all India Average of 943 .

Only Andhra Pradesh (993), Chhattisgarh (991), Kerala (1084), Meghalaya (989), Puducherry (1037), and Tamil Nadu (996) are above Manipur among the states and UTs.

This 1.1 per cent improvement over the decade has been attributed to greater awareness, improved access to healthcare, and a possible shift in socio-cultural attitudes towards gender.

The 2011 Census also provides detailed insights into age-specific sex ratios in the state.

Among children aged 0-6 years, Manipur registered a sex ratio of 930, which, although lower than the overall state average, was still better than that of many other states.

In the working-age population (15-59 years), the ratio stood at 1006, highlighting a significant presence of women in economically active roles.

The elderly population (60 years and above) showed a nearly balanced sex ratio of 1004.However, the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), based on registered births between 2012 and 2020, presents a more concerning picture.

In 2012, the SRB stood at 797 females per 1000 males, reflecting a serious gender imbalance.

The ratio declined further to 700 in 2013 and 684 in 2014.Though slight improvements were observed in the following years, with SRBs of 686 in 2015 and 757 in 2018, the figures remained well below the natural norm.

A notable rise was recorded in 2019, when the SRB reached 934 .

However, this momentum was not sustained, as the SRB dropped again to 880 in 2020, the lowest across the country, except for Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Maharashtra, and Delhi for which the report has no data.

While the recent trend indicates progress, experts believe that the low birth ratio may still be influenced by lingering societal preferences for male offspring.

Overall, the data highlights a complex demographic scenario in the state.

Despite notable improvements in the general sex ratio, the persistently low SRB signals an urgent need for policy focus.

The report suggests that sustained efforts in education, public health, and social attitudes are essential to ensure long-term gender equity and balanced development in the state.

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