Vietnam targets natural sex ratio at birth by 2035, draft government plan shows
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- Vietnam targets a sex ratio at birth of 106 boys per 100 girls by 2035, according to a draft Ministry of Health plan reviewed by Reuters.
- Ministry of Health proposes stricter enforcement of bans on fetal sex selection, increased inspections of medical facilities, and monitoring of online ads for sex-selection services.
- Sex ratio at birth in Vietnam peaked at 114.8 boys per 100 girls in 2018 and was 110 in 2025, down from 112.2 in 2016 but still above the natural level.
- Son preference is cited by the ministry as a key driver of the imbalance, alongside pressure for male heirs, smaller family sizes, and access to prenatal sex identification.
- Draft plan sets an interim target of reducing the ratio to below 109 boys per 100 girls by 2030 before reaching the natural level by 2035.
- Ministry of Health warns a prolonged male surplus could lead to marriage market imbalances, gender-based violence, trafficking, and social instability.
Why it matters: With over 110 boys born per 100 girls, Vietnam faces mounting demographic risks; failure to meet the 2030 and 2035 targets could deepen gender inequality and strain social systems, affecting millions in future decades.
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