The sex ratio in Gujarat is lower than the national average. In 2020, the sex ratio in Gujarat was 929 females per 1000 males, while the national average was 940 females per 1000 males. This means that there are 111 fewer females for every 1000 males in Gujarat than there are in India as a whole.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the low sex ratio in Gujarat. One factor is the practice of female infanticide, which is the killing of female babies. Female infanticide is often practiced in families who want to have a son, as sons are seen as being more valuable than daughters. Another factor is the practice of prenatal sex selection, which is the use of ultrasound technology to determine the sex of a fetus and then aborting the fetus if it is female. Prenatal sex selection is illegal in India, but it is still practiced in some parts of the country, including Gujarat.
The low sex ratio in Gujarat has a number of negative consequences. One consequence is that it leads to a shortage of women in the population. This shortage can make it difficult for men to find wives, and it can also lead to an increase in crime and violence against women. Another consequence is that it can lead to a decrease in the quality of life for women. Women who live in areas with a low sex ratio are more likely to be poor, uneducated, and unhealthy.
The government of India has taken a number of steps to address the problem of female infanticide and prenatal sex selection. These steps include increasing awareness of the problem, providing financial incentives to families who have daughters, and making it more difficult to access ultrasound technology. However, these steps have not been enough to solve the problem.
The low sex ratio in Gujarat is a serious problem that has a number of negative consequences. The government of India needs to take further steps to address this problem.