Sex ratio by age in China
China: Sex ratio by age was 6.45 males per 100 females in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
6.45 males per 100 females
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
180th
of 212 countries
All-time high
75.7 males per 100 females
in 1968
All-time low
0.3014 males per 100 females
in 1993
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
In 2023, sex ratio by age in China stood at 6.45 males per 100 females.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and up 94.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in China peaked at 75.7 males per 100 females in 1968 and was at its lowest, 0.3014 males per 100 females, in 1993.
China ranks 180th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sex ratio by age in China, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 25.06 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 21.12 males per 100 females | -15.7% |
| 1952 | 18.73 males per 100 females | -11.3% |
| 1953 | 17.12 males per 100 females | -8.6% |
| 1954 | 16 males per 100 females | -6.6% |
| 1955 | 15.21 males per 100 females | -5.0% |
| 1956 | 14.35 males per 100 females | -5.6% |
| 1957 | 13.24 males per 100 females | -7.7% |
| 1958 | 12.21 males per 100 females | -7.8% |
| 1959 | 11.29 males per 100 females | -7.5% |
| 1960 | 10.02 males per 100 females | -11.2% |
| 1961 | 8.53 males per 100 females | -14.9% |
| 1962 | 7.39 males per 100 females | -13.3% |
| 1963 | 6.2 males per 100 females | -16.2% |
| 1964 | 5.66 males per 100 females | -8.7% |
| 1965 | 5.48 males per 100 females | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 3.77 males per 100 females | -31.1% |
| 1967 | 72.59 males per 100 females | +1823.7% |
| 1968 | 75.7 males per 100 females | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 49.47 males per 100 females | -34.6% |
| 1970 | 27.27 males per 100 females | -44.9% |
| 1971 | 13.27 males per 100 females | -51.4% |
| 1972 | 9.38 males per 100 females | -29.3% |
| 1973 | 6.25 males per 100 females | -33.3% |
| 1974 | 5 males per 100 females | -20.0% |
| 1975 | 5.13 males per 100 females | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 3.85 males per 100 females | -25.0% |
| 1977 | 1.35 males per 100 females | -64.9% |
| 1978 | 0.9804 males per 100 females | -27.5% |
| 1979 | 2.31 males per 100 females | +135.4% |
| 1980 | 2.42 males per 100 females | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 2.45 males per 100 females | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 2.08 males per 100 females | -15.0% |
| 1983 | 2.2 males per 100 females | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 1.97 males per 100 females | -10.5% |
| 1985 | 1.46 males per 100 females | -25.9% |
| 1986 | 1.27 males per 100 females | -12.9% |
| 1987 | 1.3 males per 100 females | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 0.9242 males per 100 females | -29.1% |
| 1989 | 0.7911 males per 100 females | -14.4% |
| 1990 | 0.5384 males per 100 females | -32.0% |
| 1991 | 0.5747 males per 100 females | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 0.6641 males per 100 females | +15.6% |
| 1993 | 0.3014 males per 100 females | -54.6% |
| 1994 | 0.6184 males per 100 females | +105.2% |
| 1995 | 0.616 males per 100 females | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 0.5102 males per 100 females | -17.2% |
| 1997 | 0.4972 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 0.5972 males per 100 females | +20.1% |
| 1999 | 1 males per 100 females | +67.5% |
| 2000 | 1.37 males per 100 females | +37.2% |
| 2001 | 1.51 males per 100 females | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 1.24 males per 100 females | -18.1% |
| 2003 | 0.9316 males per 100 females | -24.6% |
| 2004 | 0.8241 males per 100 females | -11.5% |
| 2005 | 0.9265 males per 100 females | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 1.1 males per 100 females | +18.3% |
| 2007 | 1.09 males per 100 females | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 1.06 males per 100 females | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 1.39 males per 100 females | +31.6% |
| 2010 | 2.01 males per 100 females | +44.4% |
| 2011 | 2.44 males per 100 females | +21.1% |
| 2012 | 2.84 males per 100 females | +16.7% |
| 2013 | 3.33 males per 100 females | +17.0% |
| 2014 | 3.59 males per 100 females | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 3.63 males per 100 females | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 3.82 males per 100 females | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 4.22 males per 100 females | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 4.66 males per 100 females | +10.3% |
| 2019 | 5.07 males per 100 females | +8.9% |
| 2020 | 5.55 males per 100 females | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 6.21 males per 100 females | +11.8% |
| 2022 | 6.63 males per 100 females | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 6.45 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 6.45 males per 100 females is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.73 males per 100 females, 28% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 6.45 males per 100 females is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.92 males per 100 females, 29% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sex ratio by age in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +1823.7% | 3.77 males per 100 females | 72.59 males per 100 females |
| 1979 | +135.4% | 0.9804 males per 100 females | 2.31 males per 100 females |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 16.43 males per 100 females | 11.29 males per 100 females | 25.06 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.48 males per 100 females | 3.77 males per 100 females | 75.7 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.48 males per 100 females | 0.9804 males per 100 females | 27.27 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.69 males per 100 females | 0.7911 males per 100 females | 2.45 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5918 males per 100 females | 0.3014 males per 100 females | 1 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.14 males per 100 females | 0.8241 males per 100 females | 1.51 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.56 males per 100 females | 2.01 males per 100 females | 5.07 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.21 males per 100 females | 5.55 males per 100 females | 6.63 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More gender data for China
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 169,741 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -5.36 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1.23 million (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1.23 million (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.4481 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4.56 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4.32 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio by age in China?
- Sex ratio by age in China was 6.45 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 75.7 males per 100 females in 1968.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3014 males per 100 females in 1993.
- How does China rank for sex ratio by age?
- China ranks 180th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.