Korea’s Ratio of Boys to Girls at Birth Ranks Fifth in World

Korea ranked fifth among 45 nations in terms of the birth ratio of boys to girls.

According to a National Statistical Office (NSO) survey of 45 nations, Korea’s ratio of boys per 100 girls at birth was the fifth highest at 108.7 (as of 2003).

Georgia (118.3), Azerbaijan (117.2), Taiwan (110.1), and Hong Kong (109.1) were the top four nations.

Among Asian countries, Japan (105.7), Singapore (106.1), and Kyrgyzstan (104.0) had relatively low figures.

According to the NSO’s analysis, the high ratio of boys to girls at birth is attributable to the “preferred birth” of boys.

In 2003, Korea’s ratio of boys to 100 girls at birth was 104.9 for first children, 107.0 for second children, and a whopping 136.6 for the youngest children.

The figures for Bulgaria and Moldova were 107.8 and 107.5, respectively, ranking first and second among European countries. El Salvador had the highest figure with 106.9 in Latin America, and Libya had the highest ratio among African countries with 107.5. Mexico had the lowest figure among the countries surveyed with 100.9.

The figures for major industrial nations were mostly around 105 with 105.8 for Germany, 105.5 for the Netherlands, 105.1 for Australia, 104.3 for New Zealand, 105.8 for Finland, and 105.5 for Switzerland.

sanjuck@donga.com