Overall, there are slightly more men than women in the world. The ratio was skewed in favor of men for the first time around 1960. There are now 101.7 men for every 100 women, according to 2019 estimates by the United Nations. While the difference on a global scale seems small, it varies significantly from country to country.
Men and women are distributed unevenly around the world. Of the 201 nations for which the UN has population data, 125 have more women, but the percentages vary from 50.1% to 54.2%. Former Soviet countries and several island nations are among the countries where women outnumber men.
In many Middle Eastern nations and parts of Northern Africa, by contrast, there are more men than women, with the sex ratio far more more striking in some cases. Female residents make up just 24.6%, 30.9% and 34.0% of the population in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman, for example.
While the special administrative region of Hong Kong is second-place on this list, China — famous for its now abandoned one-child policy — is at the other end of the scale. In 2014 the country had a ratio of 121.2 boys for every 100 girls, compared to a natural sex ratio at birth of 105 boys for every 100 girls. (Men die earlier — and this is perhaps why — so you need a few more for balance.)
Many of the countries where men out number women are also among the worst countries for gender equality.
In time for World Population Day, marked every year on July 11 to raise awareness about urgent population issues, 24/7 Tempo identified the top 25 countries with more women than men, using data from the United Nations Population Division.
Click here for 25 countries where women outnumber men.
25. Croatia
> Pct. of total population that are women: 51.79%
> Number of women: 2,126,000
> Number of men: 1,979,000
> Total population: 4,105,000
[in-text-ad]
24. Myanmar
> Pct. of total population that are women: 51.81%
> Number of women: 28,190,000
> Number of men: 26,220,000
> Total population: 54,410,000
24/7 Wall St.
23. Macao SAR, China
> Pct. of total population that are women: 51.94%
> Number of women: 337,000
> Number of men: 312,000
> Total population: 649,000
22. Sri Lanka
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.05%
> Number of women: 11,146,000
> Number of men: 10,267,000
> Total population: 21,413,000
[in-text-ad-2]
21. Republic of Moldova
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.11%
> Number of women: 2,102,000
> Number of men: 1,932,000
> Total population: 4,034,000
20. Zimbabwe
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.28%
> Number of women: 7,771,000
> Number of men: 7,092,000
> Total population: 14,863,000
[in-text-ad]
19. Georgia
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.34%
> Number of women: 2,088,000
> Number of men: 1,901,000
> Total population: 3,989,000
24/7 Wall St.
18. Hungary
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.40%
> Number of women: 5,062,000
> Number of men: 4,598,000
> Total population: 9,660,000
17. United States Virgin Islands
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.50%
> Number of women: 55,000
> Number of men: 50,000
> Total population: 104,000
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Aruba
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.57%
> Number of women: 56,000
> Number of men: 51,000
> Total population: 107,000
15. Puerto Rico
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.62%
> Number of women: 1,505,000
> Number of men: 1,356,000
> Total population: 2,861,000
[in-text-ad]
14. Estonia
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.62%
> Number of women: 698,000
> Number of men: 628,000
> Total population: 1,327,000
24/7 Wall St.
13. Portugal
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.69%
> Number of women: 5,373,000
> Number of men: 4,824,000
> Total population: 10,197,000
12. Armenia
> Pct. of total population that are women: 52.97%
> Number of women: 1,569,000
> Number of men: 1,394,000
> Total population: 2,963,000
[in-text-ad-2]
11. El Salvador
> Pct. of total population that are women: 53.19%
> Number of women: 3,450,000
> Number of men: 3,036,000
> Total population: 6,486,000
10. Belarus
> Pct. of total population that are women: 53.44%
> Number of women: 5,050,000
> Number of men: 4,399,000
> Total population: 9,449,000
[in-text-ad]
9. Russia
> Pct. of total population that are women: 53.65%
> Number of women: 78,294,000
> Number of men: 67,640,000
> Total population: 145,934,000
24/7 Wall St.
8. Ukraine
> Pct. of total population that are women: 53.67%
> Number of women: 23,471,000
> Number of men: 20,263,000
> Total population: 43,734,000
7. Lithuania
> Pct. of total population that are women: 53.72%
> Number of women: 1,462,000
> Number of men: 1,260,000
> Total population: 2,722,000
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Guadeloupe
> Pct. of total population that are women: 53.88%
> Number of women: 216,000
> Number of men: 185,000
> Total population: 400,000
5. Latvia
> Pct. of total population that are women: 53.91%
> Number of women: 1,017,000
> Number of men: 869,000
> Total population: 1,886,000
[in-text-ad]
4. Martinique
> Pct. of total population that are women: 54.00%
> Number of women: 203,000
> Number of men: 173,000
> Total population: 375,000
24/7 Wall St.
3. Curaçao
> Pct. of total population that are women: 54.01%
> Number of women: 89,000
> Number of men: 75,000
> Total population: 164,000
2. Hong Kong SAR, China
> Pct. of total population that are women: 54.12%
> Number of women: 4,057,000
> Number of men: 3,440,000
> Total population: 7,497,000
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Nepal
> Pct. of total population that are women: 54.19%
> Number of women: 15,788,000
> Number of men: 13,348,000
> Total population: 29,137,000
The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
