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
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
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
100 Million Americans Are Missing This Crucial Retirement Tool
The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.
Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.
A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.
Click here to learn how to get a quote in just a few minutes.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
