Maharashtra Urban Sex Ratio at Birth Drops to Match Haryana's Average, SRS Shows

Top Summary

• What happened: Maharashtra's urban sex ratio at birth dropped sharply to 885 girls per 1,000 boys, matching Haryana's overall average.
• Why it matters: The severe urban decline has completely offset rural progress, keeping the state's overall average of 899 well below the national mark of 918.
• What changes: The state faces growing demographic challenges, including a rapidly aging population and high reliance on private healthcare facilities.
• Who is affected: Urban communities, healthcare administrators, and policymakers aiming at reversing the urban gender imbalance are most impacted.

Diverging Trends in Maharashtra's Birth Ratios

According to the newly released Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2024, Maharashtra's overall sex ratio at birth has remained nearly stagnant over the last decade.

The state recorded an average of 899 girls for every 1,000 boys during the 2022-24 period, slightly up from 896 in 2012-14. This figure remains notably lower than the national average of 918.

However, the headline numbers conceal a massive urban-rural divergence. While rural areas improved from 888 to 910, the urban sex ratio crashed from 908 to 885, erasing rural progress.

An Inverted Trend Compared to the Nation

The decline in cities has effectively offset rural gains, leaving the state's overall gender balance at birth below the national average.

Across India, cities usually record better gender parity at birth. The all-India urban average stands at 928 girls per 1,000 boys, outperforming the national rural average of 914.

Maharashtra presents an inverted trend, where its urban centers perform far worse than its rural regions. The state's urban ratio of 885 now sits on par with Haryana's state average of 885.

How Maharashtra Compares Nationally

Maharashtra lags far behind states leading in gender parity. The top-performing states in the country include:

• Chhattisgarh: 978 girls per 1,000 boys
• Kerala: 974 girls per 1,000 boys
• Himachal Pradesh: 956 girls per 1,000 boys
• Andhra Pradesh: 946 girls per 1,000 boys
• Assam: 946 girls per 1,000 boys

Currently, Maharashtra ranks just slightly above the worst-performing states. It stands narrowly ahead of only Bihar (896), Haryana (885), Delhi (876), and Uttarakhand (872).

Strong Performance on Other Social Indicators

This decline in urban birth ratios stands in sharp contrast to Maharashtra's success in other social areas. The state's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is 1.4 children per woman, well below the national average of 1.9.

Only Delhi (1.2), Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal (1.3 each) have lower fertility rates. Child marriage is also rare, accounting for only 1% of marriages compared to the national average of 2.1%.

Additionally, the average age of marriage for women is 23.4 years, slightly higher than the national average of 23.1 years.

High Reliance on Private Healthcare and an Aging Population

The state records high levels of institutional deliveries but relies heavily on private healthcare. While 72% of deliveries nationally happen in government hospitals, 40.9% of deliveries in Maharashtra occur in private facilities.

The data also indicates that Maharashtra's population is aging rapidly. Citizens aged 60 and above make up 10.4% of the population, higher than the national average of 9.7%.

Reflecting this demographic transition, senior citizens account for 67.2% of all deaths in the state, compared to 60.8% across India, highlighting the growing importance of elderly and geriatric care.

What to Watch Next

Observers will monitor whether state authorities initiate targeted campaigns in urban municipalities to address the falling sex ratio. Future policy updates will likely focus on strengthening the implementation of gender selection laws in private healthcare facilities. Additionally, the rapid demographic shift will demand increased state resources for geriatric healthcare services.