In several countries, there are now more young men than women, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming decades and that could have profound social consequences.
A new study, from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, led by Henrik-Alexander Schubert and on the 20th in PNAS, concludes that, at a global level, Slightly more boys are born than girls in many countries and that this imbalance is altering reproduction patterns.
According to researchers, there are several factors behind this evolution. In some countries, female fetuses continue to be aborted more frequentlywhich worsens the imbalance between men and women. At the same time, the Young male mortality has been approaching that of females in several regions, which means that the male surplus at birth is maintained throughout life.
The consequence is that, statistically, there are now fewer children per man than per woman. Until 2024, men had, on average, more children than women, but this relationship was reversed, according to the research team, cited by .
In countries like China and India, where sex-selective abortions have worsened the demographic structure, the difference between male and female reproduction rates could reach 20%.
The phenomenon is particularly visible in East Asia, but researchers emphasize that it is a global trend. By 2030, a significant part of the world’s population is expected to live in countries where men’s reproductive rates will be substantially lower than women’s.
The main exception, according to the research, will be sub-Saharan Africa, where male mortality remains higher, in part due to armed conflicts and higher overall mortality levels.
The imbalance can have social effects that are difficult to predict. Researchers warn of the risk of increased violence and for social and health consequences associated with the inability of some men to find a partner.
The phenomenon is sometimes associated with the growth of the so-called community, an English term that designates men who live in involuntary celibacy and who, in some cases, develop hate speech against sexually active women and men.
Traditional views on gender roles show signs of persisting among younger people, in some studies. A recent Ipsos survey across 29 countries indicated that nearly a third of Gen Z men believe that a .
