Archive · 8 Oct 2026
India Sees More Girl Births in Son-Preference Districts
A study looked at a program in India that encourages families to value girls and boys equally.
It found that more girls were born in districts where the program began.
The biggest change was in families who already had a daughter.
In those families, a second child was more likely to be a girl than before.
Researchers saw little change for first-born children or for families whose first child was a boy.
The study estimates about 15 extra girls per 1,000 births in the districts studied.
India’s overall sex ratio at birth has also improved in recent years.
The researchers say awareness and community outreach may help lessen pressure on families to have a son.
A study estimates that India’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme was associated with about 15 additional girls per 1,000 births in districts where it was first implemented.
The largest gains appeared in second and later births, when the probability of a girl increased by 2.1 percentage points.
For families whose first child was a girl, the chance their second child was also a girl rose by 3.7 to 5.3 percentage points.
Researchers found virtually no change in the likelihood of a girl among families whose first child was a boy, or among first-born children overall.
India’s sex ratio at birth rose from 919 girls per 1,000 boys in 2015–16 to around 930, according to the latest data cited.
- Who
- Researchers studying India’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme and families in districts where it was first implemented.
- What
- A report found improved odds of girls being born, particularly as second children in families whose first child was a girl.
- When
- The report is discussed alongside sex-ratio data from 2015–16 and the latest data available on the programme dashboard.
- Where
- India, particularly the districts where the programme was first implemented.
- Why
- The report suggests policy interventions, awareness campaigns and community outreach may reduce pressure on families to have a son.
- Programme
- Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP)
- Estimated overall change
- About 15 additional girls per 1,000 births in districts where the programme was first implemented
- Second and later births
- The probability of a girl increased by 2.1 percentage points
- Second child after a first-born girl
- The probability of another girl increased by 3.7 to 5.3 percentage points, or 37 to 53 additional girls per 1,000 births
- First-born children
- Researchers found little change
- India sex ratio at birth
- Rose from 919 girls per 1,000 boys in 2015–16 to around 930 in the latest data cited
- District data
- Of 757 districts with reported figures, 26 had more girls than boys at birth