Vietnam targets natural birth sex ratio by 2035 with crackdown on fetal sex selection

Vietnam aims to normalize its sex ratio at birth by 2035, according to a draft health ministry plan. The goal is to reduce the current imbalance of 112.2 boys for every 100 girls to around 106 boys per 100 girls, as cited by Reuters. The draft, which seeks public feedback, outlines stricter enforcement of laws against fetal sex selection and increased scrutiny of medical facilities providing such services.

Greater monitoring of online advertisements promoting sex-selection practices is also proposed. Public awareness campaigns are planned to challenge the long-standing preference for male heirs in Vietnamese society, a factor contributing to the skewed ratio. The imbalance is attributed to a combination of cultural traditions, shrinking family sizes, and easier access to prenatal sex-identification technologies.

The draft warns that if left unchecked, the surplus of men could lead to long-term demographic and social issues. These include difficulties in the marriage market, increasing gender inequality, higher rates of gender-based violence, human trafficking of women and girls, and broader threats to social stability.