Vietnam targets natural sex ratio at birth by 2035

Vietnam aims to restore balance to its sex ratio at birth by 2035, with an eye towards attaining a natural ratio of approximately 106 boys for every 100 girls. This draft plan, released by the Ministry of Health for public consultation, seeks to address the gender imbalance rooted in long-standing cultural preferences for sons, shrinking family sizes, and increased access to prenatal sex-selection technologies.

The current disparity is evident in Vietnam's sex ratio, which reached a peak of 114.8 boys per 100 girls in 2018 before settling at 110 in 2025. The draft plan targets a reduction to 109 boys per 100 girls by 2030 and then to the natural level by 2035.

To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Health proposes several measures, including the enforcement of stricter laws against fetal sex selection, intensified inspections of medical facilities, heightened monitoring of online advertising for such services, and robust public campaigns. These efforts aim to curb the persistent preference for male heirs and the subsequent consequences of an imbalanced sex ratio.

The draft paper warns that an enduring surplus of men could pose severe long-term demographic and social challenges. These include difficulties in the marriage market, escalating gender inequality, gender-based violence, human trafficking of women and girls, and broader threats to social stability.