More men dying in city than women in Chandigarh

More men are dying in the city than women, data released by the Municipal Corporation (MC) Health Department Medical Officer showed.

According to the information, a total of 19,375 deaths were reported in the city in 2024. Of these, 12,445 were men, nearly double the number of women at 6,930. Of the total 27, 289 births recorded in the year, 14,104 were male and13,169 female.

The data further showed that the gender disparity in the number of deaths has remained so for at least the last four years.

In 2021, a total of 18,174 deaths were recorded, of which 11,668 were men while 6,506 were women. Similarly, 2022 saw a total of 17,529 deaths, 11,422 men and 6,107 women. The figures showed a similar graph in 2023 with men accounting for 11,564 and women 6,361 of the total 17,925 deaths.

Dr Ramneek Singh Bedi, nominated councilor, said there are several studies showing that women live longer than men. “This could be also be one of the reasons for such huge differences in deaths,” he said, before noting that per the sex ratio, more men live in the city than women.

The Health Department collects the birth and death data from all government and private hospitals in the city.

Notably, however, the data of cremation provided by the Municipal Corporation does not match with the total numbers of the deaths.

As per the data, a total 8,022 bodies were cremated at the cremation grounds in the 2024 while 19, 375 deaths were reported in the same period. RK Garg, social activist, says the mismatch is a serious matter and that the MC must investigate and ensure that the data of the cremation grounds must match with the total figures of the death.

Garg said a minor mismatch can be understood but the difference over 11,000 was unexplainable, adding, “If there is problem in the reporting of cremation of the dead bodies, corrective measures must be taken immediately.”