Global shift towards girls increasing, in India son preference persists

GLOBAL attitudes towards gender preference are undergoing a subtle but significant shift. As recently reported by The Economist, the centuries-old tilt in favour of boys is fading. Worldwide, the number of excess male births — once as high as 1.7 million in 2000 — has fallen to around 2 lakh in 2025. It signals a dramatic reversal in reproductive choices. In South Korea and China, sex ratios have returned to normal or even begun showing signs of daughter preference. Why this shift? Girls are increasingly seen as more dependable caregivers, stronger academic performers and more likely to remain connected to family. Women now earn more bachelor’s degrees than men in many nations. Adoption and IVF data in western countries show a clear slant towards choosing daughters.