Bihar’s Lowest Gender Ratio in 2022 amid Growing Safeguards for Women
Bihar recorded the lowest sex ratio at birth for 2022 among all States and Union Territories, reporting a ratio of just 891 girls per 1,000 boys according to the Civil Registration System’s vital statistics report released this week by the Office of the Registrar General of India. This comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly election, as political parties aim to attract women voters, promising cash transfers in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.
In 2021, Bihar’s sex ratio at birth was 908, falling to 964 in 2020, showing a consistent decline since then, contrary to gender ratios in other major States such as Maharashtra (906), Telangana (907), and Gujarat (908).
Nonetheless, Nagaland had the highest ratio at 1,068, and Meghalaya had the lowest at 972.
Reflecting the rise of women’s participation in elections, Bihar recorded 50% voter turnout for the 2024 general election, with 47.6% of its electors being women.
The high number of COVID-19 deaths in 2021 (102.2 lakh) contrasts with the CRS data from 2022 (86.5 lakh), showing overall declines in deaths and increases in births. The decline in deaths was nearly 14% since 2021, while births were up 5.3%.
These trends emphasize the importance of continued monitoring and possible administrative efforts to ensure balanced gender ratios in childbirth across Bihar and other regions. Addressing these rising challenges in adult populations highlights the vital role of social campaigns promoting gender equality and female health.
