Tracing and Understanding the Emergence of Sex Imbalances at Birth in Nepal over the Last Two Decades

Christophe Z. Guilmoto, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)

This presentation is based on an in-depth study of the spread of prenatal sex selection in Nepal over the last two decades, using the most recent survey and census data. The first section outlines the different sources used to document sex imbalances at birth. It explains the methods employed to measure son preference and the sex ratio both directly and indirectly. The following section provides a summary of when and how these imbalances have emerged since 2000 and how they have spread across different regions and social groups. Using disaggregated data from the 2021 census, the study will examine the main factors contributing to sex imbalances at birth in Nepal. Specifically, it aims to understand the impact of three factors: the country's diverse anthropological makeup, important dimensions of gender inequality, and the effects of social and economic changes. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion on the stagnation of the sex ratio at birth in Nepal and the potential for further decline in the future.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Gender Dynamics

See extended abstract.