Shortage to Surplus Women in Latter Life: A Changing Landscape in South Asia

Kumari Pratima Yadav, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population

The world is ageing so does the South Asia and therefore many issues which were concerned with the young and working population now its matters to the elderly as well such as sex ratio. The poor sex ratio is a well known fact of the South Asia. But often this discussion is broadly limited to ‘at birth’ and ‘overall population’. However, sex ratio at latter life and changing dynamics is unexplored. In addition, what are the major determinants-demographic, social, political, economic agents etc.-of this transition? We have considered the UNDESA, World Bank, WHO and other data set for analysis. Our preliminary result suggests that the poor sex ratio was very much evident in the old age as well till the very end of the 20th century. However, women outnumber the men at the beginning of this 21st century and this will continue in coming decades. However, this scenario varies from country to country, for instance India and Sri Lanka, are in two different paths and speed but in the same direction. Even with surplus sex ratio in latter life, South Asia is not equitable to the developed countries from North America and Europe.

Keywords: Population Ageing, Gender Dynamics, Population and Development, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

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