Vietnam is stepping up efforts to address its long-running gender imbalance at birth, with the government targeting a return to a more natural sex ratio by 2035.
A government-backed population and health plan aims to reduce the number of boys born relative to girls, following years of concern over a persistent preference for sons and the use of prenatal sex-selection practices.
Vietnam’s sex ratio at birth stood at about 110 boys for every 100 girls in 2025, above the natural biological range. The country’s target is to bring the figure below 109 boys per 100 girls by 2030 and below 107 by 2035, moving closer to the natural level of around 106 boys per 100 girls.
Tackling Gender Imbalance
The imbalance has been linked to cultural preferences for male children, particularly in families where sons are traditionally expected to carry on the family line. The availability of prenatal technologies that can identify a fetus’s sex has also contributed to concerns about sex-selective practices.
Under the government’s approach, authorities are expected to strengthen enforcement against illegal fetal sex selection, increase oversight of medical and online services, and expand public awareness campaigns promoting gender equality. Vietnam has also explored incentives for families raising daughters as part of broader efforts to address the imbalance.
A Long-Term Social Challenge
Vietnamese authorities have warned that a continued imbalance between male and female births could create serious demographic and social challenges in the future.
A growing surplus of men could lead to difficulties in finding marriage partners and may increase risks associated with human trafficking, gender-based violence and other forms of social instability.
The issue is also emerging alongside other demographic pressures, including declining birth rates and a rapidly ageing population, making population management an increasingly important policy priority for Vietnam.
Looking Ahead
Vietnam’s plan sets out a long-term effort to bring the country’s sex ratio at birth closer to its natural balance by 2035. Achieving the target will depend not only on stronger enforcement of existing rules but also on changing deeply rooted social attitudes toward the value of girls and boys.
The proposed measures reflect Vietnam’s broader effort to promote gender equality while addressing demographic challenges that could shape the country’s social and economic future for decades.
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