Sex ratio, in a population, is defined as the number of

In demography, the sex ratio is a tool used to measure the gender balance within a population. While the international standard (often used by the United Nations) defines it as the number of males per 100 females, the definition used in India by the Census Commissioner is the number of females per 1000 males.

The formula is expressed as:

Sex Ratio = (Total Number of Females / Total Number of Males) × 1000

This ratio serves as a vital social indicator to identify gender gaps and the status of women in society. For instance, according to the 2011 Census, India's sex ratio was 943. Factors influencing this ratio include the sex ratio at birth, differential mortality rates between genders, and sex-selective migration patterns.