In keeping with the past trend, a recently unveiled report by the National Statistics Office showed that the overall women population of Nepal is higher than that of men. However, the gap in the male-female sex ratio is widening, especially for those under 19 years. The latest census shows the girls’ population is shrinking in comparison to the boys of the same age group.

Demographers in Nepal warn that a widening gap in the number of boys and girls could create gender imbalance in the long run. The census report shows the gap but is silent on the cause behind the declining number of girls.

Demographers as well as health experts say it is the responsibility of the authorities to carry out separate studies to find the real cause.

Preferences of boys over girls might have led to sex-selective abortion. Second, discrimination in caring for girls increases female mortality.

Doctors suspect that parents whose firstborn is a son tend to not opt for a second child and if their firstborn is a daughter then many first determine the sex of the foetus of their next baby. They often opt for abortion if it’s a girl. But these are only assumptions until there is a separate comprehensive study on the issue, according to experts.

Here’s all about Nepal’s current gender gap, its possible reasons and consequences in the long run.

What is the sex ratio?

The sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. Doctors say the ‘natural’ sex ratio at birth is around 105 boys per 100 girls. But as the age increases, the sex ratio tilts in females’ favour given the higher mortality for males.

What does the census report show?

A recently unveiled report by the National Statistics Office showed that Nepal’s female population is 51.1 percent and the male population is 48.9 percent. The report, however, shows a widening gender gap in populations under 19 years.

According to the report, there are 1,290,525 male children and 1,148,758 female children aged 0–4 in the country. The female population is 141,767 less than the male population.

The 2011 census report showed there were only 43,855 more male children than females in the age group. The number has increased more than threefold in the last 10 years.

Among children between five to nine years, the male population is 1,443,405, whereas the female population is 1,323,022—or 120,383 less than boys. In 2011, there were only 41,378 more male children than female in the said age group.

In the 10–14 age group, the male population is 1,495,954, whereas the female population is 1,413,911. The female population is 82,043 less than males’.

In 2011, there were only 21,010 more male children than female in the age group. The number has increased around fourfold in the last 10 years.

Likewise, in the 15–19 age bracket, the male population is 1,494,523 and the female population 1,471,881. The female population is 22,642 less than the male population.

In 2011, the number of females was more than males’ in the age group.

Why is the gap in the sex ratio widening in Nepal?

No one has a clear answer. Demographers, as well as doctors, say sex-selective abortion could be the chief culprit for the declining female populations of certain age groups in the country. They all say that female foeticide is rampant in the country but they cannot pinpoint where that is happening.

Preferences for boys, which is always higher than that for girls, might have led to sex-selective abortions. Second, discrimination in care for girls increases female mortality.

The increasing trend of late marriage also promotes the trend of a single child and such parents prefer sons.

Health ministry officials concede that the report shows widening gender disbalance in the country, which needs to be addressed at the earliest.

“The report only shows the widening gap between the male and female populations, especially in children under 19 years old,” said Kapil Prasad Timalsina, undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, who is also a demographer. “As it is a serious issue, we need to carry out another study to find the real cause of the widening gap in sex ratio.”

Is sex-selective abortion legal in Nepal?

Both testing of the sex of a foetus and sex-selective abortion are banned in Nepal. However, due to easy access to ultrasound services, which can determine the sex of the foetus, doctors say people in urban areas including in the Capital may have been terminating female foetuses.

Multiple doctors the Post talked to said sex-selective abortion has persisted in the country for years and the practice might have picked up pace of late.

Abortion rights

Abortion was legalised in Nepal in 2002, which is considered a milestone for women’s reproductive rights, empowerment, and right to bodily autonomy. With legalisation, the practice of prosecution and jail terms for women who terminated unwanted pregnancies ended, and unsafe abortions decreased dramatically.

Every year, around 100,000 women throughout the country get abortion services— surgical or medical—through listed health facilities. But it is estimated that thousands of abortions, carried out either by medicines or surgery, do not enter government records. Pills for medical abortion can be purchased over the counter in Nepal, though it is illegal.

Sex-selective abortion

Sex-selective abortions are illegal in Nepal and carry a prison term for the guilty.

The Safe Maternity and Reproductive Health Act (2075 BS) states that pregnant women should not be coerced into identifying the sex of the foetus through intimidation or terror, or by improper influence and deception.

The National Criminal Code (2074 BS) allows one to five years of imprisonment of parents and service providers, depending on the stage of pregnancy, and a penalty ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs50,000.

However, no one has been sentenced or fined so far for committing such a crime in Nepal.

Long-term consequences

Like several other countries in South Asia, Nepal has a visible preference for sons with many citing religious and socio-economic reasons.

The easy availability of pre-natal sex determination technologies makes female foeticide commonplace, according to doctors.

They warn that the ill-practices, if not stopped immediately, will lead to gender imbalance, increased sexual violence and human trafficking.

Experts’ take

Experts say the sex ratio at birth is much more skewed in Nepal than would happen naturally. They cite the increasing practice of gender selection through prenatal sex determination and sex-selective abortion as the main culprit for the widening male-female child ratio in the country.

“There is no conceivable way to ensure that a foetus is male,” said Dr Naresh Pratap KC, executive director at the Family Planning Association of Nepal. “This suggests that due to the lack of monitoring, practices like female foeticide might have increased.”

Several experts the Post talked to said sex-selective abortions are rampant, especially in urban areas.

They say that discrimination in care practices for girls could not be a reason enough to explain the wide gender gap shown by the census report.

“If not stopped immediately, we will face gender imbalance in the coming years,” said Dr Jageshwor Gautam, a consultant gynaecologist. “Practices such as female foeticide cannot be stopped without first changing people’s mindset and the overall social outlook. A widespread awareness drive is what is needed. Concerned agencies should also activate monitoring mechanisms to prevent the misuse of technology.”