Vietnam is facing a demographic shift caused by sex‑selection before birth. The loss of tens of thousands of girls each year could affect the marriage market for young adults like you.

Dr. Ho Manh Tuong says more than 40,000 girls are estimated to be missing at birth each year in Vietnam because of sex selection. Dr. Tuong described the situation as a troubling reality that shows a lack of social progress.

The General Statistics Office reported that in 2024 the sex ratio at birth was 111.4 boys for every 100 girls, and among children aged 0‑14 the ratio was 109.7 boys per 100 girls. These figures show far more boys are being born than girls.

Population experts warn that the current imbalance could create a surplus of about 1.5 million marriage‑age men by 2034, increasing to 1.8 million by 2059. The 2024 Mid‑term Population Survey also found roughly 415,200 more men than women in the 20‑39 age group, the cohort most likely to marry soon.

Because there will be many more men than women, experts say it may become harder for men to find wives, leading to delayed marriage or even lifelong singlehood. For Vietnamese youths, the growing gender gap could shape personal and social life for years to come.