Four million VN men may remain single in next four decades
17:24' 09/09/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – In 2006, the ratio of male newborn babies to female newborn babies in Vietnam was 106:100; the figure was 112:100 last year. If this situation continues, four million men will remain unmarried in the next four decades, according to a report released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on September 8.

 

The UNFPA’s report, entitled “Recent changes in newborn sex ratio in Vietnam”, said that Vietnam has been experiencing a period with an unusual increase in the ratio of male to female newborns.

 

One of the reasons for this situation is the popularity of technology that “helps” couples determine and choose the sex (male) for their babies.

 

Based on experience learnt from India and China, UNFPA Vietnam’s chief representative Bruce Campbell said that if this situation is not stopped, sex imbalance may become a serious problem for the country in the future.

 

According to UNFPA, if this continues, the generation of men born after 2005 will be under great pressure at the age of marriage because in 2030, the number of men will exceed the number of women.

 

By 2035, the report said, the number of adult men will be 10 percent larger the number of adult women. The imbalance between the number of adult men and women will reach 12 percent by 2040 and over 20 percent in 2050 (around 2.3-4.3 million men will be unable to marry Vietnamese girls). The scarcity of women will force men to get married earlier, which could lead to the rise of prostitution and women-trafficking.

 

There is also a phenomenon in Vietnam that many rural girls get married to foreigners. If this trend continues, the number of marriageable Vietnamese women will be even fewer.

 

It is difficult for Vietnam to “import” brides because its neighbouring countries are facing similar situations.

 

UNFPA Vietnam’s Campbell said that the Vietnamese government needs to enforce rules on sex-choosing services.

 

The report was made based on documents on Vietnam’s population, especially the statistics of the census in 1999, the survey of population change in 2006, the survey of newborn babies at health units in 2007 and annual population change surveys.

 

Cam Quyen 

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