NEW DELHI: Matrilineal Meghalaya has one of the highest sex ratios in the country, according to the latest National Health Profile (NHP) 2018, released by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda here on Wednesday.
Southern states of the country reported highest ratio, while at 690 women per 1000 men, the rural areas of Chandigarh and Daman and Diu have the lowest sex ratio in the country.
Fortunately, the country’s overall sex ratio has improved, showed the NHP, from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011.
States in the south of the country are far ahead, still, than those in the North and North East, including Meghalaya in having a healthy sex ratio.
The highest sex ratio is in Kerala (1084), Puducherry (1037), Tamil Nadu (996), Andhra Pradesh (993), Chhattisgarh (991), and Meghalaya (989).
The rate of increase in rural areas has been slower, from 946 to 949, while it has jumped from 900 to 929 in the urban areas.
The lowest sex ratio of overall population — urban and rural — is seen in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu (818), Chandigarh (818), Delhi (868), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (876), Haryana (879), Jammu and Kashmir (889), Sikkim (890) and Punjab (895).
Delhi’s poor sex ratio is cause for concern, as with 11,320 people per square km, it has by far the highest population density in India.
The National Health Profile covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health.