China to have to 30 million more men than women

CHINA will have 30 million more men of marriageable age than women in less than 15 years as a gender imbalance resulting in part from the country’s tough one-child policy becomes more pronounced.

Traditional preferences for sons has led to the widespread — but illegal — practice of women aborting babies if an early-term sonogram shows it is a girl.

The tens of millions of men who will not be able to find a wife could also lead to social instability problems, the China Daily reported.

China imposed strict population controls in the 1970s to limit growth of its huge population, but one side effect has been a jump in gender selection of babies.

“Discrimination against the female sex remains the primary cause of China’s growing gender imbalance,” said Liu Bohong, vice-director of the women studies institute under the All-China Women’s Federation.

The report predicted that by 2020 the imbalance would mean men of marriageable age — especially those with low income or little education — would find it difficult to find wives, resulting in possible social problems.