Child Equity Atlas - BIDS

Child Equity Atlas
2.2 The Sex Ratio for the Under-Five Population
2.2.1 The sex ratio, defined as the number of
males per 100 females, is estimated at 100.3 in
Bangladesh Population and Housing Census
2011 (here in after referred to as Census 2011)
indicating almost similar number of males and
females in the country. A high degree of gender
imbalance confers social and health implications
on the population. In Bangladesh, the sex ratio
trend, which was 106.1 and 106.6 in 1991 and
2001, respectively, is expected to reach the value
of 100 in near future.
2.2.2 The sex ratio among children under five,
usually referred to as the “child sex ratio”, reflects
the possible prevalence of sex-selection activities
such as abortions and discriminatory health care
and medical services against girls. The sex ratio at
birth (boys per 100 girls) is 105 all over the world
which reflects no signs of gender discrimination
against the birth of a girl child. The predictable
sex ratio for the under-five population is 103 for
Bangladesh because of the higher under five
mortality rate (U5MR) for boys which matches
the census estimates, confirming the absence of
the practice of sex selection such as infanticide
in the country. From Barisal to Bogra, child sex
ratio in Bangladesh is within or better than the
international standard benchmark.
2.3 Population Under 18 Years (Child
Population)
2.3.1 Population below 18 years or the population
of children and sub-groups there in, is an
important demographic denominator against
which social services can be assessed to meet
the socioeconomic rights of children. The 2011
Census gives the proportion of the population
below 18 years (children population) as 39.7 per
cent, showing a five percentage points reduction
from 2001 (45 per cent) (Table 1.2 in chapter
one). Like the population density, distribution
of child population is also not uniform across
the country. The proportion of children is much
higher in the eastern part (broadly in the divisions
of Chittagong and Sylhet) than in the western and
central parts of the country. Maps 2.4 and 2.5 show
the distribution of the proportion of children in
districts and upazilas, respectively.
2.3.2 A higher proportion of child population
is related to the fertility of a country. A drop in
proportion of children in the country, though
marginal, is an outcome of lowering of fertility
rates. From a high of around 55 per cent (Niger)
to a low of 15 per cent (East European countries),
the proportion of children (under 18 years) in
Bangladesh population hovers around the middle
of the global range.
2.3.3 Within a country the proportion of child
population is closely related to the level of
poverty. People living in poverty tend to have
more children. But in Bangladesh, the correlation
between poverty and number of children is not
very strong (0.53), as can be seen from the Maps
presented with other deprivation indicators in
chapter seven.
Table 2.2: Proportion of population below 18 years:
Lowest and highest districts, Bangladesh 2011
Srl.
Lowest districts
Highest districts
District % District %
1. Dhaka 32.3 Cox’s Bazar 49.0
2. Gazipur 32.5 Brahmanbaria 47.8
3. Joypurhat 33.0 Sunamganj 47.6
4. Naogaon 33.8 Noakhali 46.7
5. Meherpur 33.9 Habiganj 45.8
Bangladesh: 39.7%
18