Census of India denes sex ratio as number of females per thousand males. Sex ratio in India has been historically negative i.e. unfavourable to females. In the pre-independence period, the sex ratio declined consistently upto 1951 when it rose marginally. In the post independence period, trend continued and it reached a low of 930 in 1971. Aer that varying trends have been noticed with an all time low of 927 in 1991. It reached 933 in 2001 and 940 in 2011.
Sex Ratio’India : 1901-2001
| Census years | Sex ratio | Census year | Sex ratio |
| 1901 | 972 | 1961 | 941 |
| 1911 | 964 | 1971 | 930 |
| 1921 | 955 | 1981 | 934 |
| 1931 | 950 | 1991 | 927 |
| 1941 | 945 | 2001 | 933 |
| 1951 | 946 | 2011 | 940 |
Sex ratio in India is below the world average of 984 and much below U.S.A. (1025), Japan (1055) and Russian Federation (1140). Even the neighbouring countries like Pakistan (943), Bangladesh (978), Nepal (1014), and Myanmar (1048) are much better than India with respect to sex ratio.
Following table gives the ranking of states and union territories of India with respect to sex ratio in 2011. It shows that Kerala has the highest sex ratio of 1084 followed by Puducherry 1038. In all, 18 states and union territories have sex ratio higher the national average of 940. The remaining 17 states and union territories have sex ratio lower than the national average in states and union territories arranged in descending order of sex ratio: 2011
| India/State/ | Sex Ratio |
| Union Territory# | |
| Kerala | 1,084 |
| Puducherry# | 1,038 |
| Tamil Nadu | 995 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 992 |
| Chhattisgarh | 991 |
| Manipur | 987 |
| Maghalaya | 986 |
| Odisha | 978 |
| Mizoram | 975 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 974 |
| Karnataka | 968 |
| Goa | 968 |
| Uttarakhand | 963 |
| Tripura | 961 |
| Assam | 954 |
| Jharkhand | 947 |
| West Bengal | 947 |
| Lakshadweep# | 946 |
| INDIA | 940 |
| Nagaland | 931 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 930 |
| Rajasthan | 926 |
| Maharashtra | 925 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 920 |
| Gujarat | 918 |
| Bihar | 916 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 908 |
| Punjab | 893 |
| Sikkim | 889 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 883 |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands# | 878 |
| Haryana | 877 |
| NCT of Delhi# | 866 |
| Chandigarh# | 818 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli# | 775 |