map of countries where women outnumber men

10 Countries Where Women Far Outnumber Men

As the world population continues to grow and age, the demographics of nations have inched their way forward in the mind of public consciousness. Age is usually the main focus of these conversations along with birthrates. However, the disparities between the sexes are often overlooked. There are dozens of countries that are in the middle of gender imbalances in which one sex outnumbers the other. While men dominate the population in several countries, there are quite a few where women outnumber men. Various contributing factors drive these differences. War, culture, politics, and genetics all play a role in this phenomenon.

Top 10 Countries Where Women Outnumber Men

Rank Country Percentage of Women
1 Armenia 55.04%
2 Ukraine 54.40%
3 Belarus 53.99%
4 Latvia 53.57%
5 Russia 53.55%
6 Lithuania 53.02%
7 Georgia 53.00%
8 Portugal 52.80%
9 Zimbabwe 52.72%
10 Estonia 52.47%

1. Armenia - 55.04%

Armenian women in national costumes, in Yerevan, Armenia
A group of Armenian women stand outside of an Orthodox church dressed in traditional clothing. Image credit MehmetO via Shutterstock

The ancient nation of Armenia has been through a lot in the 20th century. Soviet rule and wars with their neighbors have not done the nation any favors. However, the lack of men in Armenia is largely due to the after-effects of the Armenian Genocide that took place during and after the First World War. While still under Turkish-Ottoman rule 1.5 million Armenians were killed in mass executions or taken on death marches across the Syrian desert. The killings were so well organized and systematic that these events are what warranted the invention of the word "genocide." Various records suggest that men made up a majority of the victims.

Recent economic turmoil has also led to Amerenian men leaving in search of work. There are sizable Armenian communities all around the world today. Russia, France, and the United States all have large Armenian populations.

2. Ukraine - 54.40%

Woman in sunglasses and blue shirt with Ukranian flag near magnolia tree
Ukrainian woman holding her nation's flag in front of apartment buildings.

With the current state of Ukraine, as the war rages on and casualties continue to mount, the gap that exists between men and women will likely grow. Despite the grim state of affairs in modern Ukraine, the low number of men has long been an issue that predates the onset of the current war between Russia. Many historians are in agreement that the Second World War was so devastating to the male Ukrainian population that it has still not recovered to its levels before 1941. If the Russian and Ukrainian War continues to persist it is unlikely that this trend will reverse anytime soon.

3. Belarus - 53.99%

Belarusian women in ethnic embroidered shirts and scarves.
Belarusian women taking part in local festivities. Image credit SviatlanaLaza via Shutterstock

Still bearing the scars of its past, Belarus is one of the darkest stories of Eastern Europe. Situated on the border of what was once Nazi Germany, the area that would one day become Belarus faced total devastation during the Second War War. More than a quarter of the entire population of Belarus died during the fighting; the highest per capita casualties of the conflict. Belarus is one of the poorest nations in Europe and is the last true dictatorship on the continent. Living standards are low and economic prospects are few. This has pushed many young men to escape to other parts of Europe.

4. Latvia - 53.57%

Two Latvian women holding flowers and dressed in traditional clothing in a field of wildflowers
Latvian women dressed in traditional clothing. 

Sitting along the coast of the Baltic Sea the small European nation of Latvia has the second-highest female-to-male ratio on Earth. This disparity is due to numerous self-inflicted hazards that are more commonly found among men in this part of the world. Heavy drinking and smoking are much more prevalent in Latvian men. These activities contribute to numerous health complications such as heart disease and various cancers. Life expectancy for Latvian men sits at around 68 while for women it is a whole 10 years more at 78. Suicide rates are also much higher among the male population. This is a concerning trend present in most countries around the world.

5. Russia - 53.55%

Portrait of fashionable young woman with perfect make up posing in colorful Russian shawl on her head
Russian woman wearing a traditional shawl on her head.

Much like their neighbor Ukraine, Russia can also attribute some of this gender disparity to the devastating impact of the Second World War. The Soviet Union suffered the most casualties of any nation during the conflict and lost a staggering 27 million people. However, Russia's bleak history is not the only reason for its higher number of women. Much like Estonia and Lithuania, Russian men are much more like to fall victim to alcoholism. This only worsened after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. For the last 30 years or so much of Russia's male population has been feeling the long-term effects of heavy drinking and daily cigarette use.

6. Lithuania - 53.02%

Woman holding flag of Lithuania in a sunflowers field.
Woman holding a Lithuanian flag in a sunflower field. 

Similar to its Baltic cousins Latvia, Lithuania suffers from the same self-destructive behavior of its male population. Alcohol abuse and smoking rates are much higher among men in this nation. Smoking cigarettes are so common in this part of the world that more than one-third of Lithuanian men smoke on a daily basis and many more partake casually. Lithuanian health authorities have made discouraging the consumption of cigarettes one of their top priorities. Like Nepal, Lithuania has fallen victim to its young and productive men leaving to find greener pastures in other parts of Europe such as Germany or England.

7. Georgia- 53.00%

Beautiful panoramic view of Tbilisi at sunset, Georgia
Beautiful panoramic view of Tbilisi at sunset, Georgia

Georgia is a tiny nation with a population of just 3.7 million. Of those, about 52.98% are women and the other 47.02% are men. Georgia is one of the oldest Christian nations in the world and has had a long history of fighting for its freedom from countless invasions by powerful neighbors such as Russia and Turkey. Furthermore, economic opportunities encourage many male residents to seek employment elsewhere, leading to high emigration rates. Ultimately, mortality is the sole figure responsible for the imbalance between the male and female population. Like many other countries on this list, alcohol consumption and smoking, alongside 'risk-taking activities' are to blame. 

8. Portugal - 52.80%

Dancers from Portugal in traditional costume present at the international folk festival INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HEARTS
Portuguese singers attending the International Festival of Folklore and Dance. Image credit Florin Cnejevici via Shutterstock

The increase in the number of women in Portugal since 2010 has also coincided with an increase in gender equality. Despite these improvements for women, the Portuguese economy has struggled in the last decade and as a result, many Portuguese men have left for a better future. The most common place for Portuguese men to relocate is Brazil and other member nations of the European Union. The higher population of women is also due to the lower life expectancy of Portuguese men. On average Portuguese men live for 78 years whereas their feminine counterparts live for 84 years.

9. Zimbabwe- 52.72%

Aerial view on the main street of Harare in Zimbabwe
Aerial view on the main street of Harare in Zimbabwe

Progress comes to different countries in different ways, and in Zimbabwe, as of February 2021, 31.9% of seats in parliament were held by women. However, this postive is blunted by the disproportionate amount of women that exist in the country, which can cause problems of its own. In 2020, the male mortality rate sat at 413% which, in comparison with the USA's 138%, is fairly bleak. This rate represents the possibility of dying between the ages of 15 and 60. In the past few years, Zimbabwe's overall mortality rate has decreased, so in the future it is extremely possible for imbalances like the ratio between male and female to stabilize.

10. Estonia - 52.47%

A group of women in national dress perform an Estonian folk dance.
A group of women in national dress perform an Estonian folk dance. Image credit bonilook via Shutterstock

Like the other Eastern European nations on this list, Estonia is still suffering from its involvement in the Second World War along with a series of public health issues linked to heavy drinking and smoking. The average Estonian man consumes 17.5 liters of alcohol each year, more than double that of their women. Estonia also has one of the highest suicide rates in Europe at around 12.2 per 100,000, with men committing suicide almost five times as much as Estonian women. Nearly 11,000 people leave Estonia every year either to settle in other nations permanently or to work temporarily. Most of these emigrants are men looking for better economic prospects.

Most of the factors that have caused an unequal amount of men and women in these nations come from either a dark history or poor living conditions. Wars, poverty, substance abuse, and suicide continue to mold the demographics of these nations for the worst. If these trends do not slow there is a good chance that these nations' demographics could remain irreparably changed forever. Hopefully, these countries are able to find solutions soon.

All Countries Ranked By Where Women Outnumber Men

Country Percentage of Women POPULATION 2023
Armenia 55.04% 2,957,000
Ukraine 54.40% 43,131,000
Belarus 53.99% 9,116,000
Latvia 53.57% 1,850,000
Russia 53.55% 144,995,000
Lithuania 53.02% 2,755,000
Georgia 53.00% 3,671,000
Portugal 52.80% 10,296,000
Zimbabwe 52.72% 15,464,000
Estonia 52.47% 1,338,000
El Salvador 52.40% 6,339,000
Bahamas 52.30% 402,200
Moldova 52.30% 2,566,000
Antigua and Barbuda 52.20% 102,400
Nepal 52.10% 29,641,000
Serbia 52.10% 6,707,000
Barbados 52.00% 268,300
Hungary 51.90% 9,627,000
Sri Lanka 51.90% 22,638,000
Kazakhstan 51.80% 20,086,000
Namibia 51.80% 2,642,000
Saint Kitts and Nevis 51.80% 48,300
Holy See 51.80% 517
France 51.70% 66,218,000
Romania 51.60% 18,819,000
Bulgaria 51.50% 6,385,000
Lebanon 51.50% 5,432,000
Poland 51.50% 37,546,000
Thailand 51.50% 67,293,000
Uruguay 51.50% 3,567,000
Japan 51.40% 124,285,000
Croatia 51.30% 3,823,000
Malawi 51.30% 20,183,000
Montenegro 51.30% 613,100
San Marino 51.30% 33,900
South Africa 51.30% 61,071,000
Italy 51.20% 58,983,000
Kiribati 51.20% 124,700
Mexico 51.20% 130,980,000
Greece 51.10% 10,373,000
Slovakia 51.10% 5,424,000
Guyana 51.00% 741,800
Mauritania 51.00% 4,475,000
Monaco 51.00% 40,400
Rwanda 51.00% 14,482,000
Spain 51.00% 47,900,000
Brazil 50.90% 216,285,000
Kyrgyzstan 50.90% 6,916,000
Mozambique 50.90% 32,420,000
Bosnia and Herzegovina 50.80% 3,428,000
Senegal 50.80% 18,270,000
Austria 50.70% 9,050,000
Colombia 50.70% 53,717,000
Lesotho 50.70% 2,098,000
Mauritius 50.70% 1,235,000
Nicaragua 50.70% 6,804,000
Trinidad and Tobago 50.70% 1,364,000
Tunisia 50.70% 12,160,000
Zambia 50.70% 20,158,000
Czechia (Czech Republic) 50.70% 10,527,000
Angola 50.60% 34,031,000
Azerbaijan 50.60% 10,212,000
Belgium 50.60% 11,679,000
Botswana 50.60% 2,379,000
Eritrea 50.60% 6,275,000
Finland 50.60% 5,571,000
Germany 50.60% 85,887,000
Guinea-Bissau 50.60% 1,654,000
Saint Lucia 50.60% 185,200
United Kingdom 50.60% 67,879,000
Tanzania 50.60% 63,418,000
Venezuela 50.60% 33,740,000
Vietnam 50.60% 100,380,000
Argentina 50.50% 46,655,000
Bangladesh 50.50% 166,663,000
Cambodia 50.50% 16,493,000
Guatemala 50.50% 16,268,000
Guinea 50.50% 13,622,000
Haiti 50.50% 12,257,000
Peru 50.50% 33,745,000
South Sudan 50.50% 14,746,000
Tonga 50.50% 100,000
Turkmenistan 50.50% 6,516,000
Uganda 50.50% 45,654,000
United States of America 50.50% 339,277,000
North Korea 50.50% 26,161,000
Chile 50.40% 19,980,000
Cuba 50.40% 11,012,000
Democratic Republic of the Congo 50.40% 111,860,000
Djibouti 50.40% 1,035,000
Ireland 50.40% 5,203,000
Jamaica 50.40% 2,749,000
Kenya 50.40% 50,830,000
Liechtenstein 50.40% 39,700
Mongolia 50.40% 3,499,000
New Zealand 50.40% 5,128,000
Eswatini (fmr. "Swaziland") 50.40% 1,142,000
Australia 50.30% 26,231,000
Burundi 50.30% 13,139,000
Cabo Verde 50.30% 491,200
Canada 50.30% 37,808,000
Dominica 50.30% 63,800
Netherlands 50.30% 17,975,000
Suriname 50.30% 628,800
Switzerland 50.30% 8,864,000
Albania 50.20% 2,740,000
Burkina Faso 50.20% 22,810,000
Denmark 50.20% 5,986,000
Gambia 50.20% 2,910,000
Liberia 50.20% 5,209,000
North Macedonia 50.20% 1,820,000
Myanmar (formerly Burma) 50.20% 56,424,000
Cameroon 50.10% 26,707,000
Ecuador 50.10% 18,228,000
Ghana 50.10% 32,147,000
Israel 50.10% 9,153,000
Sao Tome and Principe 50.10% 223,400
Palestine 50.10% 5,371,230
Congo 50.10% 6,161,000
South Korea 50.10% 51,268,000
Central African Republic 50.00% 5,552,000
Costa Rica 50.00% 5,264,000
Grenada 50.00% 115,600
Panama 50.00% 4,462,000
Sudan 50.00% 46,392,000
Uzbekistan 50.00% 36,407,000

Data sourced from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

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