As Brigid’s link notes, there’s a significant disparity in life expectancy favoring women that apparently more than balances the live birth sex ratio that you cite (at least in the US).
People can mean one of two things when they talk about sex ratios; the first is birth rates, and the second is the number of people that exist at a given moment. In much of the world men have a lifespan several years shorter than women (and lead riskier lives, though that may already be taken into account), which may indeed lead to women being the majority.
You are correct in that my number was wrong . I think the percentage of males increased (or females decreased) because 52% was the number that was always thrown around when I was in college (I went to a women’s college so yes, it was thrown around quite a lot).
My number was about females in the US, not worldwide.
Where does this 52% figure come from?
I’m always hearing people attribute numerical majority status to women, but as far as I can find, it’s the other way around.
As Brigid’s link notes, there’s a significant disparity in life expectancy favoring women that apparently more than balances the live birth sex ratio that you cite (at least in the US).
People can mean one of two things when they talk about sex ratios; the first is birth rates, and the second is the number of people that exist at a given moment. In much of the world men have a lifespan several years shorter than women (and lead riskier lives, though that may already be taken into account), which may indeed lead to women being the majority.
If you count them worldwide, given the selective abortions/infanticides in China I’m not that sure that’s the case.
ETA: From Wikipedia: The sex ratio for the entire world population is 101 males to 100 females.
You are correct in that my number was wrong . I think the percentage of males increased (or females decreased) because 52% was the number that was always thrown around when I was in college (I went to a women’s college so yes, it was thrown around quite a lot).
My number was about females in the US, not worldwide.