Is India a dangerous place for the girl child?

According to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, India is the most dangerous place in the world for a girl child. Here's a look at facts and figures related to the issues surrounding the girl child in India.

Upto 50 million girls and women are ‘missing' from India's population. Female foeticide has increased over the past few decades. Foeticide reported an increase of 19% over 2010.

Sources: UN statistics on the Girl Child in India and Social Statistics Division, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India

During the period 1991-2011, child sex ratio declined from 945 females per 1000 males to 914 females per 1000 males.

Source: Social Statistics Division, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India

Foeticide: The worst offenders
A total of 132 cases of foeticide were reported in 2011, of which the highest number registered from Madhya Pradesh, followed by Chattisgarh and Punjab and these States together reported 56% of the total Foeticide registered in 2011 in the country.

Source: Social Statistics Division, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India

Picture Courtesy: Ashish Kumar (Winner, Our Girls, Our Pride Photography Contest)

Even if she escapes foeticide, a girl child is less likely to receive immunisation, nutrition or medical treatment compared to a male child.
Every sixth girl child's death is due to gender discrimination.

Source: UN statistics on the Girl Child in India

While one in every five adolescent boys is malnourished, one in every two girls in India is undernourished.

Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs India

Of the 12 million girls born in India, 1 million do not see their first birthday. Death rate among girls below the age of 4 years is higher than that of boys.
One out of every 6 girls does not live to see her 15th birthday.

Source: UN statistics on the Girl Child in India

One out of 4 girls is abused before the age of 4.

Source: UN statistics on the Girl Child in India

53% of girls in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate.

Source: UN statistics on the Girl Child in India

Amongst married women in India today, 75% were under age at the time of their marriages.

Source: UN statistics on the Girl Child in India