Mothers Increasingly Prefer Daughters Over Sons
A 2025 Gallup International survey of 44 countries found more women now favor having a daughter than a son.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Pregnancy
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If you were expecting, would you prefer a daughter over a son?
A 2025 Gallup International survey of nearly 45,000 people across 44 countries found 19% of women preferred a daughter, compared with 12% who wanted a son. Fertility specialists report a parallel rise in patients requesting daughters through IVF.
Why it matters
Earlier studies found most people preferred sons, so the reversal marks a notable change in family-planning attitudes. Commentary cited in the reporting links the shift to concerns about toxic masculinity, gender roles and the difficulties of raising sons.
The Gallup International survey covered nearly 45,000 people in 44 countries, with roughly two-thirds reporting no gender preference. The clinic-level IVF observations come from a single fertility practice and have not been measured across the industry.
The players
Gallup International
A global network of independent research institutes that conducts public opinion surveys across many countries.
Brian Levine
A fertility specialist at CCRM Fertility of New York who reported anecdotal increases in patients requesting daughters through IVF.
Heidi Murkoff
The author of the pregnancy guide What to Expect When You're Expecting.
The details
Prior to 2011, studies consistently found most people would rather have a son. A 2018 Cornell University study suggested that preference was beginning to fade, and the 2025 survey indicates the trend has continued. Los Angeles mother Stuart Brazell, who had two sons before a third son was born, recorded an emotional TikTok response to learning she was expecting a boy.
Timeline
Prior to 2011: Studies found most people would rather have a son.
2018: A Cornell University study suggested the preference for sons was fading.
2025: Gallup International surveyed nearly 45,000 people across 44 countries.
Shifting Preferences
The 2025 Gallup survey reverses the pre-2011 pattern in which most respondents preferred sons, a shift the 2018 Cornell study first signaled. Whether this marks a lasting change in family-planning norms remains to be seen.
Parents weighing family planning may find the survey useful context for conversations about gender preference, though it reflects stated attitudes rather than medical guidance. Prospective parents considering IVF should consult their own fertility clinic about options and costs.
The takeaway
Stated preferences for a child's sex have shifted notably in recent years, but most surveyed people still report no preference at all. Focusing on family well-being rather than a specific sex is the more common stance reflected in the data.
Further reading
Explore more on Pregnancy for context on how expectant parents approach family-building decisions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mirror.
Live Poll
If you were expecting, would you prefer a daughter over a son?
