Fact-Check: Viral WhatsApp Claim of Global ‘Shortage of Men’ is False

A WhatsApp message making the rounds this week claims that men are in short supply

worldwide, citing an alleged United Nations (UN) report. The post suggests the planet’s 7.8 billion people include 5.6 billion women and just 2.2 billion men, further breaking down the male population into exaggerated categories such as prisoners, the mentally ill, priests, and the unemployed.

The viral WhatsApp claim

The Facts

Authoritative demographic data shows the message is entirely false.

• The UN’s World Population Prospects 2024 projects the world’s population in 2025 at about 8.23 billion people, not 7.8 billion.

• The split is nearly even, with males making up 50.27% (4.14 billion) and females 49.73% (4.09 billion). There are actually slightly more men than women worldwide.

• There is no UN report indicating 1 billion men are married. The global prison population is around 11 million men, not 130 million.

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates over 1 billion people worldwide live with mental health disorders—across both sexes. The claim that 70 million men specifically are affected has no credible source.

• Assertions that 56% of men are unemployed, 3% gay, 1% Catholic priests, 10% close relatives, or 30% above 65 years old are not supported by any recognised global dataset.

  
  

The viral WhatsApp post grossly misrepresents global population figures and invents statistics about men’s marital status, employment, health, and sexuality. Verified UN and WHO data confirm that men and women exist in nearly equal numbers worldwide.

The message should be regarded as misinformation, designed more for sensationalism than truth. Experts warn that such viral hoaxes can mislead the public and feed unnecessary fears or stereotypes.

Sources consulted: United Nations Population Division, World Health