Number of young bachelors to soar after 2020

The Chinese population has lost its gender balance, with the male population far outnumbering the female population. Experts predict that the number of Chinese bachelors will likely soar after 2020.

Stats show that by the end of 2014, the mainland's male population amounted to over 700 million, outnumbering the female population by 33.76 million. The ratio between unmarried males and females was 206:100 in post-70s.

The reason for the imbalance is believed to be the higher birth rate of the male population, a result of Chinese people's traditional preferences for sons.

Experts say the gender gap, if left unchecked, may lead to social problems such as early marriages, extramarital affairs, abductions of females and sexual crimes.

Mu Guangzong, a demographic expert at Peking University, believes that since there is no quick way to end the traditional preferences for male children, the most feasible and effective way to ease the problem may be removing birth restrictions.