Men decrease, women increase
Partly
In brief
The Prophet ﷺ said that men will become few and women many, until fifty women have only one man to look after them. In another narration, one man is followed by forty women seeking his protection, because so few men are left.
Ibn Hajar and al-Qurtubi suggest it may come from wars killing many men, or from more girls being born. Global population data today shows roughly equal numbers of men and women overall, with more women in older age groups, so the figures alone do not settle the question.
'The best of you are those best to their women.' Care for those who depend on you.
Where it sits in the sequence
The narrations do not put these in order, and many of them overlap. Sahih al-Bukhari 7121 lists several together.
Strongest narrations
Read all in the archive →Tags are automatic and unreviewed.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ لأُحَدِّثَنَّكُمْ حَدِيثًا لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يَقِلَّ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الْجَهْلُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا، وَتَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً الْقَيِّمُ الْوَاحِدُ ".
Narrated Anas:I will narrate to you a Hadith and none other than I will tell you about after it. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying: From among the portents of the Hour are (the following): -1. Religious knowledge will decrease (by the death of religious learned men). -2. Religious ignorance will prevail. -3. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse. -4. Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْحَوْضِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لأُحَدِّثَنَّكُمْ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الْجَهْلُ وَيَكْثُرَ الزِّنَا، وَيَكْثُرَ شُرْبُ الْخَمْرِ، وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً الْقَيِّمُ الْوَاحِدُ ".
Narrated Anas:I will narrate to you a Habith I heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and none other than I will tell you of it. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "From among the portents of the Hour are the following: Religious knowledge will be taken away; General ignorance (in religious matters) will increase; illegal Sexual intercourse will prevail: Drinking of alcoholic drinks will prevail. Men will decrease in number, and women will increase in number, so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man
حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدِيثًا لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ بِهِ غَيْرِي قَالَ " مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ الْجَهْلُ، وَيَقِلَّ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا، وَتُشْرَبَ الْخَمْرُ، وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً قَيِّمُهُنَّ رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ ".
Narrated Anas:I heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a narration which none other than I will narrate to you. The Prophet, said, "From among the portents of the our are the following: General ignorance (in religious affairs) will prevail, (religious) knowledge will decrease, illegal sexual intercourse will prevail, alcoholic drinks will be drunk (in abundance), men will decrease and women will increase so much so that for every fifty women there will be one man to look after them
أَخْبَرَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَنَسٌ، قَالَ لأُحَدِّثَنَّكُمْ حَدِيثًا لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمُوهُ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي، سَمِعْتُهُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ ـ وَإِمَّا قَالَ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ ـ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْعِلْمُ وَيَظْهَرَ الْجَهْلُ، وَيُشْرَبَ الْخَمْرُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا، وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِلْخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً الْقَيِّمُ الْوَاحِدُ ".
Narrated Anas: I will narrate to you a narration which nobody will narrate to you after me. I heard that from the Prophet. I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "The Hour will not be established" or said: "From among the portents of the Hour is that the religious knowledge will betaken away (by the death of religious Scholars) and general ignorance (of religion) will appear; and the drinking of alcoholic drinks will be very common, and (open) illegal sexual intercourse will prevail, and men will decrease in number while women will increase so much so that, for fifty women there will only be one man to look after them
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ أَلاَ أُحَدِّثُكُمْ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي سَمِعَهُ مِنْهُ " إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْعِلْمُ وَيَظْهَرَ الْجَهْلُ وَيَفْشُوَ الزِّنَا وَيُشْرَبَ الْخَمْرُ وَيَذْهَبَ الرِّجَالُ وَتَبْقَى النِّسَاءُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً قَيِّمٌ وَاحِدٌ " .
Qatida reported that Anas b. Malik said:May I not narrate to you a hadith which I heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) which no one would narrate to you after me who would have personally heard it from him (the Holy Prophet) (as I have the good fortune to do so)? -" It is from the signs of the Last Hour that knowledge would be taken away, ignorance would prevail upon (the world), adultery would become common, wine would be drunk, the number of men will fall short and the women would survive (and thus such a disparity would arise in the number of men and women) that there would be one man to look after fifty women
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ أُحَدِّثُكُمْ حَدِيثًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْعِلْمُ وَيَظْهَرَ الْجَهْلُ وَيَفْشُوَ الزِّنَا وَتُشْرَبَ الْخَمْرُ وَيَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً قَيِّمٌ وَاحِدٌ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ . وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Anas bin Malik said:"I shall narrate a Hadith to you that I heard from the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w), which none after me shall narrate that he heard it from the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w)." [He said:] "The Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said: 'Indeed, among the signs of the Hour are that knowledge shall be raised up, ignorance shall be rampant, Zina shall abound, Khamr shall be drunk, women shall increase and men shall decrease such that fifty women will be supported by one man
Weak and ungraded reports on this sign
12
Shown for study, not as established. Includes Kitab al-Fitan of Nu'aym ibn Hammad, which is ungraded and weak overall.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا علي بن حمشاذ العدل، ثنا إبراهيم بن الحسين بن ديزيل، ثنا علي بن عثمان اللاحقي، ثنا حماد بن سلمة، ثنا ثابت، عن أنس رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " لا تقوم الساعة حتى لا يقال في الأرض الله الله، وحتى تمر المرأة بقطعة النعل، فتقول: قد كان لهذه رجل مرة، وحتى يكون الرجل قيم خمسين امرأة، وحتى تمطر السماء ولا تنبت الأرض «هذا حديث على شرط مسلم، ولم يخرجاه»
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا أبو محمد أحمد بن عبد الله المزني ببخارى، أنبأ عبد الله بن ناجية، حدثنا عبد الوارث بن عبد الصمد بن عبد الوارث، حدثني أبي، ثنا حماد بن سلمة، عن ثابت، عن أنس رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " لا تقوم الساعة حتى لا يقال في الأرض الله الله، وحتى إن المرأة لتمر بالنعل فترفعها وتقول: قد كانت هذه لرجل، وحتى يكون في خمسين امرأة القيم الواحد، وحتى تمطر السماء ولا تنبت الأرض «هذا حديث صحيح على شرط مسلم، ولم يخرجاه»
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا هشيم، أخبرنا شعبة، عن قتادة، عن أنس بن مالك، يرفع الحديث قال: " لا تقوم الساعة حتى يرفع العلم، ويظهر الجهل، ويقل الرجال، وتكثر النساء، حتى يكون قيم خمسين امرأة رجل واحد "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا وكيع، حدثنا هشام، حدثنا قتادة، عن أنس بن مالك قال: لأحدثنكم بحديث سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يحدثكم أحد بعدي، سمعته يقول: " لا تقوم الساعة حتى يكون في الخمسين امرأة القيم الواحد، وتكثر النساء، ويقل الرجال "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
What scholars have said
Scholars cite it in part, or differ
Abu al-Abbas Al-Qurtubi (quoted by Ibn Hajar)d. 656 AH (578-656 AH)
Says this narration is a sign of prophethood: it foretold things that would happen, and they happened, 'especially in these times'.
Fath al-Bari, on Sahih al-Bukhari 81
Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalanid. 852 AH (773-852 AH)
Mentions the view that men fall in the many wars, then prefers another: it is a sign in itself, in which Allah decrees that fewer boys and more girls are born at the end of time. 'Fifty' may be the number itself or may mean 'many'.
Fath al-Bari, on Sahih al-Bukhari 81
Allamah Muhammad Al-Barzanjid. 1103 AH (1040-1103 AH)
Places 'fifty women for one man' in the great Malhamah, when of a hundred sons of one father only one man is left. That is still to come.
al-Isha'a li-Ashrat al-Sa'a, ch. 3: the great signs that come just before the Hour
Present-day data
These numbers show the world today beside the narration. They do not decide whether the sign has appeared; that is shown only through named scholars, in the Scholars' views tab.
The narration says men will become few and women many, until fifty women have one man to look after them. Ibn Hajar reads it as a sign in itself (fewer boys born); al-Barzanji places the 'fifty' in the great Malhamah. Here is what the world's population counts show today. They do not show this state: worldwide there are slightly more men than women, and more boys than girls are born. Women outnumber men in most countries, and among older people.
Narrations behind this panel: Sahih al-Bukhari 81 · Sahih al-Bukhari 1414
Show the numbers
| Year | Men per 100 women |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 99.6 |
| 1961 | 99.6 |
| 1962 | 99.7 |
| 1963 | 99.7 |
| 1964 | 99.8 |
| 1965 | 99.8 |
| 1966 | 99.9 |
| 1967 | 99.9 |
| 1968 | 99.9 |
| 1969 | 99.9 |
| 1970 | 100.0 |
| 1971 | 100.0 |
| 1972 | 100.1 |
| 1973 | 100.1 |
| 1974 | 100.2 |
| 1975 | 100.2 |
| 1976 | 100.3 |
| 1977 | 100.3 |
| 1978 | 100.3 |
| 1979 | 100.3 |
| 1980 | 100.4 |
| 1981 | 100.4 |
| 1982 | 100.5 |
| 1983 | 100.5 |
| 1984 | 100.6 |
| 1985 | 100.6 |
| 1986 | 100.6 |
| 1987 | 100.7 |
| 1988 | 100.7 |
| 1989 | 100.8 |
| 1990 | 100.8 |
| 1991 | 100.9 |
| 1992 | 100.9 |
| 1993 | 101.0 |
| 1994 | 101.0 |
| 1995 | 101.0 |
| 1996 | 101.0 |
| 1997 | 101.0 |
| 1998 | 101.0 |
| 1999 | 101.0 |
| 2000 | 101.1 |
| 2001 | 101.1 |
| 2002 | 101.1 |
| 2003 | 101.1 |
| 2004 | 101.2 |
| 2005 | 101.2 |
| 2006 | 101.2 |
| 2007 | 101.2 |
| 2008 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.3 |
| 2010 | 101.3 |
| 2011 | 101.3 |
| 2012 | 101.3 |
| 2013 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 101.4 |
| 2015 | 101.4 |
| 2016 | 101.4 |
| 2017 | 101.4 |
| 2018 | 101.4 |
| 2019 | 101.4 |
| 2020 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 101.3 |
| 2022 | 101.2 |
| 2023 | 101.2 |
| 2024 | 101.1 |
| 2025 | 101.1 |
Source: World Bank, Population, male and female (SP.POP.TOTL.FE.IN); ratio computed (SP.POP.TOTL.MA.IN) · retrieved 2026-10-27
Show the numbers
| Year | Boys per 100 girls at birth |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 105.3 |
| 1961 | 105.3 |
| 1962 | 105.4 |
| 1963 | 105.4 |
| 1964 | 105.4 |
| 1965 | 105.4 |
| 1966 | 105.4 |
| 1967 | 105.4 |
| 1968 | 105.4 |
| 1969 | 105.4 |
| 1970 | 105.5 |
| 1971 | 105.5 |
| 1972 | 105.5 |
| 1973 | 105.5 |
| 1974 | 105.5 |
| 1975 | 105.6 |
| 1976 | 105.6 |
| 1977 | 105.6 |
| 1978 | 105.6 |
| 1979 | 105.6 |
| 1980 | 105.7 |
| 1981 | 105.8 |
| 1982 | 105.8 |
| 1983 | 105.8 |
| 1984 | 105.9 |
| 1985 | 106.0 |
| 1986 | 106.1 |
| 1987 | 106.3 |
| 1988 | 106.4 |
| 1989 | 106.5 |
| 1990 | 106.7 |
| 1991 | 106.8 |
| 1992 | 107.0 |
| 1993 | 107.2 |
| 1994 | 107.3 |
| 1995 | 107.5 |
| 1996 | 107.6 |
| 1997 | 107.6 |
| 1998 | 107.6 |
| 1999 | 107.6 |
| 2000 | 107.6 |
| 2001 | 107.6 |
| 2002 | 107.4 |
| 2003 | 107.4 |
| 2004 | 107.4 |
| 2005 | 107.4 |
| 2006 | 107.3 |
| 2007 | 107.3 |
| 2008 | 107.3 |
| 2009 | 107.2 |
| 2010 | 107.2 |
| 2011 | 107.2 |
| 2012 | 107.2 |
| 2013 | 107.0 |
| 2014 | 107.0 |
| 2015 | 106.7 |
| 2016 | 106.8 |
| 2017 | 106.5 |
| 2018 | 106.4 |
| 2019 | 106.3 |
| 2020 | 105.9 |
| 2021 | 105.7 |
| 2022 | 105.6 |
| 2023 | 105.6 |
| 2024 | 105.5 |
About 105 boys per 100 girls is the natural ratio. The rise in the 1990s-2000s came mainly from sex-selective abortion in parts of Asia.
Source: World Bank, Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births), x100 (SP.POP.BRTH.MF) · retrieved 2026-10-27
Read with care
- In almost all countries women live longer than men, which causes women to become the majority as populations age. Far more men than women die in armed conflicts, but this has not yet reversed global birth sex ratios.
Draft: figures and wording await a researcher's check and the scholar board.