Sex differences in human mate preferences vary across sex ratios
Authors: Walter Kathryn V. , Conroy-Beam Daniel , Buss David M. , Asao Kelly , Sorokowska Agnieszka , Sorokowski Piotr , Aavik Toivo , Akello Grace , Alhabahba Mohammad Madallh , Alm Charlotte , Amjad Naumana , Anjum Afifa , Atama Chiemezie S. , Duyar Derya Atamtürk , Ayebare Richard , Batres Carlota , Bendixen Mons , Bensafia Aicha , Bizumic Boris , Boussena Mahmoud , Butovskaya Marina , Can Seda , Cantarero Katarzyna , Carrier Antonin , Cetinkaya Hakan , Croy Ilona , Cueto Rosa María , Czub Marcin , Dronova Daria , Dural Seda , Duyar Izzet , Ertugrul Berna , Espinosa Agustín , Estevan Ignacio , Esteves Carla Sofia , Fang Luxi , Frackowiak Tomasz , Garduño Jorge Contreras , González Karina Ugalde , Guemaz Farida , Gyuris Petra , Halamová Mária , Herak Iskra , Horvat Marina , Hromatko Ivana , Hui Chin-Ming , Jaafar Jas Laile , Jiang Feng , Kafetsios Konstantinos , Kavčič Tina , Kennair Leif Edward Ottesen , Kervyn Nicolas , Khanh Ha Truong Thi , Khilji Imran Ahmed , Köbis Nils C. , Lan Hoang Moc , Láng András , Lennard Georgina R. , León Ernesto , Lindholm Torun , Linh Trinh Thi , Lopez Giulia , Luot Nguyen Van , Mailhos Alvaro , Manesi Zoi , Martinez Rocio , McKerchar Sarah L. , Meskó Norbert , Misra Girishwar , Monaghan Conal , Mora Emanuel C. , Moya-Garófano Alba , Musil Bojan , Natividade Jean Carlos , Niemczyk Agnieszka , Nizharadze George , Oberzaucher Elisabeth , Oleszkiewicz Anna , Omar-Fauzee Mohd Sofian , Onyishi Ike E. , Özener Baris , Pagani Ariela Francesca , Pakalniskiene Vilmante , Parise Miriam , Pazhoohi Farid , Pisanski Annette , Pisanski Katarzyna , Ponciano Edna , Popa Camelia , Prokop Pavol , Rizwan Muhammad , Sainz Mario , Salkičević Svjetlana , Sargautyte Ruta , Sarmány-Schuller Ivan , Schmehl Susanne , Sharad Shivantika , Siddiqui Razi Sultan , Simonetti Franco , Stoyanova Stanislava Yordanova , Tadinac Meri , Correa Varella Marco Antonio , Vauclair Christin-Melanie , Vega Luis Diego , Widarini Dwi Ajeng , Yoo Gyesook , Zaťková Marta Marta , Zupančič Maja 
Published: July 2021

A wide range of literature connects sex ratio and mating behaviours in non-human animals. However, research examining sex ratio and human mating is limited in scope. Prior work has examined the relationship between sex ratio and desire for short-term, uncommitted mating as well as outcomes such as marriage and divorce rates. Less empirical attention has been directed towards the relationship between sex ratio and mate preferences, despite the importance of mate preferences in the human mating literature. To address this gap, we examined sex ratio's relationship to the variation in preferences for attractiveness, resources, kindness, intelligence and health in a long-term mate across 45 countries (
n
= 14 487). We predicted that mate preferences would vary according to relative power of choice on the mating market, with increased power derived from having relatively few competitors and numerous potential mates. We found that each sex tended to report more demanding preferences for attractiveness and resources where the opposite sex was abundant, compared to where the opposite sex was scarce. This pattern dovetails with those found for mating strategies in humans and mate preferences across species, highlighting the importance of sex ratio for understanding variation in human mate preferences.