The National Population and Family Planning Commission listed Guangdong among 16 provinces that need special measures to correct the gender imbalance among newborn babies, local authorities said.

The gender ratio at birth in the province stands at 120 newborn boys for every 100 girls, official data showed.

Local media reported on Tuesday that, due to the gender ratio, there will be 5 million bachelors in Guangdong in 20 years.

In order to correct the gender imbalance, the Guangdong provincial population and family planning commission recently asked local departments to curb sex determination exams and sex-selective abortions.

The commission also called for tip-offs from the public and set up a 5,000 yuan ($787) award for each report of irregularities, local media reported.

China's gender ratio stood at 117.78 newborn boys for every 100 girls. The provinces of Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guangdong have the most skewed birth-sex ratio.