Sri Lanka birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Sri Lanka has a birth rate of 11.2 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.97 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Sri Lanka was 5.35 children per woman — 2.71 times higher than in 2023.

Sri Lanka birth rate statistics:

Sri Lanka is ranked 125/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 132/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Sri Lanka is 25.6 — it was 25.4 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.7, a change from 29.1 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 71 in 1960 to 15.1 in 2023.
25.1% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Sri Lanka by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.97	101
2022	1.98	100
2021	2	101
2020	2.01	103
2019	2.02	105
2018	2.03	107
2017	2.04	108
2016	2.06	108
2015	2.09	111
2014	2.13	110
2013	2.18	106
2012	2.17	109
2011	2.14	111
2010	2.13	115
2009	2.18	112
2008	2.23	111
2007	2.3	107
2006	2.29	108
2005	2.26	110
2004	2.27	111
2003	2.3	112
2002	2.31	112
2001	2.28	119
2000	2.21	121
1999	2.14	125
1998	2.14	129
1997	2.22	129
1996	2.29	130
1995	2.35	131
1994	2.4	131
1993	2.44	131
1992	2.49	131
1991	2.51	132
1990	2.54	132
1989	2.58	131
1988	2.57	133
1987	2.64	132
1986	2.74	129
1985	2.9	129
1984	3.01	129
1983	3.11	126
1982	3.32	121
1981	3.65	118
1980	3.73	119
1979	3.82	117
1978	3.81	119
1977	3.74	122
1976	3.78	122
1975	3.82	123
1974	3.86	126
1973	4	127
1972	4.16	129
1971	4.27	129
1970	4.39	130
1969	4.5	128
1968	4.66	128
1967	4.79	128
1966	4.83	129
1965	4.93	128
1964	5.06	130
1963	5.12	131
1962	5.18	131
1961	5.24	130
1960	5.35	126

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sri-lanka | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Sri Lanka was 1.97 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2015. In 1993, the fertility rate was 2.44 — a 19% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	66,111	246,814	180,703
2022	95,378	275,044	179,666
2021	121,858	285,812	163,954
2020	170,968	302,482	131,514
2019	172,243	318,323	146,080
2018	183,610	328,300	144,690
2017	187,993	329,754	141,761
2016	194,232	331,942	137,710
2015	201,815	335,981	134,166
2014	211,541	343,294	131,753
2013	221,021	350,521	129,500
2012	229,138	363,013	133,875
2011	224,461	359,065	134,604
2010	224,325	358,013	133,688
2009	200,175	365,894	165,719
2008	232,225	375,537	143,312
2007	248,287	385,464	137,177
2006	248,706	383,683	134,977
2005	248,683	378,372	129,689
2004	212,527	378,169	165,642
2003	252,008	380,934	128,926
2002	252,840	379,715	126,875
2001	244,377	371,426	127,049
2000	227,060	355,030	127,970
1999	206,876	338,428	131,552
1998	201,059	331,324	130,265
1997	208,193	336,715	128,522
1996	215,290	340,965	125,675
1995	221,957	344,694	122,737
1994	228,904	344,910	116,006
1993	226,257	340,143	113,886
1992	222,230	335,739	113,509
1991	218,117	332,077	113,960
1990	224,454	335,797	111,343
1989	212,401	334,330	121,929
1988	219,184	327,039	107,855
1987	226,414	331,590	105,176
1986	233,782	336,475	102,693
1985	247,836	348,546	100,710
1984	263,175	362,744	99,569
1983	277,768	375,763	97,995
1982	300,030	396,732	96,702
1981	328,096	424,837	96,741
1980	328,155	424,711	96,556
1979	329,791	426,920	97,129
1978	317,055	415,365	98,310
1977	300,038	398,215	98,177
1976	291,816	390,807	98,991
1975	282,496	381,945	99,449
1974	275,521	375,060	99,539
1973	278,577	377,408	98,831
1972	282,494	380,510	98,016
1971	281,200	379,456	98,256
1970	286,719	382,890	96,171
1969	286,218	381,860	95,642
1968	286,642	382,162	95,520
1967	284,738	380,303	95,565
1966	275,549	371,563	96,014
1965	272,422	369,069	96,647
1964	269,584	367,222	97,638
1963	262,880	361,123	98,243
1962	256,719	356,066	99,347
1961	251,087	352,100	101,013
1960	247,631	350,998	103,367

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Sri Lanka (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.75% annually. On average, 160,574 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.3% — 66,111 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Sri Lanka ranks 87/196 for absolute natural population change and 132/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Sri Lanka compared to other countries

	Sri Lanka	Rank
Fertility rate	1.97	101/196
Birth rate	11.2	125/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+66,111	87/196
Natural population change rate	+0.3%	132/196
Population growth	-0.55%	188/197
Age at first childbirth	25.6 years	55/137
Average age at childbearing	29.7 years	74/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	14.1	127/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	94.7	105/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	20.9	108/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	25.1%	80/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	53.6%	62/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.5%	64/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.02%	126/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.41%	139/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.53%	144/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.61%	145/192
Life expectancy	78 years	64/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	27.7	14.1	94.7	20.9
2025	28	14.4	95.7	21.2
2024	28.3	14.7	96.8	21.5
2023	28.5	15.1	98.4	22
2022	28.5	15.2	99.1	22.4
2021	28.7	15.5	100	22.8
2020	29.3	15.6	100.6	23.3
2019	29.7	15.7	101.2	24
2018	30.2	15.9	101.7	24.6
2017	30.7	16.3	102.3	25.1
2016	31.4	16.5	103.1	25.9
2015	32.2	17	104.7	26.6
2014	33.3	18	107.3	27.5
2013	34.3	19.7	110.7	27.9
2012	33.3	20.8	110.8	27.9
2011	33.2	21.3	109.6	27.6
2010	33.4	21.7	109.3	27.5
2009	34.4	21.6	112.2	28
2008	35.7	20.9	116.5	28.6
2007	36.9	21.7	120	29.4
2006	37.1	22.2	120.2	29.3
2005	36.9	24.1	120.8	28.2
2004	37.2	26.1	121.7	28.2
2003	37.8	27.6	122.6	29.1
2002	38	29.1	122.4	29.8
2001	37.6	30	119.7	30.3
2000	36.6	29.7	112.7	31.1
1999	35.6	28.8	106.2	31.6
1998	35.5	27.7	102.9	33.1
1997	36.8	28.2	104.1	35.4
1996	38.1	28.6	108.5	36.4
1995	39.3	29.4	115	36.3
1994	40	29.3	119.4	36.6
1993	40.1	28.6	121.9	36.8
1992	40.3	28.4	126	37
1991	40.6	28.8	129.6	36.6
1990	41.4	29.8	132.5	36.7
1989	41.6	30.7	136.4	36.5
1988	41.2	30.2	138.2	35.7
1987	42.2	31.8	144.3	36.4
1986	43.4	33.4	151.3	37.4
1985	45.6	34	159.3	40.2
1984	47.8	35.1	165.7	42.5
1983	49.8	36.3	172.4	44.4
1982	52.9	38.2	182.4	48.4
1981	57.4	37.6	192.4	57.5
1980	58.5	37.8	197.9	58.8
1979	59.9	41.4	204.6	59.5
1978	59.5	39.5	205.9	58.7
1977	58.1	38	206.6	55.5
1976	58.2	38.1	201.5	58.7
1975	58	36.8	198.3	61.1
1974	58	37.3	197.8	62.5
1973	59.6	38.1	201.3	66.3
1972	61.3	39.5	206.4	69.8
1971	62.5	42.9	209.6	71.9
1970	64.5	46.3	224.8	70.2
1969	65.9	47.3	232	71.8
1968	67.7	49.9	235.9	76.1
1967	69.1	50.3	242.9	78.7
1966	69.3	50.4	244	80.4
1965	70.7	53.2	248.6	82.7
1964	72.2	56.6	250.5	86.5
1963	72.9	62.2	245.9	90.1
1962	73.8	66.2	247.4	91.7
1961	75	70.5	251.2	92.4
1960	76.8	72.4	257.7	94.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sri-lanka | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Sri Lanka by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 3.96% will be to women under age 20, 49.8% to women ages 20-29, and 46.2% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 7.46%, 58%, and 34.6%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Sri Lanka	World
2100	13.1%	16.5%
2099	13.1%	16.6%
2098	13.2%	16.6%
2097	13.2%	16.7%
2096	13.2%	16.8%
2095	13.3%	16.8%
2094	13.3%	16.9%
2093	13.4%	17%
2092	13.4%	17%
2091	13.5%	17.1%
2090	13.6%	17.2%
2089	13.7%	17.2%
2088	13.7%	17.3%
2087	13.8%	17.4%
2086	13.9%	17.4%
2085	14%	17.5%
2084	14%	17.5%
2083	14.1%	17.6%
2082	14.2%	17.7%
2081	14.3%	17.7%
2080	14.3%	17.8%
2079	14.4%	17.8%
2078	14.5%	17.9%
2077	14.5%	17.9%
2076	14.6%	18%
2075	14.6%	18%
2074	14.7%	18.1%
2073	14.7%	18.2%
2072	14.8%	18.2%
2071	14.9%	18.3%
2070	14.9%	18.3%
2069	15%	18.4%
2068	15%	18.5%
2067	15.1%	18.6%
2066	15.2%	18.6%
2065	15.3%	18.7%
2064	15.4%	18.8%
2063	15.5%	18.9%
2062	15.6%	19.1%
2061	15.7%	19.2%
2060	15.8%	19.3%
2059	16%	19.4%
2058	16.1%	19.5%
2057	16.3%	19.6%
2056	16.4%	19.8%
2055	16.6%	19.9%
2054	16.8%	20%
2053	16.9%	20.1%
2052	17.1%	20.2%
2051	17.2%	20.3%
2050	17.4%	20.4%
2049	17.5%	20.5%
2048	17.7%	20.6%
2047	17.8%	20.7%
2046	17.9%	20.8%
2045	18%	20.9%
2044	18.2%	20.9%
2043	18.3%	21%
2042	18.4%	21.1%
2041	18.5%	21.2%
2040	18.6%	21.2%
2039	18.7%	21.3%
2038	18.9%	21.4%
2037	19%	21.5%
2036	19.1%	21.6%
2035	19.3%	21.8%
2034	19.5%	22%
2033	19.7%	22.2%
2032	19.9%	22.4%
2031	20.1%	22.7%
2030	20.3%	23%
2029	20.6%	23.3%
2028	20.9%	23.6%
2027	21.2%	23.9%
2026	21.5%	24.2%
2025	21.9%	24.6%
2024	22%	24.7%
2023	22.4%	25%
2022	22.7%	25.3%
2021	23%	25.6%
2020	23.3%	25.8%
2019	23.7%	26%
2018	24%	26.2%
2017	24.2%	26.4%
2016	24.5%	26.5%
2015	24.7%	26.6%
2014	24.9%	26.8%
2013	25%	26.9%
2012	25.2%	27%
2011	25.3%	27.1%
2010	25.4%	27.3%
2009	25.5%	27.5%
2008	25.6%	27.6%
2007	25.7%	27.9%
2006	25.7%	28.1%
2005	25.8%	28.5%
2004	26%	28.8%
2003	26.1%	29.2%
2002	26.3%	29.6%
2001	26.6%	30%
2000	27%	30.4%
1999	27.4%	30.8%
1998	27.8%	31.1%
1997	28.2%	31.5%
1996	28.6%	31.8%
1995	29.2%	32.1%
1994	29.9%	32.3%
1993	30.6%	32.5%
1992	31.4%	32.7%
1991	32.1%	32.9%
1990	32.5%	33%
1989	33%	33.2%
1988	33.5%	33.4%
1987	34%	33.6%
1986	34.6%	33.8%
1985	35.2%	34%
1984	35.5%	34.3%
1983	35.8%	34.6%
1982	36%	34.9%
1981	36.2%	35.2%
1980	36.4%	35.5%
1979	36.7%	35.9%
1978	36.9%	36.3%
1977	37.2%	36.7%
1976	37.6%	36.9%
1975	38%	37.1%
1974	38.4%	37.2%
1973	38.8%	37.3%
1972	39.2%	37.5%
1971	39.5%	37.6%
1970	39.7%	37.7%
1969	39.9%	37.8%
1968	40.1%	37.9%
1967	40.3%	38%
1966	40.4%	38%
1965	40.5%	38%
1964	40.6%	38%
1963	40.7%	37.8%
1962	40.8%	37.6%
1961	40.9%	37.5%
1960	41%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sri-lanka | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Sri Lanka was 41% in 1960, 31.4% in 1992, and 22% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Sri Lanka.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sri-lanka | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Sri Lanka	World
2023	18	197
2022	22	203
2021	34	242
2020	23	211
2019	20	207
2018	21	211
2017	21	215
2016	22	220
2015	22	228
2014	23	231
2013	23	235
2012	24	239
2011	25	247
2010	26	253
2009	28	258
2008	30	264
2007	31	269
2006	32	276
2005	32	283
2004	37	291
2003	35	301
2002	36	311
2001	37	321
2000	39	328
1999	41	340
1998	43	360
1997	45	358
1996	47	366
1995	48	371
1994	49	382
1993	51	389
1992	54	395
1991	57	395
1990	59	391
1989	61	401
1988	62	414
1987	64	429
1986	66	438
1985	68	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sri-lanka | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Sri Lanka was 18 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.02% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 53.8% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Sri Lanka	World
2023	0.61%	2.49%
2022	0.64%	2.59%
2021	0.66%	2.66%
2020	0.69%	2.75%
2019	0.72%	2.86%
2018	0.76%	2.97%
2017	0.79%	3.11%
2016	0.83%	3.22%
2015	0.87%	3.35%
2014	0.92%	3.48%
2013	0.98%	3.61%
2012	1.03%	3.77%
2011	1.08%	3.97%
2010	1.12%	4.11%
2009	2.08%	4.31%
2008	1.2%	4.5%
2007	1.26%	4.7%
2006	1.33%	4.92%
2005	1.4%	5.16%
2004	2.88%	5.43%
2003	1.52%	5.65%
2002	1.55%	5.94%
2001	1.58%	6.21%
2000	1.63%	6.48%
1999	1.69%	6.75%
1998	1.76%	7.05%
1997	1.86%	7.28%
1996	1.95%	7.52%
1995	2.05%	7.76%
1994	2.14%	7.98%
1993	2.22%	8.19%
1992	2.29%	8.46%
1991	2.32%	8.66%
1990	2.33%	8.81%
1989	2.74%	9.02%
1988	2.41%	9.31%
1987	2.54%	9.47%
1986	2.74%	9.81%
1985	3.02%	10.1%
1984	3.35%	10.4%
1983	3.67%	10.6%
1982	3.98%	10.8%
1981	4.29%	11%
1980	4.63%	11.4%
1979	4.99%	11.7%
1978	5.38%	12.2%
1977	5.77%	12.6%
1976	6.12%	13%
1975	6.41%	13.4%
1974	6.62%	13.8%
1973	6.77%	14.1%
1972	6.86%	14.5%
1971	6.94%	15.1%
1970	7.02%	15.2%
1969	7.14%	15.4%
1968	7.32%	15.6%
1967	7.55%	15.9%
1966	7.81%	16.1%
1965	8.07%	16.4%
1964	8.3%	16.6%
1963	8.48%	16.5%
1962	8.66%	16.7%
1961	8.95%	17%
1960	9.41%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sri-lanka | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Sri Lanka was 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.61% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 16.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.