Fertility rate, total in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Fertility rate, total was 1.97 births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.97 births per woman
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
108th
of 215 countries
All-time high
4.39 births per woman
in 1970
All-time low
1.97 births per woman
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Fertility rate, total in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate, total in Sri Lanka is 1.97 births per woman, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate, total in Sri Lanka peaked at 4.39 births per woman in 1970 and was at its lowest, 1.97 births per woman, in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 108th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Fertility rate, total in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.39 births per woman | — |
| 1971 | 4.27 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 1972 | 4.16 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 4 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 1974 | 3.85 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 3.82 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 3.78 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 3.74 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 3.81 births per woman | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 3.82 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 3.73 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 3.65 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 3.32 births per woman | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 3.11 births per woman | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 3.01 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 2.9 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 2.74 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 2.64 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 2.56 births per woman | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 2.58 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 2.54 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 2.51 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 2.49 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 2.44 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 2.4 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 2.35 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 2.29 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 2.21 births per woman | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 2.14 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 2.14 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 2.21 births per woman | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 2.28 births per woman | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 2.31 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 2.3 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 2.27 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 2.26 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 2.29 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 2.29 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 2.23 births per woman | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 2.18 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 2.13 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 2.14 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 2.17 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 2.18 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 2.13 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.09 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 2.06 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 2.04 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 2.03 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 2.02 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 2.01 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 2 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.98 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 1.97 births per woman | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.96 births per woman | 3.74 births per woman | 4.39 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.02 births per woman | 2.56 births per woman | 3.73 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.35 births per woman | 2.14 births per woman | 2.54 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.26 births per woman | 2.18 births per woman | 2.31 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1 births per woman | 2.02 births per woman | 2.18 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.99 births per woman | 1.97 births per woman | 2.01 births per woman | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 21,815 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.558 (2100)
- Population density 343.51 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 901,396 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.558 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.1331 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -1.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, gaps filled 232 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate, total in Sri Lanka?
- Fertility rate, total in Sri Lanka was 1.97 births per woman in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest fertility rate, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 4.39 births per woman in 1970.
- What is the lowest fertility rate, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.97 births per woman in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for fertility rate, total?
- Sri Lanka ranks 108th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate, total rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Fertility rate, total (births per woman). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release