Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) was 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.3 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
143rd
of 195 countries
All-time high
48.4 per 1,000 live births
in 1970
All-time low
5.3 per 1,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Mortality rate, infant in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 5.3 per 1,000 live births for mortality rate, infant in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, infant in Sri Lanka peaked at 48.4 per 1,000 live births in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5.3 per 1,000 live births, in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 143rd of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 48.4 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1971 | 48.1 per 1,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 47.9 per 1,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 47.5 per 1,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 46.7 per 1,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 45.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 43.4 per 1,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 41.1 per 1,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1978 | 38.4 per 1,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 1979 | 35.7 per 1,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 1980 | 33.2 per 1,000 live births | -7.0% |
| 1981 | 30.8 per 1,000 live births | -7.2% |
| 1982 | 28.7 per 1,000 live births | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 26.6 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 24.3 per 1,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 22.1 per 1,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 1986 | 20.2 per 1,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 1987 | 18.9 per 1,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 1988 | 18.1 per 1,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 19.3 per 1,000 live births | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 17.9 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 1991 | 18 per 1,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 17.9 per 1,000 live births | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 17.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 16.9 per 1,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 16.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 15.6 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 14.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 14.1 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 13.5 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 13 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 12.7 per 1,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 12.4 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 12.1 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 16.7 per 1,000 live births | +38.0% |
| 2005 | 11.2 per 1,000 live births | -32.9% |
| 2006 | 10.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 10.2 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 9.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 13 per 1,000 live births | +34.0% |
| 2010 | 9.1 per 1,000 live births | -30.0% |
| 2011 | 8.9 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 8.5 per 1,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 8.1 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 7.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 7.4 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 7 per 1,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 6.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 6.5 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 6.2 per 1,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 6 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 5.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 5.5 per 1,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 5.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.3 per 1,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.35 per 1,000 live births, 43% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5.3 per 1,000 live births is below the median for South Asia, which is 20.9 per 1,000 live births, 25% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +38.0% | 12.1 per 1,000 live births | 16.7 per 1,000 live births |
| 2009 | +34.0% | 9.7 per 1,000 live births | 13 per 1,000 live births |
| 2005 | -32.9% | 16.7 per 1,000 live births | 11.2 per 1,000 live births |
| 2010 | -30.0% | 13 per 1,000 live births | 9.1 per 1,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 44.25 per 1,000 live births | 35.7 per 1,000 live births | 48.4 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.22 per 1,000 live births | 18.1 per 1,000 live births | 33.2 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.25 per 1,000 live births | 13.5 per 1,000 live births | 18 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.17 per 1,000 live births | 9.7 per 1,000 live births | 16.7 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.61 per 1,000 live births | 6.2 per 1,000 live births | 9.1 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.65 per 1,000 live births | 5.3 per 1,000 live births | 6 per 1,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 140 Uruguay 5.5 per 1,000 live births compare
- 140 United States 5.5 per 1,000 live births compare
- 142 Romania 5.4 per 1,000 live births compare
- 143 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.3 per 1,000 live births compare
- 145 Slovakia 5.1 per 1,000 live births compare
- 146 Bulgaria 5 per 1,000 live births compare
- 146 Maldives 5 per 1,000 live births compare
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0083 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mortality rate, infant in Sri Lanka?
- Mortality rate, infant in Sri Lanka was 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mortality rate, infant recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 48.4 per 1,000 live births in 1970.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, infant recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for mortality rate, infant?
- Sri Lanka ranks 143rd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mortality rate, infant rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release