Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex was 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4.49 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
178th
of 236 countries
All-time high
107.86 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1950
All-time low
4.49 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Sri Lanka, 1950–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people for annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 37.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Sri Lanka peaked at 107.86 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950 and was at its lowest, 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 178th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 107.86 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 103.56 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1952 | 99.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1953 | 95.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1954 | 91.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1955 | 87.62 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1956 | 83.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1957 | 80.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1958 | 76.54 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1959 | 72.97 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1960 | 69.66 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1961 | 66.75 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1962 | 64.29 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1963 | 62.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 1964 | 60.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 58.75 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 57.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 55.69 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 54.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 53.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 52.01 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 51.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 50.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 49.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 47.87 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 46.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1976 | 44.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 41.81 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1978 | 39.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 36.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1980 | 34.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1981 | 31.71 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.2% |
| 1982 | 29.31 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.6% |
| 1983 | 27.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1984 | 24.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.8% |
| 1985 | 22.6 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.4% |
| 1986 | 20.86 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1987 | 19.37 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1988 | 18.22 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1989 | 19.04 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 16.82 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.7% |
| 1991 | 16.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 16.1 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 15.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 15.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 14.97 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 14.66 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 14.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 13.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 12.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 12.44 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 11.98 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 11.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 11.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 15.81 deaths per 1,000 people | +41.0% |
| 2005 | 10.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -35.5% |
| 2006 | 9.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 9.32 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 8.92 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 11.99 deaths per 1,000 people | +34.5% |
| 2010 | 8.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -31.8% |
| 2011 | 7.86 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 7.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 7.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 6.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 6.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 6.16 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 5.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 5.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 5.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 5.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 4.87 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 4.67 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 89.89 deaths per 1,000 people | 72.97 deaths per 1,000 people | 107.86 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 60.25 deaths per 1,000 people | 53.11 deaths per 1,000 people | 69.66 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 45.86 deaths per 1,000 people | 36.73 deaths per 1,000 people | 52.01 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.7 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.22 deaths per 1,000 people | 34.18 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.06 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.96 deaths per 1,000 people | 16.82 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.31 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.92 deaths per 1,000 people | 15.81 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.68 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.3 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.18 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.77 deaths per 1,000 people | 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.05 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 175 China 4.73 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 176 Saint Barthelemy 4.69 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 177 Northern Mariana Islands 4.53 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 179 Romania 4.47 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 180 New Zealand 4.33 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 181 Bulgaria 4.32 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0276 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate -0.5626 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0292 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Sri Lanka?
- Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Sri Lanka was 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 107.86 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950.
- What is the lowest annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.49 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex?
- Sri Lanka ranks 178th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Death rate, calculated as the number of deaths divided by the average number of people alive during the interval.