Annual death rates at different ages in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Annual death rates at different ages was 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.12 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
175th
of 236 countries
All-time high
112.17 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1950
All-time low
5.12 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Annual death rates at different ages 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
In 2023, annual death rates at different ages in Sri Lanka stood at 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual death rates at different ages in Sri Lanka peaked at 112.17 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual death rates at different ages in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 112.17 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 107.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1952 | 103.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1953 | 99.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1954 | 95.88 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1955 | 92.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1956 | 88.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 84.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1958 | 80.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1959 | 77.35 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1960 | 74.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1961 | 71.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 68.55 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1963 | 66.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 64.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 62.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 61.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 59.81 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 58.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1969 | 57.16 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 56.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 55.07 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 54.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 53.04 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1974 | 51.75 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 49.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1976 | 47.85 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 45.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.1% |
| 1978 | 43.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 40.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.8% |
| 1980 | 37.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1981 | 34.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1982 | 32.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.4% |
| 1983 | 29.79 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.5% |
| 1984 | 27.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 24.97 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.3% |
| 1986 | 23.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1987 | 21.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1988 | 20.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 21 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 18.64 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.2% |
| 1991 | 18.27 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 17.86 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 17.47 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 17.07 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 16.65 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 16.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 15.62 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 15.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 14.47 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 13.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 13.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 12.89 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 12.54 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 16.95 deaths per 1,000 people | +35.2% |
| 2005 | 11.44 deaths per 1,000 people | -32.5% |
| 2006 | 10.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 10.47 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 10.03 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 13.27 deaths per 1,000 people | +32.3% |
| 2010 | 9.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -30.6% |
| 2011 | 8.87 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 8.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 8.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 7.69 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 7.25 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 6.97 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 6.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 6.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 6.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 5.74 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 5.54 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 5.32 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.84 deaths per 1,000 people, 43% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for South Asia, which is 21.01 deaths per 1,000 people, 24% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual death rates at different ages 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 | +35.2% | 12.54 deaths per 1,000 people | 16.95 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 2009 | +32.3% | 10.03 deaths per 1,000 people | 13.27 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 2005 | -32.5% | 16.95 deaths per 1,000 people | 11.44 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 2010 | -30.6% | 13.27 deaths per 1,000 people | 9.21 deaths per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 94.31 deaths per 1,000 people | 77.35 deaths per 1,000 people | 112.17 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 64.45 deaths per 1,000 people | 57.16 deaths per 1,000 people | 74.02 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 49.64 deaths per 1,000 people | 40.11 deaths per 1,000 people | 56.02 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.2 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.17 deaths per 1,000 people | 37.41 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.74 deaths per 1,000 people | 14.47 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.64 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.59 deaths per 1,000 people | 10.03 deaths per 1,000 people | 16.95 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.55 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.02 deaths per 1,000 people | 9.21 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.43 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.74 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 172 French Polynesia 5.28 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 173 Puerto Rico 5.21 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 174 China 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 176 Reunion 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 177 Saudi Arabia 5.08 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 4.97 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)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0353 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual death rates at different ages in Sri Lanka?
- Annual death rates at different ages in Sri Lanka was 5.12 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 at different ages recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 112.17 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950.
- What is the lowest annual death rates at different ages recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.12 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for annual death rates at different ages?
- Sri Lanka ranks 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual death rates at different ages rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.7%. 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 at different ages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Death rate, calculated as the number of deaths divided by the average number of people alive during the interval.