Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Child deaths was 235 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
235
Change on year
down 6.0%
World rank
98th
of 200 countries
All-time high
15,116
in 1956
All-time low
235
in 2024
Years of data
69
1956–2024
Child deaths in Sri Lanka, 1956–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 235 for child deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 69 years on record.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and down 56.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child deaths in Sri Lanka peaked at 15,116 in 1956 and was at its lowest, 235, in 2024.
That places Sri Lanka 98th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child deaths in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 15,116 | — |
| 1957 | 14,348 | -5.1% |
| 1958 | 13,497 | -5.9% |
| 1959 | 12,703 | -5.9% |
| 1960 | 12,022 | -5.4% |
| 1961 | 11,487 | -4.5% |
| 1962 | 11,094 | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 10,744 | -3.2% |
| 1964 | 10,353 | -3.6% |
| 1965 | 9,906 | -4.3% |
| 1966 | 9,455 | -4.6% |
| 1967 | 9,029 | -4.5% |
| 1968 | 8,667 | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 8,388 | -3.2% |
| 1970 | 8,182 | -2.5% |
| 1971 | 8,018 | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 7,841 | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 7,632 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 7,375 | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 7,043 | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 6,666 | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 6,263 | -6.0% |
| 1978 | 5,866 | -6.3% |
| 1979 | 5,528 | -5.8% |
| 1980 | 5,243 | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 4,956 | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 4,645 | -6.3% |
| 1983 | 4,253 | -8.4% |
| 1984 | 3,745 | -11.9% |
| 1985 | 3,205 | -14.4% |
| 1986 | 2,720 | -15.1% |
| 1987 | 2,348 | -13.7% |
| 1988 | 2,091 | -10.9% |
| 1989 | 2,827 | +35.2% |
| 1990 | 1,806 | -36.1% |
| 1991 | 1,731 | -4.2% |
| 1992 | 1,653 | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 1,567 | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 1,483 | -5.4% |
| 1995 | 1,402 | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 1,331 | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 1,263 | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 1,197 | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 1,138 | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 1,092 | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 1,070 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 1,073 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 1,085 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 4,510 | +315.7% |
| 2005 | 1,052 | -76.7% |
| 2006 | 999 | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 939 | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 881 | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 3,130 | +255.3% |
| 2010 | 775 | -75.2% |
| 2011 | 717 | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 654 | -8.8% |
| 2013 | 593 | -9.3% |
| 2014 | 540 | -8.9% |
| 2015 | 494 | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 451 | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 411 | -8.9% |
| 2018 | 374 | -9.0% |
| 2019 | 341 | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 313 | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 288 | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 267 | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 250 | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 235 | -6.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 235 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 165, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 235 is below the median for South Asia, which is 952.5, 25% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child deaths 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 | +315.7% | 1,085 | 4,510 |
| 2009 | +255.3% | 881 | 3,130 |
| 2005 | -76.7% | 4,510 | 1,052 |
| 2010 | -75.2% | 3,130 | 775 |
| 1989 | +35.2% | 2,091 | 2,827 |
| 1990 | -36.1% | 2,827 | 1,806 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,916 | 12,703 | 15,116 | 4 |
| 1960s | 10,114 | 8,388 | 12,022 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7,041 | 5,528 | 8,182 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,603 | 2,091 | 5,243 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,457 | 1,138 | 1,806 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,583 | 881 | 4,510 | 10 |
| 2010s | 535 | 341 | 775 | 10 |
| 2020s | 270.6 | 235 | 313 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Child deaths in Sri Lanka was 235 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 15,116 in 1956.
- What is the lowest child deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 235 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for child deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 98th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child deaths rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Child deaths (aged 1-4 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 69 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).