Child mortality in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Child mortality was 0.59 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality in Sri Lanka, 1950–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality in Sri Lanka is 0.59, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 75 years on record.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in Sri Lanka peaked at 14.02 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.59, in 2024.
Sri Lanka ranks 149th of 200 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.
Child mortality in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 14.02 | — |
| 1951 | 13.2 | -5.8% |
| 1952 | 13.02 | -1.4% |
| 1953 | 12.82 | -1.5% |
| 1954 | 12.56 | -2.0% |
| 1955 | 12.23 | -2.6% |
| 1956 | 11.8 | -3.5% |
| 1957 | 11.25 | -4.7% |
| 1958 | 10.62 | -5.6% |
| 1959 | 9.99 | -5.9% |
| 1960 | 9.41 | -5.8% |
| 1961 | 8.96 | -4.8% |
| 1962 | 8.67 | -3.2% |
| 1963 | 8.48 | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 8.3 | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 8.07 | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 7.81 | -3.2% |
| 1967 | 7.55 | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 7.31 | -3.2% |
| 1969 | 7.13 | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 7.01 | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 6.91 | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 6.83 | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 6.73 | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 6.59 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 6.38 | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 6.11 | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 5.76 | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 5.37 | -6.8% |
| 1979 | 4.99 | -7.1% |
| 1980 | 4.63 | -7.2% |
| 1981 | 4.29 | -7.3% |
| 1982 | 3.98 | -7.2% |
| 1983 | 3.67 | -7.8% |
| 1984 | 3.35 | -8.7% |
| 1985 | 3.02 | -9.9% |
| 1986 | 2.74 | -9.3% |
| 1987 | 2.53 | -7.7% |
| 1988 | 2.41 | -4.7% |
| 1989 | 2.79 | +15.8% |
| 1990 | 2.33 | -16.5% |
| 1991 | 2.32 | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 2.29 | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 2.22 | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 2.14 | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 2.05 | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 1.95 | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 1.86 | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 1.76 | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 1.69 | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 1.63 | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 1.58 | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 1.55 | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 1.52 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 2.9 | +90.8% |
| 2005 | 1.4 | -51.7% |
| 2006 | 1.33 | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 1.26 | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 1.2 | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 2.15 | +79.2% |
| 2010 | 1.12 | -47.9% |
| 2011 | 1.08 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 1.03 | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 0.98 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 0.92 | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 0.87 | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 0.83 | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 0.79 | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 0.76 | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 0.72 | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 0.69 | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 0.66 | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 0.63 | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 0.61 | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 0.59 | -3.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.59 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.3, 45% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 0.59 is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.11, 28% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality 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 | +90.8% | 1.52 | 2.9 |
| 2009 | +79.2% | 1.2 | 2.15 |
| 2005 | -51.7% | 2.9 | 1.4 |
| 2010 | -47.9% | 2.15 | 1.12 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.15 | 9.99 | 14.02 | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.17 | 7.13 | 9.41 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.27 | 4.99 | 7.01 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.34 | 2.41 | 4.63 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.06 | 1.69 | 2.33 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.65 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.91 | 0.72 | 1.12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.636 | 0.59 | 0.69 | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 304 (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 child mortality in Sri Lanka?
- Child mortality in Sri Lanka was 0.59 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 14.02 in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.59 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for child mortality?
- Sri Lanka ranks 149th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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