Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 0.5098 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.5098
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
175th
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.4
in 1950
All-time low
0.5098
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rates in Sri Lanka, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rates in Sri Lanka is 0.5098, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 36.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in Sri Lanka peaked at 10.4 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.5098, in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 175th of 236 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.
Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.4 | — |
| 1951 | 10.03 | -3.5% |
| 1952 | 9.67 | -3.6% |
| 1953 | 9.32 | -3.6% |
| 1954 | 8.98 | -3.6% |
| 1955 | 8.65 | -3.7% |
| 1956 | 8.32 | -3.8% |
| 1957 | 8 | -3.9% |
| 1958 | 7.66 | -4.3% |
| 1959 | 7.33 | -4.3% |
| 1960 | 7.02 | -4.2% |
| 1961 | 6.75 | -3.9% |
| 1962 | 6.52 | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 6.33 | -2.9% |
| 1964 | 6.17 | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 6.01 | -2.6% |
| 1966 | 5.86 | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 5.72 | -2.4% |
| 1968 | 5.58 | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 5.47 | -2.0% |
| 1970 | 5.36 | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 5.28 | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 5.19 | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 5.09 | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 4.97 | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 4.8 | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 4.61 | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 4.38 | -4.9% |
| 1978 | 4.15 | -5.1% |
| 1979 | 3.88 | -6.6% |
| 1980 | 3.63 | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 3.38 | -6.9% |
| 1982 | 3.13 | -7.3% |
| 1983 | 2.9 | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 2.66 | -8.4% |
| 1985 | 2.44 | -8.1% |
| 1986 | 2.26 | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 2.1 | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 1.98 | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 2.06 | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 1.83 | -11.1% |
| 1991 | 1.8 | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 1.76 | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 1.72 | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 1.68 | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 1.64 | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 1.61 | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 1.54 | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 1.49 | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 1.43 | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 1.37 | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 1.32 | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 1.27 | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 1.24 | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 1.67 | +34.7% |
| 2005 | 1.13 | -32.2% |
| 2006 | 1.08 | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 1.04 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 0.9942 | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 1.31 | +31.9% |
| 2010 | 0.9138 | -30.3% |
| 2011 | 0.8798 | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 0.8391 | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 0.8029 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 0.7641 | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 0.7209 | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 0.6932 | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 0.6691 | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 0.6226 | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 0.5992 | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 0.5716 | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 0.5509 | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 0.5297 | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 0.5098 | -3.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.5098 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.17, 43% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 0.5098 is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.06, 25% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant mortality rates (Our World) 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 | +34.7% | 1.24 | 1.67 |
| 2009 | +31.9% | 0.9942 | 1.31 |
| 2005 | -32.2% | 1.67 | 1.13 |
| 2010 | -30.3% | 1.31 | 0.9138 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.84 | 7.33 | 10.4 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.14 | 5.47 | 7.02 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.77 | 3.88 | 5.36 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.65 | 1.98 | 3.63 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.65 | 1.43 | 1.83 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.24 | 0.9942 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7505 | 0.5992 | 0.9138 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5405 | 0.5098 | 0.5716 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 172 French Polynesia 0.5255 compare
- 173 Puerto Rico 0.5183 compare
- 174 China 0.5102 compare
- 176 Reunion 0.5096 compare
- 177 Saudi Arabia 0.5059 compare
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 0.4946 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)
- 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 infant mortality rates in Sri Lanka?
- Infant mortality rates in Sri Lanka was 0.5098 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 10.4 in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5098 in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for infant mortality rates?
- Sri Lanka ranks 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.5%. 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 Infant mortality rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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