Maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Maternal mortality ratio was 18.32 per 100,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka is 18.32 per 100,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 17.2% on the previous year and down 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka peaked at 38.76 per 100,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 18.32 per 100,000 live births, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 138th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38.76 per 100,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 37.26 per 100,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 35.62 per 100,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 35.35 per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 37.08 per 100,000 live births | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 32.44 per 100,000 live births | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 32.19 per 100,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 31.07 per 100,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 30.42 per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 28.16 per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 25.98 per 100,000 live births | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 25.38 per 100,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 24.31 per 100,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 23.42 per 100,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 22.77 per 100,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 21.95 per 100,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 21.6 per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 21.49 per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 20.62 per 100,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 20.31 per 100,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 22.86 per 100,000 live births | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 33.99 per 100,000 live births | +48.7% |
| 2022 | 22.12 per 100,000 live births | -34.9% |
| 2023 | 18.32 per 100,000 live births | -17.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 18.32 per 100,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.96 per 100,000 live births, 42% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 18.32 per 100,000 live births is below the median for South Asia, which is 63.56 per 100,000 live births, 29% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maternal mortality ratio 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +48.7% | 22.86 per 100,000 live births | 33.99 per 100,000 live births |
| 2022 | -34.9% | 33.99 per 100,000 live births | 22.12 per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.84 per 100,000 live births | 28.16 per 100,000 live births | 38.76 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.78 per 100,000 live births | 20.31 per 100,000 live births | 25.98 per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.32 per 100,000 live births | 18.32 per 100,000 live births | 33.99 per 100,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 135 Latvia 18.72 per 100,000 live births compare
- 136 Republic of Moldova 18.68 per 100,000 live births compare
- 136 Moldova 18.68 per 100,000 live births compare
- 139 Azerbaijan 17.9 per 100,000 live births compare
- 140 Egypt 16.95 per 100,000 live births compare
- 141 Bahrain 16.78 per 100,000 live births 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)
- 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 maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka?
- Maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka was 18.32 per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 38.76 per 100,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.32 per 100,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Sri Lanka ranks 138th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).