Maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Maternal mortality ratio was 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
113th
of 189 countries
All-time high
2,680 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 1935
All-time low
28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births
in 2020
Years of data
121
1900–2020
Maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka, 1900–2020
Source: UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 live births.
Analysis
In 2020, maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka stood at 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is the lowest value across all 121 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.3% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka peaked at 2,680 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1935 and was at its lowest, 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births, in 2020.
Sri Lanka ranks 113th of 189 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.
Maternal mortality ratio in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1,721 deaths per 100,000 live births | — |
| 1901 | 1,540 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.5% |
| 1902 | 1,627 deaths per 100,000 live births | +5.6% |
| 1903 | 1,454 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.7% |
| 1904 | 1,391 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1905 | 1,484 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.7% |
| 1906 | 1,686 deaths per 100,000 live births | +13.6% |
| 1907 | 1,496 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.3% |
| 1908 | 1,534 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.5% |
| 1909 | 1,378 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.2% |
| 1910 | 903.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -34.4% |
| 1911 | 2,327 deaths per 100,000 live births | +157.5% |
| 1912 | 2,331 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 1913 | 2,029 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.0% |
| 1914 | 2,494 deaths per 100,000 live births | +22.9% |
| 1915 | 2,330 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 1916 | 2,298 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 1917 | 2,045 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.0% |
| 1918 | 2,187 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.9% |
| 1919 | 2,270 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.8% |
| 1920 | 1,767 deaths per 100,000 live births | -22.2% |
| 1921 | 2,100 deaths per 100,000 live births | +18.8% |
| 1922 | 2,029 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1923 | 2,156 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.2% |
| 1924 | 1,910 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.4% |
| 1925 | 1,850 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1926 | 1,910 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.2% |
| 1927 | 1,750 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.4% |
| 1928 | 1,918 deaths per 100,000 live births | +9.6% |
| 1929 | 2,036 deaths per 100,000 live births | +6.1% |
| 1930 | 2,136 deaths per 100,000 live births | +4.9% |
| 1931 | 2,080 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1932 | 1,917 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.8% |
| 1933 | 1,857 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1934 | 2,012 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.3% |
| 1935 | 2,680 deaths per 100,000 live births | +33.2% |
| 1936 | 2,165 deaths per 100,000 live births | -19.2% |
| 1937 | 1,992 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 1938 | 2,013 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 1939 | 1,824 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.4% |
| 1940 | 1,607 deaths per 100,000 live births | -11.9% |
| 1941 | 1,532 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 1942 | 1,445 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 1943 | 1,335 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 1944 | 1,365 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.3% |
| 1945 | 1,694 deaths per 100,000 live births | +24.1% |
| 1946 | 1,552 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.4% |
| 1947 | 1,056 deaths per 100,000 live births | -32.0% |
| 1948 | 826.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | -21.7% |
| 1949 | 654.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | -20.8% |
| 1950 | 555.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.1% |
| 1951 | 577.05 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 579.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 485.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.4% |
| 1954 | 456.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 1955 | 422.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1956 | 386.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.5% |
| 1957 | 378.32 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 1958 | 381.61 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 347.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.0% |
| 1960 | 311.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.3% |
| 1961 | 269.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -13.5% |
| 1962 | 308.09 deaths per 100,000 live births | +14.3% |
| 1963 | 248.39 deaths per 100,000 live births | -19.4% |
| 1964 | 274.22 deaths per 100,000 live births | +10.4% |
| 1965 | 239.52 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.7% |
| 1966 | 220.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.0% |
| 1967 | 165.66 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.8% |
| 1968 | 180.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | +8.8% |
| 1969 | 153.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.0% |
| 1970 | 145.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1971 | 136.15 deaths per 100,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 1972 | 133.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 120.93 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 1974 | 102.49 deaths per 100,000 live births | -15.3% |
| 1975 | 102.43 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 93.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.0% |
| 1977 | 96.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 84.23 deaths per 100,000 live births | -12.4% |
| 1979 | 75.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.0% |
| 1980 | 63.57 deaths per 100,000 live births | -16.2% |
| 1981 | 57.67 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 1982 | 62.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.5% |
| 1983 | 62.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 47.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | -24.5% |
| 1985 | 69.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | +47.2% |
| 1986 | 69.45 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 62.53 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.0% |
| 1988 | 62.35 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 61.04 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 59.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 59.02 deaths per 100,000 live births | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 56.47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 55.8 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 50.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.2% |
| 1995 | 51.98 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 52.69 deaths per 100,000 live births | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 52.71 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 47 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.8% |
| 1999 | 50.5 deaths per 100,000 live births | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 61.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | +20.9% |
| 2001 | 54.7 deaths per 100,000 live births | -10.4% |
| 2002 | 51.99 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 49.74 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 48.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 44.01 deaths per 100,000 live births | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 40.75 deaths per 100,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 39.46 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 39.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 39.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 37.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 36.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 34.63 deaths per 100,000 live births | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 33.44 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 30.16 deaths per 100,000 live births | -9.8% |
| 2015 | 30.37 deaths per 100,000 live births | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 29.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 30.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 30.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 29.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | -3.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.11 deaths per 100,000 live births, 56% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births is below the median for South Asia, which is 81.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 35% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | +157.5% | 903.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2,327 deaths per 100,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 1,531 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,378 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,721 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,121 deaths per 100,000 live births | 903.82 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2,494 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1920s | 1,943 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,750 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2,156 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1930s | 2,067 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,824 deaths per 100,000 live births | 2,680 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,307 deaths per 100,000 live births | 654.55 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1,694 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1950s | 457.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | 347.29 deaths per 100,000 live births | 579.85 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 237.1 deaths per 100,000 live births | 153.18 deaths per 100,000 live births | 311.68 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 109.03 deaths per 100,000 live births | 75.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 145.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | 47.42 deaths per 100,000 live births | 69.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.62 deaths per 100,000 live births | 47 deaths per 100,000 live births | 59.34 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.86 deaths per 100,000 live births | 39.13 deaths per 100,000 live births | 61.08 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.25 deaths per 100,000 live births | 29.81 deaths per 100,000 live births | 37.26 deaths per 100,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 110 Puerto Rico 34.34 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 111 Uzbekistan 30.18 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 112 Syria 29.92 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 114 Thailand 28.6 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 115 Georgia 27.61 deaths per 100,000 live births compare
- 116 Armenia 27.19 deaths 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 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2,680 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1935.
- What is the lowest maternal mortality ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.84 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for maternal mortality ratio?
- Sri Lanka ranks 113th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is maternal mortality ratio rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UN MMEIG (2023) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Maternal mortality ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of women who die from maternal conditions per 100,000 live births, based on data from death certificates, large-scale surveys, and statistical modeling.