Neonatal mortality rate (United Nations) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Neonatal mortality rate (United Nations) was 0.396 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.396 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
143rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
4.64 deaths per 100 live births
in 1952
All-time low
0.396 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
73
1952–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in Sri Lanka, 1952–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 0.396 deaths per 100 live births for neonatal mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 73 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.8% on the previous year and down 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 4.64 deaths per 100 live births in 1952 and was at its lowest, 0.396 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
Sri Lanka ranks 143rd of 199 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.
Neonatal mortality rate (United Nations) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 4.64 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1953 | 4.59 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1954 | 4.55 deaths per 100 live births | -1.0% |
| 1955 | 4.49 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 1956 | 4.41 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1957 | 4.31 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1958 | 4.2 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1959 | 4.09 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 3.99 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1961 | 3.89 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 3.82 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 3.77 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 3.71 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1965 | 3.64 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 3.57 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 3.5 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 3.42 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 3.33 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1970 | 3.23 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1971 | 3.11 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1972 | 2.99 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1973 | 2.86 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1974 | 2.74 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 2.63 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 2.54 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 2.48 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 2.45 deaths per 100 live births | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 2.44 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 2.34 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 2.1 deaths per 100 live births | -10.3% |
| 1982 | 1.83 deaths per 100 live births | -12.9% |
| 1983 | 1.69 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1984 | 1.66 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 1.68 deaths per 100 live births | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 1.68 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 1.65 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 1.59 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1989 | 1.51 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 1.42 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 1.37 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 1.33 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 1.31 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 1.29 deaths per 100 live births | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 1.27 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 1.23 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 1.16 deaths per 100 live births | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 1.09 deaths per 100 live births | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 1.02 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 0.9699 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 0.9425 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 0.9187 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 0.8644 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 0.7945 deaths per 100 live births | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 0.6858 deaths per 100 live births | -13.7% |
| 2006 | 0.6567 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 0.6654 deaths per 100 live births | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 0.6692 deaths per 100 live births | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 0.6676 deaths per 100 live births | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 0.6292 deaths per 100 live births | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 0.6162 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 0.6045 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 0.5853 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 0.5592 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 0.5347 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 0.5172 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 0.5055 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 0.4947 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 0.4808 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 0.4639 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 0.446 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 0.428 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 0.4118 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 0.396 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.396 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7725 deaths per 100 live births, 51% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 0.396 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for South Asia, which is 1.13 deaths per 100 live births, 35% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.41 deaths per 100 live births | 4.09 deaths per 100 live births | 4.64 deaths per 100 live births | 8 |
| 1960s | 3.66 deaths per 100 live births | 3.33 deaths per 100 live births | 3.99 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.75 deaths per 100 live births | 2.44 deaths per 100 live births | 3.23 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.77 deaths per 100 live births | 1.51 deaths per 100 live births | 2.34 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.25 deaths per 100 live births | 1.02 deaths per 100 live births | 1.42 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7835 deaths per 100 live births | 0.6567 deaths per 100 live births | 0.9699 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5527 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4808 deaths per 100 live births | 0.6292 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4291 deaths per 100 live births | 0.396 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4639 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 140 Cuba 0.4255 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 141 Tonga 0.4146 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 142 Uruguay 0.4049 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 144 Kazakhstan 0.3943 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 145 Qatar 0.3806 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 146 Maldives 0.367 deaths per 100 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0353 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in Sri Lanka?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Sri Lanka was 0.396 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 4.64 deaths per 100 live births in 1952.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.396 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 143rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days, per 100 live births .