Number of child deaths in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of child deaths was 1,898 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1,898 deaths
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
96th
of 199 countries
All-time high
36,132 deaths
in 1956
All-time low
1,898 deaths
in 2024
Years of data
69
1956–2024
Number of child deaths in Sri Lanka, 1956–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 1,898 deaths for number of child deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 69 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths in Sri Lanka peaked at 36,132 deaths in 1956 and was at its lowest, 1,898 deaths, in 2024.
Sri Lanka ranks 96th 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.
Number of child deaths in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 36,132 deaths | — |
| 1957 | 35,179 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1958 | 34,156 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1959 | 33,009 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1960 | 31,785 deaths | -3.7% |
| 1961 | 30,721 deaths | -3.3% |
| 1962 | 30,145 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 29,924 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1964 | 29,705 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 29,192 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1966 | 28,479 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 27,923 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 27,417 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 26,876 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1970 | 26,511 deaths | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 26,170 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 25,834 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 25,408 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 24,730 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 24,026 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 23,304 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 22,326 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1978 | 21,365 deaths | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 20,458 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 19,278 deaths | -5.8% |
| 1981 | 17,982 deaths | -6.7% |
| 1982 | 16,356 deaths | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 14,455 deaths | -11.6% |
| 1984 | 12,683 deaths | -12.3% |
| 1985 | 11,017 deaths | -13.1% |
| 1986 | 9,595 deaths | -12.9% |
| 1987 | 8,617 deaths | -10.2% |
| 1988 | 8,027 deaths | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 9,272 deaths | +15.5% |
| 1990 | 7,780 deaths | -16.1% |
| 1991 | 7,725 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 7,609 deaths | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 7,467 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 7,276 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 7,012 deaths | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 6,666 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 6,283 deaths | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 5,905 deaths | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 5,653 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 5,602 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 5,663 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 5,716 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 5,682 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 10,871 deaths | +91.3% |
| 2005 | 5,283 deaths | -51.4% |
| 2006 | 5,054 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 4,834 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 4,569 deaths | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 8,044 deaths | +76.1% |
| 2010 | 4,071 deaths | -49.4% |
| 2011 | 3,894 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 3,733 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 3,549 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 3,323 deaths | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 3,085 deaths | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 2,879 deaths | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 2,710 deaths | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 2,567 deaths | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 2,435 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 2,307 deaths | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 2,188 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 2,081 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 1,987 deaths | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 1,898 deaths | -4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34,619 deaths | 33,009 deaths | 36,132 deaths | 4 |
| 1960s | 29,217 deaths | 26,876 deaths | 31,785 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 24,013 deaths | 20,458 deaths | 26,511 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,728 deaths | 8,027 deaths | 19,278 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,938 deaths | 5,653 deaths | 7,780 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,132 deaths | 4,569 deaths | 10,871 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,225 deaths | 2,435 deaths | 4,071 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,092 deaths | 1,898 deaths | 2,307 deaths | 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0197 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 0.7895 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0202 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Number of child deaths in Sri Lanka was 1,898 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 36,132 deaths in 1956.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,898 deaths in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of child deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 96th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. 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 Number of child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under 5 .