Number of children who die before age 5 in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of children who die before age 5 was 2,041 deaths in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2,041 deaths
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
95th
of 236 countries
All-time high
42,483 deaths
in 1950
All-time low
2,041 deaths
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children who die before age 5 in Sri Lanka, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children who die before age 5 in Sri Lanka is 2,041 deaths, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 43.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children who die before age 5 in Sri Lanka peaked at 42,483 deaths in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2,041 deaths, in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 95th 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.
Number of children who die before age 5 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 42,483 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 41,340 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1952 | 40,341 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1953 | 39,335 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 38,318 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1955 | 37,280 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1956 | 36,176 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1957 | 35,459 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 34,742 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 33,975 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1960 | 32,969 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1961 | 31,856 deaths | -3.4% |
| 1962 | 30,983 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1963 | 30,369 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1964 | 29,981 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 29,330 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 28,754 deaths | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 28,454 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 27,989 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1969 | 27,473 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 26,971 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 26,389 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 25,914 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 25,236 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 24,481 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1975 | 23,750 deaths | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 23,064 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 22,208 deaths | -3.7% |
| 1978 | 21,797 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 20,737 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1980 | 19,412 deaths | -6.4% |
| 1981 | 18,073 deaths | -6.9% |
| 1982 | 15,984 deaths | -11.6% |
| 1983 | 14,161 deaths | -11.4% |
| 1984 | 12,355 deaths | -12.8% |
| 1985 | 10,847 deaths | -12.2% |
| 1986 | 9,644 deaths | -11.1% |
| 1987 | 8,764 deaths | -9.1% |
| 1988 | 8,099 deaths | -7.6% |
| 1989 | 9,318 deaths | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 7,579 deaths | -18.7% |
| 1991 | 7,404 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 7,284 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 7,193 deaths | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 7,107 deaths | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 6,944 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 6,836 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 6,435 deaths | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 6,143 deaths | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 6,001 deaths | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 5,970 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 5,966 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 5,850 deaths | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 5,752 deaths | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 11,002 deaths | +91.3% |
| 2005 | 5,206 deaths | -52.7% |
| 2006 | 5,040 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 4,843 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 4,558 deaths | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 7,986 deaths | +75.2% |
| 2010 | 4,048 deaths | -49.3% |
| 2011 | 3,921 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 3,742 deaths | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 3,589 deaths | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 3,375 deaths | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 3,107 deaths | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 2,966 deaths | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 2,873 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 2,595 deaths | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 2,493 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 2,338 deaths | -6.2% |
| 2021 | 2,237 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 2,136 deaths | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 2,041 deaths | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 37,945 deaths | 33,975 deaths | 42,483 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 29,816 deaths | 27,473 deaths | 32,969 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 24,055 deaths | 20,737 deaths | 26,971 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,666 deaths | 8,099 deaths | 19,412 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,893 deaths | 6,001 deaths | 7,579 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,217 deaths | 4,558 deaths | 11,002 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,271 deaths | 2,493 deaths | 4,048 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,188 deaths | 2,041 deaths | 2,338 deaths | 4 |
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 60-64, female, annual growth rate -0.693 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0274 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate -0.5696 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0233 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children who die before age 5 in Sri Lanka?
- Number of children who die before age 5 in Sri Lanka was 2,041 deaths in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children who die before age 5 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 42,483 deaths in 1950.
- What is the lowest number of children who die before age 5 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,041 deaths in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of children who die before age 5?
- Sri Lanka ranks 95th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children who die before age 5 rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children who die before age 5. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of deaths in a calendar year. This only includes people aged 0-4.