Number of deaths in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of deaths was 162,453 deaths in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
162,453 deaths
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
63rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
169,409 deaths
in 2021
All-time low
95,515 deaths
in 1968
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of deaths 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 deaths in Sri Lanka is 162,453 deaths, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in Sri Lanka peaked at 169,409 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 95,515 deaths, in 1968.
Sri Lanka ranks 63rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Number of deaths in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 148,586 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 141,806 deaths | -4.6% |
| 1952 | 135,166 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1953 | 129,485 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1954 | 124,283 deaths | -4.0% |
| 1955 | 119,663 deaths | -3.7% |
| 1956 | 115,434 deaths | -3.5% |
| 1957 | 112,244 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1958 | 108,964 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1959 | 106,065 deaths | -2.7% |
| 1960 | 103,368 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 101,011 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1962 | 99,340 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 98,238 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 97,640 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 96,647 deaths | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 96,012 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 95,559 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 95,515 deaths | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 95,646 deaths | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 96,169 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 98,261 deaths | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 98,019 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 98,829 deaths | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 99,535 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 99,444 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 98,995 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 98,173 deaths | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 98,315 deaths | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 97,126 deaths | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 96,560 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 96,736 deaths | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 96,705 deaths | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 97,987 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 99,568 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 100,714 deaths | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 102,691 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 105,171 deaths | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 107,851 deaths | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 121,926 deaths | +13.1% |
| 1990 | 111,340 deaths | -8.7% |
| 1991 | 113,953 deaths | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 113,503 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 113,875 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 116,005 deaths | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 122,738 deaths | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 125,676 deaths | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 128,520 deaths | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 130,270 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 131,555 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 127,967 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 127,046 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 126,875 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 128,929 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 165,637 deaths | +28.5% |
| 2005 | 129,685 deaths | -21.7% |
| 2006 | 134,966 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 137,176 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 143,310 deaths | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 165,718 deaths | +15.6% |
| 2010 | 133,676 deaths | -19.3% |
| 2011 | 134,596 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 133,879 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 134,377 deaths | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 136,637 deaths | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 139,041 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 142,273 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 145,951 deaths | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 148,576 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 151,041 deaths | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 153,685 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 169,409 deaths | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 159,013 deaths | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 162,453 deaths | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 124,170 deaths | 106,065 deaths | 148,586 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 97,898 deaths | 95,515 deaths | 103,368 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 98,287 deaths | 96,169 deaths | 99,535 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 102,591 deaths | 96,560 deaths | 121,926 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 120,744 deaths | 111,340 deaths | 131,555 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 138,731 deaths | 126,875 deaths | 165,718 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 140,005 deaths | 133,676 deaths | 151,041 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 161,140 deaths | 153,685 deaths | 169,409 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 0-14, female, annual growth rate -2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1064 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -2.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1106 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Number of deaths in Sri Lanka was 162,453 deaths in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 169,409 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 95,515 deaths in 1968.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 63rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of deaths rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of deaths in a calendar year.