Number of infant deaths (UN Inter-agency) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of infant deaths (UN Inter-agency) was 1,663 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of infant deaths in Sri Lanka, 1960–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of infant deaths in Sri Lanka is 1,663, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.3% on the previous year and down 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of infant deaths in Sri Lanka peaked at 19,763 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 1,663, in 2024.
Sri Lanka ranks 94th of 197 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 infant deaths (UN Inter-agency) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 19,763 | — |
| 1961 | 19,234 | -2.7% |
| 1962 | 19,051 | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 19,180 | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 19,352 | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 19,286 | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 19,024 | -1.4% |
| 1967 | 18,894 | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 18,750 | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 18,488 | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 18,329 | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 18,152 | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 17,993 | -0.9% |
| 1973 | 17,776 | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 17,355 | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 16,983 | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 16,638 | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 16,063 | -3.5% |
| 1978 | 15,499 | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 14,930 | -3.7% |
| 1980 | 14,035 | -6.0% |
| 1981 | 13,026 | -7.2% |
| 1982 | 11,711 | -10.1% |
| 1983 | 10,202 | -12.9% |
| 1984 | 8,938 | -12.4% |
| 1985 | 7,812 | -12.6% |
| 1986 | 6,875 | -12.0% |
| 1987 | 6,269 | -8.8% |
| 1988 | 5,936 | -5.3% |
| 1989 | 6,445 | +8.6% |
| 1990 | 5,974 | -7.3% |
| 1991 | 5,994 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 5,956 | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 5,900 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 5,793 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 5,610 | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 5,335 | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 5,020 | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 4,708 | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 4,515 | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 4,510 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 4,593 | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 4,643 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 4,597 | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 6,361 | +38.4% |
| 2005 | 4,231 | -33.5% |
| 2006 | 4,055 | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 3,895 | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 3,688 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 4,914 | +33.2% |
| 2010 | 3,296 | -32.9% |
| 2011 | 3,177 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 3,079 | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 2,956 | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 2,783 | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 2,591 | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 2,428 | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 2,299 | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 2,193 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 2,094 | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 1,994 | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 1,900 | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 1,814 | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 1,737 | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 1,663 | -4.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1,663 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 968, 1.7× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1,663 is below the median for South Asia, which is 7,125, 23% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of infant deaths (UN Inter-agency) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +38.4% | 4,597 | 6,361 |
| 2009 | +33.2% | 3,688 | 4,914 |
| 2005 | -33.5% | 6,361 | 4,231 |
| 2010 | -32.9% | 4,914 | 3,296 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19,102 | 18,488 | 19,763 | 10 |
| 1970s | 16,972 | 14,930 | 18,329 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,125 | 5,936 | 14,035 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,480 | 4,515 | 5,994 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,549 | 3,688 | 6,361 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,690 | 2,094 | 3,296 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,822 | 1,663 | 1,994 | 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)
- 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 number of infant deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Number of infant deaths in Sri Lanka was 1,663 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest number of infant deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 19,763 in 1960.
- What is the lowest number of infant deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,663 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of infant deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 94th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of infant deaths rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Number of infant deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of infants dying before reaching one year of age.