Number of under-five deaths (World Health) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of under-five deaths (World Health) was 1,898 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of under-five deaths in Sri Lanka, 1956–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, number of under-five deaths in Sri Lanka stood at 1,898. That is the lowest value across all 69 years on record.
The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of under-five deaths in Sri Lanka peaked at 36,132 in 1956 and was at its lowest, 1,898, in 2024.
That places Sri Lanka 96th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of under-five deaths (World Health) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 36,132 | — |
| 1957 | 35,179 | -2.6% |
| 1958 | 34,156 | -2.9% |
| 1959 | 33,009 | -3.4% |
| 1960 | 31,785 | -3.7% |
| 1961 | 30,721 | -3.3% |
| 1962 | 30,145 | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 29,924 | -0.7% |
| 1964 | 29,705 | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 29,192 | -1.7% |
| 1966 | 28,479 | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 27,923 | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 27,417 | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 26,876 | -2.0% |
| 1970 | 26,511 | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 26,170 | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 25,834 | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 25,408 | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 24,730 | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 24,026 | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 23,304 | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 22,326 | -4.2% |
| 1978 | 21,365 | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 20,458 | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 19,278 | -5.8% |
| 1981 | 17,982 | -6.7% |
| 1982 | 16,356 | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 14,455 | -11.6% |
| 1984 | 12,683 | -12.3% |
| 1985 | 11,017 | -13.1% |
| 1986 | 9,595 | -12.9% |
| 1987 | 8,617 | -10.2% |
| 1988 | 8,027 | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 9,272 | +15.5% |
| 1990 | 7,780 | -16.1% |
| 1991 | 7,725 | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 7,609 | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 7,467 | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 7,276 | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 7,012 | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 6,666 | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 6,283 | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 5,905 | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 5,653 | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 5,602 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 5,663 | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 5,716 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 5,682 | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 10,871 | +91.3% |
| 2005 | 5,283 | -51.4% |
| 2006 | 5,054 | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 4,834 | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 4,569 | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 8,044 | +76.1% |
| 2010 | 4,071 | -49.4% |
| 2011 | 3,894 | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 3,733 | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 3,549 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 3,323 | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 3,085 | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 2,879 | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 2,710 | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 2,567 | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 2,435 | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 2,307 | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 2,188 | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 2,081 | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 1,987 | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 1,898 | -4.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1,898 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,440, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1,898 is below the median for South Asia, which is 8,078, 23% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of under-five deaths (World Health) 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 | +91.3% | 5,682 | 10,871 |
| 2009 | +76.1% | 4,569 | 8,044 |
| 2005 | -51.4% | 10,871 | 5,283 |
| 2010 | -49.4% | 8,044 | 4,071 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34,619 | 33,009 | 36,132 | 4 |
| 1960s | 29,217 | 26,876 | 31,785 | 10 |
| 1970s | 24,013 | 20,458 | 26,511 | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,728 | 8,027 | 19,278 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,938 | 5,653 | 7,780 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,132 | 4,569 | 10,871 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,225 | 2,435 | 4,071 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,092 | 1,898 | 2,307 | 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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,250 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 304 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of under-five deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Number of under-five deaths in Sri Lanka was 1,898 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest number of under-five deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 36,132 in 1956.
- What is the lowest number of under-five deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,898 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of under-five deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 96th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of under-five 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 World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Number of under-five deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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