Terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Terrorism deaths was 1 deaths in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka, 1970–2021
Source: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka stood at 1 deaths.
Over the whole period, terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka peaked at 1,822 deaths in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0 deaths, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 50th of 188 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.
Terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1971 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1972 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1973 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1974 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1975 | 1 deaths | — |
| 1976 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1977 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1978 | 0 deaths | — |
| 1979 | 2 deaths | — |
| 1980 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1981 | 3 deaths | — |
| 1982 | 7 deaths | +133.3% |
| 1983 | 6 deaths | -14.3% |
| 1984 | 485 deaths | +7983.3% |
| 1985 | 611 deaths | +26.0% |
| 1986 | 690 deaths | +12.9% |
| 1987 | 1,274 deaths | +84.6% |
| 1988 | 885 deaths | -30.5% |
| 1989 | 1,822 deaths | +105.9% |
| 1990 | 1,393 deaths | -23.5% |
| 1991 | 1,034 deaths | -25.8% |
| 1992 | 984 deaths | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 186 deaths | -81.1% |
| 1995 | 1,020 deaths | +448.4% |
| 1996 | 827 deaths | -18.9% |
| 1997 | 468 deaths | -43.4% |
| 1998 | 680 deaths | +45.3% |
| 1999 | 212 deaths | -68.8% |
| 2000 | 432 deaths | +103.8% |
| 2001 | 195 deaths | -54.9% |
| 2002 | 3 deaths | -98.5% |
| 2003 | 23 deaths | +666.7% |
| 2004 | 30 deaths | +30.4% |
| 2005 | 125 deaths | +316.7% |
| 2006 | 948 deaths | +658.4% |
| 2007 | 410 deaths | -56.8% |
| 2008 | 353 deaths | -13.9% |
| 2009 | 201 deaths | -43.1% |
| 2010 | 2 deaths | -99.0% |
| 2011 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2012 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2013 | 0 deaths | — |
| 2014 | 3 deaths | — |
| 2015 | 3 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 1 deaths | — |
| 2018 | 3 deaths | +200.0% |
| 2019 | 266 deaths | +8766.7% |
| 2020 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 1 deaths | — |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1 deaths is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.5 deaths, 2.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Terrorism deaths 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +8766.7% | 3 deaths | 266 deaths |
| 1984 | +7983.3% | 6 deaths | 485 deaths |
| 2003 | +666.7% | 3 deaths | 23 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.3 deaths | 0 deaths | 2 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 578.3 deaths | 0 deaths | 1,822 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 756 deaths | 186 deaths | 1,393 deaths | 9 |
| 2000s | 272 deaths | 3 deaths | 948 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.8 deaths | 0 deaths | 266 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5 deaths | 0 deaths | 1 deaths | 2 |
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)
- 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 terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka was 1 deaths in 2021, according to National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest terrorism deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1,822 deaths in 1989.
- What is the lowest terrorism deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 deaths in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for terrorism deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 50th out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Terrorism deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Confirmed deaths, including all victims and attackers who died because of a terrorist attack.