Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Under-five deaths was 1,898 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1,898
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
96th
of 201 countries
All-time high
36,132
in 1956
All-time low
1,898
in 2024
Years of data
69
1956–2024
Under-five deaths in Sri Lanka, 1956–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, under-five deaths in Sri Lanka stood at 1,898. That is the lowest value across all 69 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 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 201 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.
Under-five deaths 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 Under-five 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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)
- 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 under-five deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Under-five deaths in Sri Lanka was 1,898 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 36,132 in 1956.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,898 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for under-five deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 96th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is 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 UNICEF, published as part of Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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