Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 5.88 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling
Under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sri Lanka, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 5.88 per 1,000 live births for under-five mortality rate, by sex in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and down 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sri Lanka peaked at 29.01 per 1,000 live births in 2004 and was at its lowest, 5.88 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.
That places Sri Lanka 160th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.27 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 15.83 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 15.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 15.17 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 29.01 per 1,000 live births | +91.2% |
| 2005 | 14.04 per 1,000 live births | -51.6% |
| 2006 | 13.31 per 1,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 12.63 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 12.03 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 21.46 per 1,000 live births | +78.3% |
| 2010 | 11.18 per 1,000 live births | -47.9% |
| 2011 | 10.79 per 1,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 10.32 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 9.78 per 1,000 live births | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 9.24 per 1,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 8.74 per 1,000 live births | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 8.29 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 7.91 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 7.56 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 7.23 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 6.92 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 6.62 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 6.35 per 1,000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 6.1 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 5.88 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.88 per 1,000 live births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13 per 1,000 live births, 45% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5.88 per 1,000 live births is below the median for South Asia, which is 21.14 per 1,000 live births, 28% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) 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 | +91.2% | 15.17 per 1,000 live births | 29.01 per 1,000 live births |
| 2009 | +78.3% | 12.03 per 1,000 live births | 21.46 per 1,000 live births |
| 2005 | -51.6% | 29.01 per 1,000 live births | 14.04 per 1,000 live births |
| 2010 | -47.9% | 21.46 per 1,000 live births | 11.18 per 1,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.52 per 1,000 live births | 12.03 per 1,000 live births | 29.01 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.11 per 1,000 live births | 7.23 per 1,000 live births | 11.18 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.37 per 1,000 live births | 5.88 per 1,000 live births | 6.92 per 1,000 live births | 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0353 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sri Lanka?
- Under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sri Lanka was 5.88 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 29.01 per 1,000 live births in 2004.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.88 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for under-five mortality rate, by sex?
- Sri Lanka ranks 160th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate, by sex rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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