Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, are increasingly delaying parenthood due to economic challenges such as rising living costs and persistent financial uncertainty, leading to a declining birth rate in Sri Lanka, a top academic has warned.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025 World Population Report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Professor Lakshman Dissanayake, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, said that while many young couples wish to have more children, economic conditions often discourage them from doing so.

He cautioned that this trend of postponing childbirth could push Sri Lanka into a “sub-fertility trap,” where the population replacement rate drops below sustainable levels.

According to the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), Sri Lanka’s population growth rate has fallen to a historic low of 0.5%—the lowest since records began in 1871. The DCS noted a significant decline particularly in the Colombo District, where the annual growth rate dropped from 1.43% to just 0.17%.

Professor Dissanayake emphasized that the fertility decline is not due to a change in people’s preferences, but rather systemic failures. He added that financial instability has led many people to delay marriage until their late 30s.

Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, also pointed out that Sri Lanka’s population is ageing, while the workforce is shrinking due to lower birth rates. He said that difficulties in finding stable employment and rising living expenses further worsen the situation.

UNFPA data indicates that the current fertility rate in Sri Lanka stands at 1.9 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1.

The 2025 UNFPA report, titled “The Real Fertility Crisis,” notes that while Sri Lanka experienced a population boom in the 1900s, it has now shifted toward a steep population decline since 2010.

Testimonials included in the report highlight personal struggles, such as one parent stating, “I have one child but don’t plan on having any more. I am unable to do so due to financial instability, precarious employment, unaffordable housing, and the high cost of childcare and education.”