Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant decline in births, with official figures showing that registered live births dropped from approximately 328,400 in 2018 to 220,761 in 2024, marking nearly a 33% decrease.
The Department of Census and Statistics notes that this represents the lowest number of births in decades, with figures falling below pre-COVID-19 levels.
Officials have expressed concern over the trend. In late 2023, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha cited Health Ministry data showing a sharp decline in annual births and warned of potential long-term impacts on the country’s schools and workforce.
Experts attribute the drop to multiple factors. Sri Lanka’s fertility rate has been decreasing for years, reflecting preferences for smaller families and delayed childbearing. This long-term decline was intensified by recent crises.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic collapse in 2022 created a dual shock, prompting many couples to postpone marriages and pregnancies, further accelerating the decline in birth rates.
