Sri Lanka is witnessing a dramatic drop in births, with official data showing the number of registered live births fell from about 328,400 in 2018 to 220,761 in 2024, recording nearly a 33% decline.
The Department of Census and Statistics reports a fall in new births compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the lowest birth figures in decades.
Officials have voiced alarm over the trend. In late 2023, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha cited Health Ministry data showing a steep decrease in annual births and warned of long-term consequences for the country’s schools and workforce.
Experts attribute the birth decline to a combination of factors. Sri Lanka’s fertility rate has been trending downward for years, reflecting smaller family size preferences and later childbearing. That long-term decline was exacerbated by recent crises.
The COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent economic collapse in 2022 created a double shock that led many couples to postpone marriages and pregnancies. (Newswire)
