Sri Lanka's annual live births drop to lowest level in ten years

A decrease of nearly 120,000 live births occurred in Sri Lanka over the past decade leading up to 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

Necessary support and incentives will be provided by the government to encourage childbirth amid the declining birth rate, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated.

The country's live birth numbers fell continuously between 2015 and 2025, with the downward trend sharpening significantly after 2019. Official statistics indicate that Sri Lanka registered 319,010 live births in 2019.

The number dropped to 301,706 in 2020, 284,848 in 2021, 275,321 in 2022, 247,900 in 2023, 220,761 in 2024, and 214,570 in 2025. This data represents an approximate 33 per cent drop in live births from 2019 to 2025.

Several contributing factors were identified by authorities for the downward trend, including delayed marriages, declining marriage rates, high living expenses, and the migration of young citizens within the reproductive age bracket.

The separation of married couples due to foreign employment and an increasing desire for smaller family units also accelerates the drop.

Additionally, greater female enrollment in higher education and the workforce, evolving perceptions of family planning, contraception usage, and fertility challenges fuel the lower statistics.

An estimated 330,000 to 360,000 live births are necessary each year to sustain long-term population stability, officials noted.

The 214,570 births documented in 2025 fall far short of that required benchmark.