The Department of Census and Statistics has confirmed a significant decrease in Sri Lanka’s annual birth rate between 2019 and 2022.

Accordingly, data gathered by the department showed that while there has been a continuous decrease in birth rates since 2014, Sri Lanka’s annual birth rate has had a drastic drop between 2019 and 2022.

The statistics revealed that there is a decrease of 6,401 in the number of registered births reported in 2023 and 2022, with a total of 268,920 births having been reported as of 01 July, 2023, while a total of 275,321 births were reported in 2022.

Meanwhile, 284,848 births were reported in the year 2021, while an even higher total of over 300,000 births was recorded in 2020.

Comparing the total number of registered births in 2023 and 2020, the Department of Census and Statistics recorded a staggering difference of 41,786 between the two years.

Social analysts have confirmed that various reasons, such as social and economic constraints, birth control plans, family planning methods and global pandemics have contributed towards peoples’ decisions to not have children. 

Commenting on this, chairperson of the Family Health Officers’ Association (FHOA) Devika Kodituwakku also noted that there is a significant increase in the number of adoptions across the country.

Speaking on the matter in Parliament this morning (08 Dec.), Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha too, stated that reports from the Ministry of Health have also confirmed a drastic decrease in Sri Lanka’s annual birth rate.