Sri Lanka Births Hit Decade Low Amid Economic Crisis

Sri Lanka recorded 214,570 live births in 2025, the lowest annual figure in over a decade. According to data from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, this represents a decline of nearly 120,000 births compared to 2015. The downward trend accelerated after 2019, with births falling approximately 33 percent between 2019 and 2025.

Government officials note that the country requires between 330,000 and 360,000 annual births to maintain population stability. The Government of Sri Lanka attributes the decline to a cost-of-living crisis, youth migration, and delayed marriages. Shifting social attitudes regarding female employment and family planning also contributed to the trend.

Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj announced that the state will provide support and incentives to encourage childbirth. These proactive measures aim to mitigate long-term economic risks associated with an aging population and a shrinking workforce.