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…
Sri Lanka’s birth rate plummets by one-third since 2018
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