COLOMBO, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka recorded nearly 120,000 fewer live births in 2025 than in 2015, according to data released by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said on Monday the government would provide support and incentives to encourage childbirth as the country faces a continuing decline in births.
Official figures show that live births fell sharply after 2019. Sri Lanka recorded 319,010 live births in 2019, followed by 301,706 in 2020, 284,848 in 2021 and 275,321 in 2022.
The number declined further to 247,900 in 2023, 220,761 in 2024 and 214,570 in 2025, representing a drop of about 33 percent between 2019 and 2025.
Authorities attributed the decline to delayed marriages, falling marriage rates, rising living costs, youth migration, overseas employment that separates spouses, and a growing preference for smaller families.
Higher female participation in education and employment, changing attitudes toward family planning, contraceptive use and fertility-related issues have also contributed to the decline.
Officials said Sri Lanka needs between 330,000 and 360,000 live births annually to maintain long-term population stability. ■