Sri Lanka recorded its lowest annual number of live births in a decade in 2025, with births declining by nearly 120,000 over the past 10 years, according to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said the government plans to introduce support and incentives to encourage childbirth as the country's birth rate continues to decline.

Official data shows live births fell from 319,010 in 2019 to 214,570 in 2025, marking an approximate 33% decrease.

Authorities attribute the decline to delayed marriages, lower marriage rates, rising living costs, migration of young people, overseas employment separating spouses, smaller family preferences, increased female participation in education and employment, family planning, and fertility-related issues.

Officials noted that Sri Lanka requires around 330,000–360,000 live births annually to maintain long-term population stability, well above the 214,570 births recorded in 2025.