Sri Lanka's Population Declines for First Time in 12 Years

COLOMBO (News 1st) - According to an annual survey by the the Registrar General's Department, Sri Lanka's population has seen its first decline in 12 years.

Professor Wasantha Athukorala, who participated in the survey from the Department of Economics and Statistics of the University of Peradeniya, revealed that Sri Lanka's population dropped by 144,000 in 2023 compared to 2022. That is a 0.6% decrease.

The survey data suggests a combination of factors contributing to this decline.

These include an increase in the death rate, a decrease in the birth rate, and a rise in emigration.

Compared to the previous year, the number of births in 2023 fell by 27,421. The number of deaths has gone up by 8%.

The report also indicates a decrease of 19,784 marriages.