Sri Lanka has experienced its first population decline in 12 years, according to the latest findings from the Registrar General's Department.
The annual survey, spearheaded by Professor Wasantha Athukorala from the University of Peradeniya's Department of Economics and Statistics, highlights a notable decrease of 144,000 individuals in 2023 compared to the previous year, marking a 0.6% drop.
Factors contributing to this decline include a rise in mortality rates, a decrease in birth rates, and an uptick in emigration. Specifically, births in 2023 decreased by 27,421 compared to the preceding year, while deaths witnessed an 8% increase.
Moreover, the report notes a decline of 19,784 marriages, painting a comprehensive picture of shifting demographic trends in the island nation.