Title: Demographic situation of Sri Lanka.

POPLINE Document Number: 076493

Author(s):

Fernando N

Source citation:

In: Seventh Asian Parliamentarians' Meeting on Population and Development, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 25-26 February 1991, [compiled by] Asian Population and Development Association. [Tokyo, Japan], Asian Population and Development Association, 1991. :77-86.

Abstract:

The demographic changes in population size and growth, mortality, mortality among subgroups, and fertility trends are described and expected population growth and changes in the age structure are presented for Sri Lanka. Improvement has been made in reducing the growth rate from 1.8 to 1.4%, the birth rate from 28.4 to 21.3 births/1000, the fertility rate from 3.4 to 2.5 children/women, the infant mortality rate from 34.4 to 19.4 deaths/1000 births, and the neonatal mortality rate from 22.7 to 16 deaths/1000 births; maternal mortality has remained low at .6/1000 births. Total population is expected to be 17.1 million in mid-1990, which is an increase of 2 million over 10 years. Emigration has affected this growth. The current situation is reflective of natural increase. The declining rate of natural increase to 1.5% is due to a decline in the birth rate, a stable death rate, and emigration. The target is a 1% rate of growth. Data were obtained from the vital registration system which reports at the national and district levels; unfortunately, socioeconomic differentials in mortality are not available from the registration system, but from the Demographic and Health Survey in 1987. The crude death rate has remained almost constant at 6.2/1000 population. Life expectancy in 1981 was 67.6 years for males and 72.1 for females. Infant mortality was reduced by 33% over the decade and child mortality, which was already at low levels, was reduced by 10%. Children are more vulnerable when mothers have low levels of education. Type of place of residence also affects infant and child mortality levels, i.e., infant mortality is higher is urban areas, and child mortality is higher in rural areas. Both infant and child mortality are high on estates. Fertility decline is attributed to declines at older ages (>30 years) for fertility in the 1970s-80s, while in the recent past, the decline is related to declines at younger ages. Colombo city and urban areas has the lowest fertility rate of 2.1/women. Estates have the highest rates at 3.3 followed by rain-fed and irrigated dry areas. Age at 1st marriage has increased to 25 years and contributed 27.6% to the decline in fertility between 1971-81. 54% of the decline in the 1980s is related to marital fertility declines due to contraceptive use. The population is expected to increase to 20 million by 2001.

Keywords:

Sri Lanka
Critique
Demographic Factors
Birth Rate
Infant Mortality
Child Mortality
Natural Increase
Population Growth
Fertility Decline
Fertility Rate
Population Projection
Age Distribution
Educational Status
Women
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Population
Fertility Measurements
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Mortality
Fertility Changes
Estimation Technics
Research Methodology
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Socioeconomic Status
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors