The number of live births has dropped by 20 per cent between the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic period and the deaths increased by 30 per cent, an expert said

Making his remarks during the UNFPA Policy Dialogue on Population Dynamics, Emeritus Professor of Demography Indralal De Silva said the live births reported in 2019 stood at 319,000, and it had declined to 247,000 in 2023 after the Covid-19 pandemic. In the meantime, he said the number of deaths increased from 146,000 to 181,000 during the period.

He attributed it to complications from Covid-19 and vaccination, and reasons such as economic recession that resulted in the lack of medicines, the use of inferior quality medicines, postponement of surgeries in the midst of the crisis and nutritional issues.

Prof. De Silva said the state sector hospitals were ‘bombarded with an influx of patients’ whereas moneyed patients sought treatment at expensive private hospitals.

Asserting that Sri Lankan population is ageing, he said such a phenomenon could be expected. He said 60 per cent of old people (above 60) are grappling with at least one non-communicable disease such as hypertension and heart ailments.

Priyantha Rathnayake, Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies, said the demographic transition underway in Sri Lanka is multifaceted.

“We are witnessing a decline in fertility rates, an increase in the proportion of older persons, and changing patterns of migration. While these shifts present challenges, they also offer unique opportunities for innovative and sustainable growth.

Declining fertility, while a sign of progress, as families have more control over their reproductive choices, it also presents challenges. A shrinking working-age population could mean reduced economic productivity and an increasing dependency ratio. This shift could put additional strain on our social services and economic systems. So, we need to rethink how we approach labour, productivity, and economic growth.

Our response to low fertility must be focused on advancing gender equality, ensuring equal opportunities in the workforce, and guaranteeing comprehensive services including sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.
In 2012, the population of older persons 60 years and above was 12.6 per cent, and it is projected to increase to a quarter of the population by 2041,” he said.

An ageing population, while a testament to improving health and longevity, places increasing pressure on our healthcare system, pension schemes, and long-term care facilities. Our healthcare systems, pension schemes, and social support networks will need to adapt quickly to meet the needs of an ageing society,” he said.

By Kelum Bandara