The birth rate in Sri Lanka has declined to 1.9, falling below the required replacement level of 2.1, according to a recent report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Despite a strong desire among the country’s youth to start families, the current economic climate is a significant deterrent, the UNFPA noted.
The report highlights that the cost of living in Sri Lanka has doubled in recent years, creating a considerable financial burden. The rising costs of housing, food, and beverages have discouraged the younger generation from pursuing family life.
Insights gathered from interviews with Sri Lankan youth indicate that while many express a clear intention to start families, the prevailing economic hardships have compelled them to reconsider or delay such plans, the report further states.
— Nandana Sri Dorakumbura
