CONTENT
Causes of death across Sri Lanka are changing because of Population Increase, Life Expectancy rise and Living Standard.On this below article we provide graphical representation of major causes of death in Sri Lanka.
Highlights of Sri Lanka BMI and Diet Compositions
Comprehensive data on food supply and consumption is published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Data was analyzed by The Global Graph and is published in these below Highlights, Graphs and Tables (Data Quality & definitions)
- As per United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), average person in Sri Lanka gets their caloric supply from :
- Carbohydrates : 89.33%
89.33% - Fat : 21.57%
21.57% - Plant protein : 8.37%
8.37% - Animal protein : 3.15%
3.15% - 22.42% increase in caloric supply : Currently Sri Lanka gets 2539/kilocalories per person per day worth of caloric supply when compared to 2074/kilocalories per person per day in Year 1961
- Cereals & Grains, Oils & Fats and Sugar are three major diet compositions in Sri Lanka
- Rice, Wheat and Maize are three major Cereal preferences in Sri Lanka
- National and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on vegetable intake is to range between 200-250g per day and in Sri Lanka average intake is 126.68 grams
- Plantains, Pineapples and Oranges & Mandarines are three major Fruit Types Intake in Sri Lanka
- National and World Health Organization (WHO) typically set a guideline of 200g Fruit Intake per day and in Sri Lanka average Fruit intake is 99.04grams
- In Sri Lanka, average male height is in the increasing trend and female height is in increasing trend
- 24.20% of population is suffering from obesity and this trend is continously increasing from last few years
- Average Male BMI in Sri Lanka is in the range of normal and Average Female BMI is in range of normal (BMI = Body Mass Index - The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to 25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to 30.0 as 'obese')
Rank | Cereals | kcal/capita/day |
---|---|---|
1 | Rice | 1062 |
2 | Wheat | 260 |
3 | Maize | 45 |
4 | Oats | 0 |
Rank | Type | kilocalories per person per day |
---|---|---|
1 | Cereals & Grains | 1370 |
2 | Oils & Fats | 388 |
3 | Sugar | 294 |
4 | Fruits & Vegetables | 113 |
5 | Pulses | 87 |
6 | Meat | 81 |
8 | Starchy Roots | 68 |
9 | Other | 47 |
10 | Alcoholic Beverages | 10 |
Major Cause of Death
Cardiovascular diseases was a major cause of death in Sri Lanka with 42376 registered deaths (in year 2016) i.e. 35% of total deaths. Overall Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease and Cancers were the highest types of death causes in Sri Lanka.
- We see the maximum number of deaths is seen in age group 70+ with 63563 deaths (year 2016).
- 51.51% kids below age 5 years die because of Neonatal disorders.
- Cancers, Drowning and Lower respiratory infections are the major cause of death in kids aged 5 - 14 years.
- Suicide, Cardiovascular disease and Cancers are the major cause of death in people aged 14 - 49 years.
- Cardiovascular diseases, Cancers and Diabetes, blood, and endocrine diseases are the major cause of death in people aged over 50 years.
- Overall, it's observed that 35% of people aging over 50 years die because of Cardiovascular diseases.


Major Risk Factors of Death
- Three Major factors of death in Sri Lanka are High blood sugar, High blood pressure and High cholesterol. Every year around 319 people die due to High blood sugar.
- Low birth weight and Child wasting are the major risk factor of kids death aging under 5 years.
- Household air pollution and Outdoor air pollution are the major risk factors of death of people aging between 5 to 14 years.
- Alcohol use, High blood pressure and High blood sugar are the death risk factors of people aging between 15 to 49 years.
- High blood pressure, High blood sugar and High total cholesterol are the major death risk factors of people aging between 50 to 69 years.
- High blood sugar is the major death risk factors for people aging more than 70 years.

Cancer Analysis
0.23% of Sri Lanka population was suffering from cancer i.e. 46673 people (average of years 2011-2016). Highest number of cancer patients deaths were recorded due to Breast cancer (Count : 1134) and Colon & rectum cancer was also concerning with 1003 deaths in a year. In last few years it has been observed that, people suffering from Esophageal cancer have 5% of survival chance.Sri Lanka was really successful in diagnosing Testicular cancer where 95% of people were cured.Highest number of cancer patients i.e. 23985 people were of age group 50-69 year olds.In 2016, 12049 were suffering from Breast cancer out of which 1134 people were dead. This means 9.41% death rate of people suffering from Breast cancer. This below data represents major cancer types in Sri Lanka and number of deaths due to particular cancer types :
- 0.23 % of Sri Lanka population is suffering from cancer
- Highest number of deaths were registered due to Breast cancer
- Testicular cancer was most cured cancer in Sri Lanka
- Breast cancer got lowest survival rate

Tables (Appendix)
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Dementia | 6680 | 5.5% |
Cardiovascular diseases | 42376 | 34.91% |
Kidney disease | 4476 | 3.69% |
Respiratory disease | 10418 | 8.58% |
Liver disease | 4708 | 3.88% |
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease | 16949 | 13.96% |
Digestive disease | 1172 | 0.97% |
Hepatitis | 16 | 0.01% |
Cancers | 15359 | 12.65% |
Parkinson's disease | 558 | 0.46% |
Fire | 415 | 0.34% |
Malaria | 0 | 0% |
Drowning | 1102 | 0.91% |
Homicide | 1000 | 0.82% |
HIV/AIDS | 59 | 0.05% |
Drug disorder | 115 | 0.09% |
Tuberculosis | 673 | 0.55% |
Road incidents | 2954 | 2.43% |
Maternal deaths | 96 | 0.08% |
Neonatal deaths | 953 | 0.79% |
Alcohol disorder | 319 | 0.26% |
Natural disasters | 71 | 0.06% |
Diarrheal diseases | 541 | 0.45% |
Road incidents | 2954 | 2.43% |
Lower respiratory infections | 4155.20052882 | 3.42% |
Kidney disease | 4476 | 3.69% |
Liver disease | 4708 | 3.88% |
Suicide | 4977 | 4.1% |
Dementia | 6680 | 5.5% |
Respiratory disease | 10418 | 8.58% |
Cancers | 15359 | 12.65% |
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease | 16949 | 13.96% |
Cardiovascular diseases | 42376 | 34.91% |