Battle-related deaths (number of people) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Battle-related deaths (number of people) was 10,165 number of people in 2009. ◆ Volatile
Battle-related deaths in Sri Lanka, 1989–2009
Source: UCDP Battle-related Deaths Dataset , Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). Measured in number of people.
Analysis
In 2009, battle-related deaths in Sri Lanka stood at 10,165 number of people. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of up 23.0% on the previous year and up 440.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, battle-related deaths in Sri Lanka peaked at 10,165 number of people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 29 number of people, in 2003.
Sri Lanka ranks 3rd of 60 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Battle-related deaths (number of people) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | number of people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 533 number of people | — |
| 1990 | 3,622 number of people | +579.5% |
| 1991 | 6,432 number of people | +77.6% |
| 1992 | 4,091 number of people | -36.4% |
| 1993 | 2,075 number of people | -49.3% |
| 1994 | 657 number of people | -68.3% |
| 1995 | 4,755 number of people | +623.7% |
| 1996 | 3,868 number of people | -18.7% |
| 1997 | 2,880 number of people | -25.5% |
| 1998 | 3,762 number of people | +30.6% |
| 1999 | 1,882 number of people | -50.0% |
| 2000 | 2,525 number of people | +34.2% |
| 2001 | 1,144 number of people | -54.7% |
| 2003 | 29 number of people | -97.5% |
| 2005 | 88 number of people | +203.4% |
| 2006 | 1,970 number of people | +2138.6% |
| 2007 | 2,494 number of people | +26.6% |
| 2008 | 8,262 number of people | +231.3% |
| 2009 | 10,165 number of people | +23.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 10,165 number of people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 57 number of people, 178.3× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Battle-related deaths (number of people) in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +2138.6% | 88 number of people | 1,970 number of people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 533 number of people | 533 number of people | 533 number of people | 1 |
| 1990s | 3,402 number of people | 657 number of people | 6,432 number of people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,335 number of people | 29 number of people | 10,165 number of people | 8 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More public sector data for Sri Lanka
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.4107 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 80 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is battle-related deaths in Sri Lanka?
- Battle-related deaths in Sri Lanka was 10,165 number of people in 2009, according to UCDP Battle-related Deaths Dataset , Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP).
- What is the highest battle-related deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 10,165 number of people in 2009.
- What is the lowest battle-related deaths recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 29 number of people in 2003.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for battle-related deaths?
- Sri Lanka ranks 3rd out of 60 countries with data for 2009.
- Is battle-related deaths rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 440.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UCDP Battle-related Deaths Dataset , Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), published as part of Battle-related deaths (number of people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Battle-related deaths are deaths in battle-related conflicts between warring parties in the conflict dyad (two conflict units that are parties to a conflict). Battle-related deaths refer to those deaths caused by the warring parties that can be directly related to combat. This includes battlefield fighting, guerrilla activities (e.g. hit and-run attacks/ambushes) and all kinds of bombardments of military bases, cities and villages etc. The target for the attacks is either the military forces or representatives for the parties, though there is often substantial collateral damage in the form of civilians being killed in the crossfire, indiscriminate bombings, etc. All fatalities, military as well as civilian, incurred in such situations are counted as battle-related deaths.