Fertility change in Sri Lanka since the war: An analysis of the experience of different districts

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Abstract
Using statistics from the censuses of 1946, 1953, 1963 and 1971, and from vital registration, changes in fertility in Sri Lanka as a whole, and in its 19 administrative districts, were examined. For the whole island the level of fertility in 1953 was about the same as in 1946. However, this apparent stability concealed quite substantial increases in fertility in a number of districts. It is argued that these were very probably caused by the eradication of malaria. Between 1953 and 1963 fertility declined somewhat in Sri Lanka as a whole. However, this was due to structural changes rather than to any decline in marital fertility which apparently rose slightly. An analysis of the district figures indicated that this was due to increases in marital fertility among Ceylon Tamils and Ceylon Moors (and possibly Indian Tamils too). However, it remains doubtful whether there were, indeed, genuine increases in marital fertility during this period or only improvements in the completeness of birth registration. Between 1963 and 1971 fertility declined still further in Sri Lanka, and although increasing age at marriage was a very important factor, there were unmistakable signs of declining marital fertility during this period.

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