This statistic shows the total population of Sri Lanka which stood at approximately 22.88 million people in 2024.Continuous rise between 1980 and 2024Compared to the earliest depicted observation from 1980 there is a total increase by approximately 7.33 million people. From the pattern between 1980 and 2024 it becomes clear that this increase furthermore happened continuously.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

The total population in Sri Lanka was estimated at 22.0 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Sri Lanka Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The annual population growth in Sri Lanka decreased to -0.65 percent compared to the previous year. Therefore, the population growth in Sri Lanka saw its lowest number in that year with -0.65 percent. Population growth refers to the annual change in population, and is based on the balance between birth and death rates, as well as migration.Find more key insights for the annual population growth in countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Total current population for Sri Lanka in 2025 is 22,000,246, a 0.23% increase from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Total population for Sri Lanka in 2024 was <strong>21,949,268</strong>, a <strong>0.25% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>Total population for Sri Lanka in 2023 was <strong>21,893,579</strong>, a <strong>0.28% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Total population for Sri Lanka in 2022 was <strong>21,832,143</strong>, a <strong>0.27% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.

In 1800, the population of the island of Sri Lanka was approximately 1.2 million. This figure would begin to grow following the island’s complete annexation into the British Empire with the end of the Second Kandyan War in 1815. Population growth then increased much faster towards the end of the 19th century, as child mortality rates dropped and large numbers of Indian migrants were imported to work on British plantations. These migrants were largely Tamil migrants from southern India, and by 1911, this group would make up almost 13 percent of the island’s population (on top of the existing 13 percent Sri Lankan Tamil population).

Population growth would expand rapidly in the years immediately following the island’s independence from the British Empire in 1948. However, this growth would slow in the 1950s, as legislation passed by the Sinhalese-dominated government immediately following independence resulted in the removal of citizenship for an estimated 700,000 Indian Tamils, and the deportation of over 300,000 to India over the following three decades. Growth would slow even further after the ethnic clashes of Black July in 1983, which marked the beginning of a civil war in Sri Lanka which would last from 1983 to 2009 and result in the death of over 80,000 people, and the displacement of an estimated 800,000. However, since the end of the civil war in 2009, the population of Sri Lanka has continued to grow, and in 2020, the population of Sri Lanka is estimated to be over 21 million.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The aims of this study were :
to examine trends in fertility, nuptiality and mortality in Sri Lanka (Ceylon became Sri Lanka in 1972) in the period prior to demographic transition, i.e. prior to the 1950s. There is a tendency to suppose that, prior to transition, developing world countries had more or less constant fertility and mortality - at high levels - albeit with the fluctuations in both caused by famines and epidemics. There may have been more complex movements in Sri Lanka;
to search for the reasons for changes which occurred, by examining how these varied across the approximately 20 administrative districts of the island and considering whether this variation was associated with district characteristics such as literacy, availability of health services, etc.
Main Topics:

Some problems were encountered by the Archive with the original files supplied for this dataset. More details are given below under 'Availability'. The following files comprise the data available to users :

Births
SLVSBS.WK1 : contains Sri Lanka vital statistics, giving births by gender from 1900 to 1954 for the 21 administrative districts, ethnic groups, (Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors) and Estates. It further subdivides Tamil births from 1940 into Ceylon and Indian Tamils.
SLVSBMTH.WK1 : contains Sri Lanka vital statistics, giving births by sex by month from 1949 to 1954 for 21 administrative districts.
SLVSBMTH.WK1 : this file was recovered by the Archive using Norton Utilities software. This process only recovered part of the data (45,565 out of 232,795 bytes). The file contains births by gender per quarter for the years 1900-1913 for all races, but only for 7 out of 21 districts. The unrecovered part includes 1914-1921 births by gender by quarter for all Sri Lanka, districts, and also Estates - total births by quarter 1900-25.

Deaths
SLVSCDQ.WK2 : causes of death, 1910 to 1921.
SLVSDAS.WK3 : deaths by age by gender, 1920 to 1922.
SLVSDMTH.WK3 : deaths by gender and by month, 1937 to 1945.

Census Information
The Census files contain information on population in age ranges, by gender and by marital status. Age ranges and marital status differ between the Censuses. The Census of 1931 only contains the total population for administrative districts and does not include marital status or age ranges.

LK: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 10.069 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.696 % for 2016. LK: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 5.294 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.069 % in 2017 and a record low of 3.685 % in 1970. LK: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Sri Lanka was reported at 359 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population ages 65 and above (% of total population) in Sri Lanka was reported at 11.74 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Population ages 65 and above (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

LK: Population: Male: Ages 40-44: % of Male Population data was reported at 6.899 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.765 % for 2016. LK: Population: Male: Ages 40-44: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 5.411 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.899 % in 2017 and a record low of 4.760 % in 1978. LK: Population: Male: Ages 40-44: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 40 to 44 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

The population density in Sri Lanka saw no significant changes in 2022 in comparison to the previous year 2021 and remained at around 358.57 inhabitants per square kilometer. Still, the population density reached its highest value in the observed period in 2022. Population density refers to the average number of residents per square kilometer of land across a given country or region. It is calculated by dividing the total midyear population by the total land area.Find more key insights for the population density in countries like India and Bhutan.

Sri Lanka LK: Women: % of Total Population data was reported at 51.610 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 51.600 % for 2022. Sri Lanka LK: Women: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 50.880 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.610 % in 2023 and a record low of 49.580 % in 1990. Sri Lanka LK: Women: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: Non OECD Member: Annual.

Rural population in Sri Lanka was reported at 17803472 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population ages 10-14, male (% of male population) in Sri Lanka was reported at 8.1738 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Population ages 10-14, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population ages 20-24, female (% of female population) in Sri Lanka was reported at 7.0014 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Population ages 20-24, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

This statistic shows the median age of the population in Sri Lanka from 1950 to 2100*.The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. In 2020, the median age of the population of Sri Lanka was 32.1 years.

Sri Lanka LK: Population: Ages 0-14: % of Total Population data was reported at 20.880 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 21.290 % for 2020. Sri Lanka LK: Population: Ages 0-14: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 24.130 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2021, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.140 % in 1990 and a record low of 20.880 % in 2021. Sri Lanka LK: Population: Ages 0-14: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: Non OECD Member: Annual.

Sri Lanka LK: Population: Total data was reported at 21,444,000.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 21,203,000.000 Person for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 16,996,451.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21,444,000.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 9,874,481.000 Person in 1960. Sri Lanka LK: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

The share of urban population in Sri Lanka saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 19.21 percent. Nevertheless, 2023 still represents a peak in the share in Sri Lanka. The urban population refers to the share of the total population living in urban centers. Each country has their own definition of what constitutes an urban center (based on population size, area, or space between dwellings, among others), therefore international comparisons may be inconsistent.

Population ages 45-49, male (% of male population) in Sri Lanka was reported at 6.3248 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Population ages 45-49, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.