Key information about Sri Lanka population

• The Sri Lanka population reached 21.9 million people in Jun 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 22.0 million people in Jun 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 22.2 million people in Jun 2022 and a record low of 7.1 million people in Jun 1948

The total population in Sri Lanka was estimated at 23.1 million people in 2024, 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 total population of Sri Lanka was estimated at approximately 22.88 million people in 2024. In a steady upward trend, the total population rose by about 7.33 million people from 1980.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.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Sri Lanka (SPPOPGROWLKA) from 1961 to 2024 about Sri Lanka, population, and rate.

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.

Population density per pixel at 100 metre resolution. WorldPop provides estimates of numbers of people residing in each 100x100m grid cell for every low and middle income country. Through ingegrating cencus, survey, satellite and GIS datasets in a flexible machine-learning framework, high resolution maps of population counts and densities for 2000-2020 are produced, along with accompanying metadata. DATASET: Alpha version 2010 and 2015 estimates of numbers of people per grid square, with national totals adjusted to match UN population division estimates (http://esa.un.org/wpp/) and remaining unadjusted. REGION: Africa SPATIAL RESOLUTION: 0.000833333 decimal degrees (approx 100m at the equator) PROJECTION: Geographic, WGS84 UNITS: Estimated persons per grid square MAPPING APPROACH: Land cover based, as described in: Linard, C., Gilbert, M., Snow, R.W., Noor, A.M. and Tatem, A.J., 2012, Population distribution, settlement patterns and accessibility across Africa in 2010, PLoS ONE, 7(2): e31743. FORMAT: Geotiff (zipped using 7-zip (open access tool): www.7-zip.org) FILENAMES: Example - AGO10adjv4.tif = Angola (AGO) population count map for 2010 (10) adjusted to match UN national estimates (adj), version 4 (v4). Population maps are updated to new versions when improved census or other input data become available. Sri Lanka data available from WorldPop here.

In 2023, the annual population growth in Sri Lanka was -0.65 percent. Between 1961 and 2023, the figure dropped by 3.08 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Population, total in Sri Lanka was reported at 21916000 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Population, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Sri Lanka Population: Mid Year: Female: Jaffna data was reported at 323.000 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 319.000 Person th for 2016. Sri Lanka Population: Mid Year: Female: Jaffna data is updated yearly, averaging 271.000 Person th from Jun 2001 (Median) to 2017, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 323.000 Person th in 2017 and a record low of 248.000 Person th in 2001. Sri Lanka Population: Mid Year: Female: Jaffna data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Census and Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.G001: Population: Mid Year.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Sri Lanka (POPTOTLKA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Sri Lanka and population.

Population growth (annual %) in Sri Lanka was reported at --0.55059 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

The population density in Sri Lanka stood at 358.57 people in 2022. Between 1961 and 2022, the population density rose by 200.71 people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

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.

Sri Lanka: Percent of world population: The latest value from 2023 is 0.27 percent, a decline from 0.28 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.51 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Sri Lanka from 1960 to 2023 is 0.32 percent. The minimum value, 0.27 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 0.34 percent was recorded in 1968.

Sri Lanka LK: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 15.292 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.600 Ratio for 2015. Sri Lanka LK: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 21.694 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.098 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 15.292 Ratio in 2016. Sri Lanka LK: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People 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.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (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.; Weighted average;

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for Sri Lanka (SPPOP65UPTOZSLKA) from 1960 to 2024 about Sri Lanka, 65-years +, and population.

Sri Lanka: Population density, people per square km: The latest value from 2021 is 358 people per square km, an increase from 354 people per square km in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 456 people per square km, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Sri Lanka from 1961 to 2021 is 269 people per square km. The minimum value, 160 people per square km, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 358 people per square km was recorded in 2021.

Comprehensive socio-economic dataset for Sri Lanka including population demographics, economic indicators, geographic data, and social statistics. This dataset covers key metrics such as GDP, population density, area, capital city, and regional classifications.

Sri Lanka LK: Population: Growth data was reported at 1.130 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.124 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 1.371 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.405 % in 1967 and a record low of 0.509 % in 1998. Sri Lanka LK: Population: Growth 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.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (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.; Weighted average;

Sri Lanka: Population growth, percent: The latest value from 2023 is -0.65 percent, a decline from 0.11 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 1.15 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Sri Lanka from 1961 to 2023 is 1.29 percent. The minimum value, -0.65 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 2.41 percent was recorded in 1961.