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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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;

Abstract

A Census of Population and Housing is the single most extensive statistical undertaking of a country. In order to plan and implement programmes and activities, statistics are needed by the Government administrators of various levels, private users, research organizations and the general public.

The 2001 Census was conducted under the Census Ordinance, which was ammended by the Census Act No 55 of 2000. Census Ordinance places the legal obligation upon the public to give accurate information to the Census officers. The ordinance also gurantee the confidentiality of the information collected at individual level. The CPH 2001 has been designed to collect various information about the characteristics of the population, housing units and the households in Sri Lanka.

The CHP2001 provides

a. Reliable and detailed benchmark statistics on the size, distribution and composition of population.

b. Information pertaining to the characteristics of the housing units.

c. Information on the characteristics of the households

d. Information pertaining to the characteristics of the disable persons.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Note : The 2001 census enumeration was able to be carried out completely in 18 districts. These include all the 17 districts in Western, Central, Southern, North Western, North Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and Amparai district in the Eastern Province.

Due to the disturbed conditions in Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, certain areas could not be enumerated completely.

Analysis unit

(1) Individuals (2) Households

Universe

CPH 2001 covered all residents in each household and all units in each census block.

Population census did not cover diplomats.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

I) Population and Housing Schedule (F3): This schedule was used to collect 24 items from individuals pertaining to demographic and economic characteristics such as General information, Migration patterns, Educational characteristics, Economic characteristics, Nuptiality and Fertility and additional 9 items on Housing unit characteristics such as Occupancy status, Number of households in the unit, Number of occupants in the unit, Construction material of wall, floor, roof, Type of structure, Year of construction, Unit usage, Availability of rooms and Number of rooms and 7 items on Household such as Number of occupants in the household, Availability of toilet, Type of toilet, Source of drinking water, Type of lighting, Type of cooking fuel and Tenure

II) Schedule for Disabled Persons(F4): This schedule was used to collect information pertaining to 6 types of disabilities such as Vision, Hearing / Speaking, Manual/walking, Mental and Other Physical disabilities. [This is dealt with as a special census project and archived seperately].

Data Collection Forms:

F1 - List of all the building units located in a Census block F2 - Administrative/Technical form (Summary of F1) F3 - Population and Housing Schedule (all information of the population, housing and household information). F4 - Schedule for disabled persons F5 - Special schedule for Tourists and Foreign visitors. - Schedule for post enumeration survey.

Cleaning operations

Data processing consisted of two major phases. (1) Manual editing and coding, (2) Computer processing such as fixes while data entry, structure checking and completeness and secondary editing..

Manual editing was confined in the field to simple checks such as verification of area identification codes and the codes for certain questions (eg. district of birth). Coding was required only in respect of three questions, namely educational attainment, occupation and industry.

Data were entered for the second time to verify the original keyed data which is called the verification process. When the administrators fell that the overall error rate is diminishing, the verification process was mitigated step by step assuming that the operators are progressively improving in entering the questionnaires correctly.

A series of computer edit checks were carried out and records containing errors were printed for visual verification. These edit checks included both range and consistency checks. Finally limited number of imputations was done before the tabulation of data.

Processing was done on IBM S390 integrated server 3006 model B01 and several personal computers. Keyboard to disk type data entry was adopted for data capture.

The software Integrated Micro Computer Processing System (IMPS) developed by U.S. Bureau of Census was used to data processing activities including data entry

Data appraisal

The Districtwise data files were analysed. the breakups of the analysis such as

1. Male/female totals
2. Frequencies
3. Housing unit types

were filed as standard benchmarks for each district to be used to compare various District Table figures.

Sri Lanka LK: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 29.019 % in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.735 % for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 28.735 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2009, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34.842 % in 2001 and a record low of 1.359 % in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative 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: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

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: Rural Population Growth data was reported at 1.047 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.062 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: Rural Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 1.386 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.205 % in 1960 and a record low of 0.524 % in 1998. Sri Lanka LK: Rural 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2014 Revision.; Weighted average;

The High Resolution Settlement Layer (HRSL) provides estimates of human population distribution at a resolution of 1 arc-second (approximately 30m) for the year 2015. The population estimates are based on recent census data and high-resolution (0.5m) satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe. The population grids provide detailed delineation of settlements in both urban and rural areas, which is useful for many research areas—from disaster response and humanitarian planning to the development of communications infrastructure. The settlement extent data were developed by the Connectivity Lab at Facebook using computer vision techniques to classify blocks of optical satellite data as settled (containing buildings) or not. Center for International Earth Science Information Networks (CIESIN) at Earth Institute Columbia University used proportional allocation to distribute population data from subnational census data to the settlement extents. The data-sets contain the population surfaces, metadata, and data quality layers. The population data surfaces are stored as GeoTIFF files for use in remote sensing or geographic information system (GIS) software. The data can also be explored via an interactive map - http://columbia.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=ce441db6aa54494cbc6c6cee11b95917 Citation: Facebook Connectivity Lab and Center for International Earth Science Information Network - CIESIN - Columbia University. 2016. High Resolution Settlement Layer (HRSL). Source imagery for HRSL © 2016 DigitalGlobe.

Time series data for the statistic Population, ages 4-6, total and country Sri Lanka. Indicator Definition:Population, ages 4-6, total is the total population age 4-6.The indicator "Population, ages 4-6, total" stands at 0.8307 Million as of 12/31/2015, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1991, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.852 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.852.The 3 year change in percent is -3.70.The 5 year change in percent is -5.84.The 10 year change in percent is -7.14.The Serie's long term average value is 0.955 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is 13.06 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2015, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is +0.0%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1990, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is -24.49%.

Time series data for the statistic Population, ages 6-9, male and country Sri Lanka. Indicator Definition:Population, ages 6-9, total is the total population age 6-9.The indicator "Population, ages 6-9, male" stands at 571.47 Thousand as of 12/31/2015, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1991, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.9141 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.9141.The 3 year change in percent is -3.47.The 5 year change in percent is -5.44.The 10 year change in percent is -7.38.The Serie's long term average value is 657.88 Thousand. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is 13.13 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2015, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is +0.0%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1990, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is -25.05%.

Time series data for the statistic Rural population and country Sri Lanka. Indicator Definition:Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.The indicator "Rural population" stands at 17.66 Million as of 12/31/2024, the lowest value since 12/31/2018. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.8014 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.8014.The 3 year change in percent is -1.76.The 5 year change in percent is -0.5077.The 10 year change in percent is 3.93.The Serie's long term average value is 13.78 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 28.20 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +118.74%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2021, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -1.76%.

Sri Lanka LK: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 341.955 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 338.112 Person/sq km for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 272.855 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 341.955 Person/sq km in 2017 and a record low of 161.245 Person/sq km in 1961. Sri Lanka LK: Population Density: People per Square Km 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 density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted Average;

Time series data for the statistic Population, ages 5-11, female and country Sri Lanka. Indicator Definition:Population, ages 5-11, female is the total number of females age 5-11.The indicator "Population, ages 5-11, female" stands at 0.9696 Million as of 12/31/2015, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1991, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.7706 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.7706.The 3 year change in percent is -2.74.The 5 year change in percent is -4.41.The 10 year change in percent is -7.51.The Serie's long term average value is 1.11 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is 12.95 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2015, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is +0.0%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1990, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is -24.82%.

Time series data for the statistic Population, ages 7-9, total and country Sri Lanka. Indicator Definition:Population, ages 7-9, total is the total population age 7-9.The indicator "Population, ages 7-9, total" stands at 0.8445 Million as of 12/31/2015, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1991, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.8571 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.8571.The 3 year change in percent is -3.15.The 5 year change in percent is -4.98.The 10 year change in percent is -7.47.The Serie's long term average value is 0.972 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is 13.12 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2015, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is +0.0%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1990, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2015, is -25.18%.

Abstract

Planning for the ‘Census of Population and Housing 2011’, 14th National Census of Sri Lanka since 1871 and the first Census since 1981 covering all the districts in the country, was initiated by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) in 2008. The preparation of maps at Grama Niladhari (GN) level was completed in 2009/2010 and the listing of the buildings based on these maps was completed in 2011. The enumeration stage of the Census was scheduled for and the activities carried out between 27 February and 21 March 2012. The enumeration stage was comprised of two rounds: the first round, which was carried out from 27th February to 19th March 2012, involved collection of data of persons according to their places of usual residence, and their housing units. The revision of data collected in the first round to account for any births, deaths or changes of residence between the date of collection and the Census Date, which is 20th March 2012, was carried out during the second round, based on a defined Census Moment of midnight of 19th March 2012. Enumeration of the homeless people who do not have a usual place of residence was carried out during the night of 19th March 2012, based on the above Census Moment. About 80,000 enumerators were deployed for data collection. Supervision of these activities was carried out by the Grama Niladharis and other appointed government officials. District Secretaries functioned as Commissioners of Census for their respective districts while the Divisional Secretaries functioned as the Deputy Commissioners of Census for their respective Divisional Secretariat divisions. The necessary technical guidance to conduct the Census was provided by the officers of DCS.

Geographic coverage

An important feature of this Census is the coverage of the entire island after a lapse of 30 years since 1981. Only 18 districts out of 25 districts were covered in the previous Census which was carried out in 2001 due to the conflict situation in Northern and Eastern Provinces prevalent during that period. Census activities in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts in the Northern Province and in Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in the Eastern Province could not be completed during that Census.

Analysis unit

• Individuals;
• Households.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

Population according to this Census which covered the entire country after a lapse of 30 years was reported as 20,277,597.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 65-69, female (% of female population) and country Sri Lanka. Indicator Definition:Female population between the ages 65 to 69 as a percentage of the total female population.The indicator "Population ages 65-69, female (% of female population)" stands at 4.68 as of 12/31/2024, the highest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 1.84 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 1.84.The 3 year change in percent is 5.12.The 5 year change in percent is 7.70.The 10 year change in percent is 23.89.The Serie's long term average value is 2.47. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 89.70 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1964, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +244.88%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2024, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.0%.