Skip to content
CountryAtlas

Sri Lanka · Population & demographics

Size, growth, ages, births, deaths, urbanisation and migration.

23 indicators · 23 with data

Population

people

63rd of 218 · 4th in South Asia
PopulationSri Lanka's population rose from 17.9M in 1996 to 21.8M in 2025.20002005201020152020202518M20M22M21.8M

Sri Lanka's population rose from 17.9M in 1996 to 21.8M in 2025.

Population growth

annual %

206th of 217 · 6th in South Asia
Population growthSri Lanka's population growth fell from 1.9 % in 1996 to -0.7 % in 2025.200020052010201520202025-3%-2%-1%0%1%2%-0.7 %

Sri Lanka's population growth fell from 1.9 % in 1996 to -0.7 % in 2025.

Population density

people per km² of land area

31st of 215 · 4th in South Asia
Population densitySri Lanka's population density rose from 275.5 in 1994 to 356.2 in 2023.199520002005201020152020260280300320340360380356.2

Sri Lanka's population density rose from 275.5 in 1994 to 356.2 in 2023.

Population, female (% of total)

% of population

33rd of 217 · 2nd in South Asia
Population, female (% of total)Sri Lanka's population, female (% of total) rose from 50.0 % in 1996 to 51.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%50%51%51%52%52%51.6 %

Sri Lanka's population, female (% of total) rose from 50.0 % in 1996 to 51.6 % in 2025.

Urbanisation

% of population

212th of 217 · 6th in South Asia
UrbanisationSri Lanka's urbanisation rose from 15.5 % in 1996 to 20.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202514%16%18%20%20.5 %

Sri Lanka's urbanisation rose from 15.5 % in 1996 to 20.5 % in 2025.

Urban population

people

106th of 217 · 4th in South Asia
Urban populationSri Lanka's urban population rose from 2.78M in 1996 to 4.45M in 2025.2000200520102015202020252.5M3M3.5M4M4.5M5M4.45M

Sri Lanka's urban population rose from 2.78M in 1996 to 4.45M in 2025.

Rural population

people

32nd of 217 · 3rd in South Asia
Rural populationSri Lanka's rural population rose from 15.1M in 1996 to 17.3M in 2025.20002005201020152020202515M16M17M18M17.3M

Sri Lanka's rural population rose from 15.1M in 1996 to 17.3M in 2025.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Other topics