Quick facts
Colombo overview
Colombo (orange) and the other large cities of Sri Lanka
Colombo lies in Western Province in Sri Lanka at 6.94°N, 79.85°E, about 7 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Colombo (UTC+5:30); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Sri Lanka: the next largest cities are Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia (219,827), Maharagama (195,355), Jaffna (169,102). Together, the three largest cities hold 4.5% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Kolonnawa, about 4 km away, followed by Kotikawatta (7 km).
Sri Lanka as a whole has a live population of 23,384,275 (+0.5% a year) and ranks #60 of 238 countries — see the Sri Lanka population page for the full statistics and the Sri Lanka atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Colombo
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kolonnawa Western Province | 4 km | 64,887 |
| Kotikawatta Western Province | 7 km | 64,565 |
| Hendala Western Province | 7 km | 56,978 |
| Pita Kotte Western Province | 8 km | 118,179 |
| Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Western Province | 9 km | 115,826 |
| Battaramulla South Western Province | 9 km | 75,633 |
| Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Western Province | 11 km | 219,827 |
| Maharagama Western Province | 13 km | 195,355 |
Largest cities in Sri Lanka
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ColomboCapital | Western Province | 648,034 |
| 2 | Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia | Western Province | 219,827 |
| 3 | Maharagama | Western Province | 195,355 |
| 4 | Jaffna | Northern Province | 169,102 |
| 5 | Moratuwa | Western Province | 168,280 |
| 6 | Negombo | Western Province | 137,223 |
| 7 | Pita Kotte | Western Province | 118,179 |
| 8 | Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte | Western Province | 115,826 |
| 9 | Kandy | Central Province | 111,701 |
| 10 | Trincomalee | Eastern Province | 108,420 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Colombo?
Colombo has about 648,034 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Colombo the capital of Sri Lanka?
Yes — Colombo is the national capital of Sri Lanka.
How big is Colombo compared with the rest of Sri Lanka?
Its 648,034 residents are 2.8% of the 23,384,275 people living in Sri Lanka today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Colombo?
In Western Province, Sri Lanka, at latitude 6.94 and longitude 79.85, 7 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Kolonnawa (4 km), Kotikawatta (7 km), Hendala (7 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Colombo Population 2026 — Sri Lanka. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/sri-lanka/colombo/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/sri-lanka/colombo/">Colombo Population 2026 — Sri Lanka</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.