Quick facts
Sri Lanka population overview
Sri Lanka is the 23rd most populous of 52 countries and territories in Asia. The United Nations put the population at 23,291,061 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.5% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 319 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 316,758 births (13.6 per 1,000 people) and 170,025 deaths (7.3 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 30,278 people. The infant mortality rate is 4.7 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 9,661,389 in 1960 to 21,756,000 in 2025 — a change of +125.2%, or +1.3% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 33.6 years; life expectancy at birth is 78 years; women have on average 2 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 21.7% of residents are under 15 and 12.5% are 65 or older (2025); 20.5% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Colombo. Sri Lanka covers 65,610 km², giving a population density of about 356 people per km². GDP was $108.83B in 2025 — about $5,002 per person (World Bank classification: upper middle income).
Sri Lanka population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) | 23,383,931 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 23,291,061 |
| World rank | #60 of 238 |
| Rank in Asia | #23 of 52 |
| Share of world population | 0.3% |
| Annual growth rate | +0.5% |
| Births per year est. | 316,758 |
| Deaths per year est. | 170,025 |
| Net migration per year est. | -30,278 |
| Birth rate | 13.6 per 1,000 |
| Death rate | 7.3 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality | 4.7 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio | 93.7 males per 100 females |
| Median age | 33.6 years |
| Life expectancy | 78 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 | 2 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 | 20.5% |
| Surface area 2023 | 65,610 km² |
| Population density | 356 per km² |
| Capital | Colombo |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 | $108.83B |
| GDP per capita 2025 | $5,002 |
| Income group World Bank | Upper middle income |
Sri Lanka population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 23,383,931 | – | – |
| 2025 | 21,756,000 | -160,000 | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 21,916,000 | -121,000 | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 22,037,000 | -144,000 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 22,181,000 | +25,000 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 22,156,000 | +237,000 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 21,919,000 | +949,000 | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 20,970,000 | +90,911 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 20,879,089 | +662,565 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 20,216,524 | +923,470 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 19,293,054 | +1,728,986 | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 17,564,068 | +1,211,610 | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 16,352,458 | +808,304 | +1% |
| 1985 | 15,544,154 | +696,180 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 14,847,974 | +1,298,990 | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 13,548,984 | +1,261,874 | +2% |
| 1970 | 12,287,110 | +1,370,145 | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 10,916,965 | +1,255,576 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 9,661,389 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
About Sri Lanka
Population over time
- From 9,661,389 in 1960 to 23,383,931 today — up 142%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +0.4% per year.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 77.7 years (2024), up 17.1 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 2 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 10.1 births vs 7.8 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 2.3 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
Age structure
- 21.7% of the population is under 15 and 12.5% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 4.2% in 1960 — the population is aging.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 23.33 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 23.97 Mt in 2019 — down 2.7% since.
- Per person: 1.06 t in 2024, vs 0.25 t in 1970.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 466.7 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 38.3% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 48.8% of final energy in 2021 (-29.3 points since 1990).
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 34% of land area (2023).
- Net deforestation: cover fell from 37.5% to 34% since 1990 — roughly 2,280 km² of forest lost.
Urban population (% of total)
- 20.5% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 17.6% in 1960 (+2.9 points).
- Still majority-rural — less than half the population lives in cities.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low–medium — freshwater withdrawals are 24.5% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 2,380 m³ in 2022, down 55.4% since 1961.
Economy
- GDP: $108.83B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 27.9% since 2015.
- That works out to $5,002 per person.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 4% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: -4.8% in 2025.
Internet & mobile
- 54.6% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 132.5 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
Sri Lanka in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sri Lanka in 2026?
As of October 2026, Sri Lanka has an estimated population of 23,383,931. The United Nations estimated 23,291,061 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.5% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Sri Lanka growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.5% per year — roughly 319 more people every day. Each year there are about 316,758 births and 170,025 deaths, with net migration of -30,278.
What is the population density of Sri Lanka?
About 356 people per square kilometre: 23,383,931 people living on 65,610 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Sri Lanka?
The median age is 33.6 years, and life expectancy at birth is 78 years. 21.7% of the population is under 15 and 12.5% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Sri Lanka rank by population?
Sri Lanka is the 60th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 23rd in Asia, with 0.3% of the global population.
How has the population of Sri Lanka changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 9,661,389; by 2025 it had grown to 21,756,000 (+125.2%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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ZambiaSources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.5%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.