Population
Mid-year population by district and vital statistics.
1,546 series · 12 tables · 1881–2100
from CBSL, DCS, IMF and 5 other agencies
Mid-year population
'000, annual
Population growth
Per cent, annual
Population at the last census
'000, irregular
Births per 1,000 people
per '000, annual
Deaths per 1,000 people
per '000, annual
Natural increase per 1,000
per '000, annual
People per square kilometre
per sq km, annual
Literacy rate
Per cent, annual
Key figures
Mid-year population21,756'0002025, −0.7% on a year earlier Population growth−0.12%2025, −0.55% a year earlier Population at the last census21,782'0002024 Births per 1,000 people9.9per '0002025, −0.2 per '000 on a year earlier Deaths per 1,000 people7.9per '0002025, +0.1 per '000 on a year earlier Natural increase per 1,0001.9per '0002025, −0.4 per '000 on a year earlier People per square kilometre349per sq km2025, −0.3% on a year earlier Literacy rate93.3%2024, +0.1 pts on a year earlierEvery figure is as the Department of Census and Statistics or the RGD publishes it; the change on a year earlier is calculated by Macro Lab.
Typing filters the tables below. Press Enter to list every population series that matches.
Headline
How many people, and how fast that changes.
Long-run series since 1950Population, births, deaths and literacy, one line each since 1950.6 indicators, annual, 1950–2025, from DCSFrom: CBSL Annual Economic Review statistical appendixOpen table
Vital statisticsVital statistics: population, growth, births, deaths, migration and density.14 indicators, annual, 1950–2025, from CBSL and RGDFrom: CBSL Economic and Social Statistics; CBSL SDDS 'More Data' workbooksOpen table
Census results since 1881Every census since 1881: population, religion and ethnicity.13 indicators, irregular, 1881–2024, from DCSFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
By district
The population of each district, by age, and its births and deaths.
Population by districtMid-year population by district.35 indicators, annual, 2014–2025, from RGDFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Population by agePopulation by age group.35 indicators, annual, 2014–2025, from RGDFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Birth and death rates by districtBirth and death rates by district.52 indicators, annual, 2015–2025, from RGDFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Population densityArea, population and density by province and district.34 provinces and districts × 2 (Mid-year Population, Density), annual, 2021–2025, from Registrar General's DepartmentFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
The census in detail
The 2012 and 2024 censuses by district.
Census: religion and ethnicity by districtCensus population by district, religion and ethnicity, a district a column.24 indicators × 25 districts, irregular, 2012–2024, from DCSFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
Census: urban, rural and estate populationCensus population by district and sector, urban, rural and estate, at each census.25 districts × 21 columns, irregular, 2001–2024, from DCSFrom: CBSL Economic and Social StatisticsOpen table
International sources
The same economy through the IMF, the World Bank and other international bodies.
IMF World Economic OutlookThe IMF's World Economic Outlook series for Sri Lanka, annual; the April 2026 edition gives no projections for Sri Lanka.1 indicators, annual, 1980–2024, from IMFFrom: IMF data (WEO, PCPS, IMTS)Open table
World Bank indicatorsWorld Bank World Development Indicators for Sri Lanka, annual (CC BY 4.0).87 indicators, annual, 1960–2025, from the World BankFrom: World Bank: World Development Indicators and International Debt StatisticsOpen table
UN population prospectsThe UN's population estimates since 1950 and projections to 2100: births, deaths, life expectancy, migration.18 indicators, annual, 1950–2100, from UNDESAFrom: UN World Population Prospects 2024Open table