Population of Sri Lanka
Current Population
21,916,000
10yr Growth Rate
+5.48%
Rank
#60 of 209
Population Over Time
Analysis# Sri Lanka Population Analysis
Sri Lanka's population of 21.9 million in 2024 represents a 5.48% increase over the past decade, indicating a significant slowdown from its 1960s peak growth period when the nation experienced its highest demographic expansion. At global rank #60, Sri Lanka maintains a substantial population relative to world distribution, though its current growth rate reflects declining fertility and emigration patterns compared to historical trends across the 1960–2024 span. The deceleration from peak 1960s growth to present-day rates demonstrates Sri Lanka's demographic transition from high fertility to more moderate population dynamics typical of upper-middle-income countries.
Historical Population Data
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,916,000 | -0.55% |
| 2023 | 22,037,000 | -0.65% |
| 2022 | 22,181,000 | +0.11% |
| 2021 | 22,156,000 | +1.08% |
| 2020 | 21,919,000 | +0.53% |
| 2019 | 21,803,000 | +0.61% |
| 2018 | 21,670,000 | +1.01% |
| 2017 | 21,453,000 | +1.15% |
| 2016 | 21,209,000 | +1.14% |
| 2015 | 20,970,000 | +0.92% |
| 2014 | 20,778,000 | +0.94% |
| 2013 | 20,585,000 | -2.76% |
| 2012 | 21,169,458 | +0.76% |
| 2011 | 21,009,048 | +0.62% |
| 2010 | 20,879,089 | +0.59% |
| 2009 | 20,756,435 | +0.62% |
| 2008 | 20,629,378 | +0.67% |
| 2007 | 20,492,545 | +0.69% |
| 2006 | 20,352,411 | +0.67% |
| 2005 | 20,216,524 | +0.64% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 20,087,605 | +0.68% |
| 2003 | 19,951,521 | +0.74% |
| 2002 | 19,805,752 | +1.05% |
| 2001 | 19,600,362 | +1.59% |
| 2000 | 19,293,054 | +1.84% |
| 1999 | 18,944,731 | +1.88% |
| 1998 | 18,596,003 | +1.91% |
| 1997 | 18,248,200 | +1.92% |
| 1996 | 17,905,018 | +1.94% |
| 1995 | 17,564,068 | +1.67% |
| 1994 | 17,275,773 | +1.47% |
| 1993 | 17,025,918 | +1.71% |
| 1992 | 16,739,284 | +1.60% |
| 1991 | 16,475,354 | +0.75% |
| 1990 | 16,352,458 | +0.64% |
| 1989 | 16,248,557 | +1.06% |
| 1988 | 16,078,621 | +1.02% |
| 1987 | 15,916,576 | +1.18% |
| 1986 | 15,731,256 | +1.20% |
| 1985 | 15,544,154 | +0.66% |
| 1984 | 15,441,860 | +0.34% |
| 1983 | 15,388,794 | +0.67% |
| 1982 | 15,286,567 | +1.24% |
| 1981 | 15,099,414 | +1.69% |
| 1980 | 14,847,974 | +1.84% |
| 1979 | 14,579,614 | +1.88% |
| 1978 | 14,310,128 | +1.86% |
| 1977 | 14,049,371 | +1.83% |
| 1976 | 13,796,770 | +1.83% |
| 1975 | 13,548,984 | +1.83% |
| 1974 | 13,305,693 | +1.87% |
| 1973 | 13,060,916 | +1.97% |
| 1972 | 12,809,205 | +2.05% |
| 1971 | 12,551,910 | +2.16% |
| 1970 | 12,287,110 | +2.27% |
| 1969 | 12,013,858 | +2.37% |
| 1968 | 11,736,088 | +2.43% |
| 1967 | 11,457,328 | +2.44% |
| 1966 | 11,183,928 | +2.45% |
| 1965 | 10,916,965 | +2.47% |
| 1964 | 10,653,397 | +2.49% |
| 1963 | 10,395,040 | +2.48% |
| 1962 | 10,143,754 | +2.47% |
| 1961 | 9,899,372 | +2.46% |
| 1960 | 9,661,389 | — |