usby.numbers
Flag of Sri LankaAsia · Colombo

Sri Lanka· by the numbers

21,654,646
Population right now, ticking live from the last confirmed count.▼ shrinking21,756,000 (World Bank, 2025) + −160,000/year × elapsed time since 2025-12-31 — open formula, updates every ticksource: World Bank · indicator year: 2025 · license: CC BY 4.0 · 1 in 378 on Earth

Sri Lanka's population is 21,756,000 (2025) — the 62nd-largest in the world and the 23rd-largest in Asia, shrinking by about 160,000 people a year.

Where it ranksCompare →Updated 2026-08-19

Sri Lanka Facts at a Glance

Six numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, prices, share of humanity.

Population#62 of 217
21,756,000
Area
65,610 km²
351.7 km² land area
GDP#71 of 186
$108.8B
GDP / capita
$5,002
2025
#71 economy overall
Price level#173 of 200
29 / US 100
cost of living
Share of humanity
0.26%
1 in 378 people on Earth lives in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka in World Rankings

Every world ranking we publish, this country’s place in each, and its overall percentile shape.

Population21,756,000 people
#62 / 217
GDP$108.8B
#71 / 186
Average income$4,670 GNI per person
#116 / 182
Life expectancy77.7 years
#78 / 217
Average height168.1 cm (male)
#168 / 200
Median age32.8 years, half older
#100 / 220
Cleanest air22.68 µg/m³ PM2.5
#133 / 200
Safest countries3.3 homicides / 100k
#106 / 196
Most dangerous3.3 homicides / 100k
#90 / 196
Internet users54.6% of population online
#142 / 182
PopulationGDPIncomeLife exp.HeightMedian ageClean airSafetyDangerOnline
Percentile in each ranking — further from centre is a higher rank (closer to #1).

Is Sri Lanka's Population Declining?

Yes. Sri Lanka's population fell by 160,000 people (-0.73%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 1.9 births per woman — below the ~2.1 replacement level. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.

Population, 1960 to 2025

66 years of estimates from the same source.

Source: World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL) · annual estimates, 1960–2025 · hover the line for any year.

Sri Lanka Demographics

Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.

Population density2025
351.7 people / km²
61,860 km² land area, 2025
Median age2023
32.8 years
half the population is older, half younger
Life expectancy2024
77.7 years
M 74.4 · F 80.7
Average height2019
168.1 cm (male)
female 155.9 cm
Homicide rate2019
3.3 per 100,000
#106 safest of 196
Air quality (PM2.5)2023
22.7 µg/m³
lower is cleaner
Urban population2025
20.4 %
share living in cities
Fertility rate2025
1.9 births / woman
replacement level ≈ 2.1
Net migration2025
−30,724 people
negative in latest year
Aged 65+2025
12.5 %
share of the population 65 or older

Age & sex structure

17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.

Male — 10,524,069Female — 11,231,932
0-4 · Male: 768,4410-4 · Female: 737,0030-45-9 · Male: 796,8845-9 · Female: 764,8295-910-14 · Male: 841,94810-14 · Female: 812,12510-1415-19 · Male: 855,16015-19 · Female: 836,28815-1920-24 · Male: 817,52220-24 · Female: 798,19320-2425-29 · Male: 773,79025-29 · Female: 757,80725-2930-34 · Male: 746,02530-34 · Female: 764,17730-3435-39 · Male: 691,90035-39 · Female: 747,28235-3940-44 · Male: 726,16940-44 · Female: 783,50240-4445-49 · Male: 705,56545-49 · Female: 757,23745-4950-54 · Male: 600,27750-54 · Female: 652,41950-5455-59 · Male: 569,87555-59 · Female: 635,20555-5960-64 · Male: 506,36860-64 · Female: 596,01260-6465-69 · Male: 428,70665-69 · Female: 535,43165-6970-74 · Male: 323,98470-74 · Female: 440,18470-7475-79 · Male: 213,82675-79 · Female: 323,96275-7980+ · Male: 157,62980+ · Female: 290,27680+

Largest cities

By population, GeoNames city-proper figures (not metro area).

1
Colombo
648,034
2
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
219,827
3
Maharagama
195,355
4
Jaffna
169,102
5
Moratuwa
168,280
6
Negombo
137,223
7
Pita Kotte
118,179
8
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte
115,826
9
Kandy
111,701
10
Trincomalee
108,420
11
Kalmunai
100,171
12
Galle
93,118

Where is Sri Lanka Located?

Capital
Colombo
Currency
Rupee (LKR)
Language(s)
Sinhala, Tamil, English
Region
South Asia
Continent
48 countries in Asia →
Land area
61,860 km²
Area (GeoNames)
65,610 km²
Borders
none (island nation)
Shares a border with

No land borders.

You, in Sri Lanka

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Frequently asked

What is the population of Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka's population is 21,756,000 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #62 of 217 countries and territories by population.

How many people live in Sri Lanka?

21,756,000 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.

What is Sri Lanka's population density?

351.7 people per km², based on a land area of 61,860 km².

What is Sri Lanka ranked in population worldwide?

#62 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.

What is the life expectancy in Sri Lanka?

77.7 years on average (2024) — 74.4 for men, 80.7 for women.

What is Sri Lanka's GDP?

$108.8B, ranking #71 of 186 economies we track — $5,002 per capita.

Is Sri Lanka's population declining?

Yes. Sri Lanka's population has been shrinking, falling by 160,000 people (-0.73%) between 2024 and 2025.

Cite this page

CC BY 4.0

Our compilation on this page — the figures as arranged, ranked and dated here — is published under CC BY 4.0. Reuse it anywhere, including commercially, with a link back. The underlying data belongs to the organizations credited below.

Us, by Numbers. "Us, by Numbers." https://usbynumbers.com

Sources