Population (International Monetary) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population (International Monetary) was 21.92 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
21.92 million
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
59th
of 186 countries
All-time high
22.18 million
in 2022
All-time low
9.66 million
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Population in Sri Lanka, 1960–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2024, population in Sri Lanka stood at 21.92 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Sri Lanka peaked at 22.18 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 9.66 million, in 1960.
That places Sri Lanka 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Population (International Monetary) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.66 million | — |
| 1961 | 9.90 million | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 10.14 million | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 10.39 million | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 10.65 million | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 10.92 million | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 11.18 million | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 11.46 million | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 11.74 million | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 12.01 million | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 12.29 million | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 12.55 million | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 12.81 million | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 13.06 million | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 13.31 million | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 13.55 million | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 13.80 million | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 14.05 million | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 14.31 million | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 14.58 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 14.85 million | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 15.10 million | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 15.29 million | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 15.39 million | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 15.44 million | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 15.54 million | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 15.73 million | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 15.92 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 16.08 million | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 16.25 million | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 16.35 million | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 16.48 million | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 16.74 million | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 17.03 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 17.28 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 17.56 million | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 17.91 million | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 18.25 million | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 18.60 million | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 18.94 million | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 19.29 million | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 19.60 million | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 19.81 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 19.95 million | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 20.09 million | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 20.22 million | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 20.35 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 20.49 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 20.63 million | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 20.76 million | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 20.88 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 21.01 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 21.17 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 20.59 million | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 20.78 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 20.97 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 21.21 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 21.45 million | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 21.67 million | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 21.80 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 21.92 million | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 22.16 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 22.18 million | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 22.04 million | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 21.92 million | -0.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 21.92 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.59 million, 3.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 21.92 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 25.78 million, 85% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.81 million | 9.66 million | 12.01 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.43 million | 12.29 million | 14.58 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.56 million | 14.85 million | 16.25 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.51 million | 16.35 million | 18.94 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.12 million | 19.29 million | 20.76 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.15 million | 20.59 million | 21.80 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.04 million | 21.92 million | 22.18 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More gender data for Sri Lanka
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,804 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.8687 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 18,964 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 18,964 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7411 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 155,366 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 162,031 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 156,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 163,015 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 157,484 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Sri Lanka?
- Population in Sri Lanka was 21.92 million in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 22.18 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.66 million in 1960.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population?
- Sri Lanka ranks 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Data on Gender-disaggregated on selected population characteristics.