Population, per square kilometre in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population, per square kilometre was 356.24 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
356.24 units per square kilometre
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
20th
of 186 countries
All-time high
358.57 units per square kilometre
in 2022
All-time low
157.86 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population, per square kilometre in Sri Lanka, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population, per square kilometre in Sri Lanka is 356.24 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, per square kilometre in Sri Lanka peaked at 358.57 units per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 157.86 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
Sri Lanka ranks 20th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population, per square kilometre in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 157.86 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 161.76 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 165.76 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 169.88 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 174.09 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 178.34 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 182.7 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 187.15 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 191.58 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 195.94 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 200.16 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 204.26 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 208.28 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 212.18 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 216.06 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 220.01 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 224.04 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 228.19 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 232.49 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 236.77 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 240.78 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 243.77 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 245.4 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 246.24 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 247.87 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 250.86 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 253.81 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 256.4 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 259.11 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 260.76 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 262.72 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 266.93 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 271.5 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 275.49 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 280.08 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 285.52 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 290.99 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 296.54 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 302.1 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 307.66 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 312.56 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 315.83 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 318.15 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 320.32 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 322.38 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 324.55 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 326.78 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 328.96 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 330.99 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 332.95 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 335.02 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 337.58 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 328.26 units per square kilometre | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 331.33 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 338.81 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 342.67 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 346.61 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 350.28 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 352.43 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 354.33 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 358.16 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 358.57 units per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 356.24 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 174.35 units per square kilometre | 157.86 units per square kilometre | 191.58 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 214.16 units per square kilometre | 195.94 units per square kilometre | 232.49 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 248.1 units per square kilometre | 236.77 units per square kilometre | 259.11 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 279.26 units per square kilometre | 260.76 units per square kilometre | 302.1 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 320.82 units per square kilometre | 307.66 units per square kilometre | 330.99 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 339.59 units per square kilometre | 328.26 units per square kilometre | 352.43 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 356.83 units per square kilometre | 354.33 units per square kilometre | 358.57 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 17 Haiti 422.26 units per square kilometre compare
- 18 Belgium 386.55 units per square kilometre compare
- 19 Philippines 385.32 units per square kilometre compare
- 21 Grenada 344.36 units per square kilometre compare
- 22 Japan 341.55 units per square kilometre compare
- 23 Tuvalu 327.2 units per square kilometre compare
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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 164,192 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 158,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 165,089 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, per square kilometre in Sri Lanka?
- Population, per square kilometre in Sri Lanka was 356.24 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population, per square kilometre recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 358.57 units per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest population, per square kilometre recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 157.86 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population, per square kilometre?
- Sri Lanka ranks 20th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population, per square kilometre rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population International Monetary Fund
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.