Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants was 1.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Sri Lanka, 1955–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 1.5% for annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1,601.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.8% in 1995 and was at its lowest, -1.0%, in 1965.
Sri Lanka ranks 30th of 144 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 0.1% | — |
| 1960 | -0.8% | -683.8% |
| 1965 | -1.0% | +21.9% |
| 1970 | -0.9% | -15.2% |
| 1975 | -0.9% | +5.8% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | -139.9% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | -83.8% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | +1495.7% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | +190.7% |
| 2000 | 0.9% | -69.1% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | -27.6% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -85.3% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +641.7% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +129.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1960s | -0.9% | -1.0% | -0.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | -0.9% | -0.9% | -0.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.0% | 2.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0083 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 21,815 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Sri Lanka?
- Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants in Sri Lanka was 1.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 1995.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.0% in 1965.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants?
- Sri Lanka ranks 30th out of 144 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,601.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of population share in cities with at least 300,000 inhabitants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average annual growth in the share of population living in cities with at least 300,000 people, calculated over five-year periods. For example, 2020 reflects average growth between 2015–2020. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.