Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Long term urban population region, annual growth rate was 2.24 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.24 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
7th
of 202 countries
All-time high
2.46 % change on previous year
in 2021
All-time low
-1.04 % change on previous year
in 1995
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka is 2.24 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and up 51.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.46 % change on previous year in 2021 and was at its lowest, -1.04 % change on previous year, in 1995.
Sri Lanka ranks 7th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | -0.289 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | -0.2779 % change on previous year | -3.9% |
| 1953 | 0.0317 % change on previous year | -111.4% |
| 1954 | 0.7868 % change on previous year | +2379.2% |
| 1955 | 0.8039 % change on previous year | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 0.8 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1957 | 0.803 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 0.8107 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 0.8121 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 0.8201 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 1961 | 0.8158 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 0.8235 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 0.8268 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 1.94 % change on previous year | +134.1% |
| 1965 | 1.95 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 1.95 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 1.96 % change on previous year | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.96 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 1.97 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 1.98 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 1.98 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1972 | -0.0722 % change on previous year | -103.6% |
| 1973 | -0.8289 % change on previous year | +1048.7% |
| 1974 | -0.8283 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1975 | -0.8117 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 1976 | -0.7053 % change on previous year | -13.1% |
| 1977 | -0.6979 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1978 | -0.7038 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 1979 | -0.7503 % change on previous year | +6.6% |
| 1980 | -0.8152 % change on previous year | +8.7% |
| 1981 | -0.7339 % change on previous year | -10.0% |
| 1982 | -0.8984 % change on previous year | +22.4% |
| 1983 | -0.9304 % change on previous year | +3.6% |
| 1984 | -0.9369 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 1985 | -0.9088 % change on previous year | -3.0% |
| 1986 | -0.882 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1987 | -0.8752 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 1988 | -0.8721 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1989 | -0.8947 % change on previous year | +2.6% |
| 1990 | -0.934 % change on previous year | +4.4% |
| 1991 | -0.6956 % change on previous year | -25.5% |
| 1992 | -0.7404 % change on previous year | +6.4% |
| 1993 | -0.8092 % change on previous year | +9.3% |
| 1994 | -0.91 % change on previous year | +12.5% |
| 1995 | -1.04 % change on previous year | +14.7% |
| 1996 | -0.7699 % change on previous year | -26.2% |
| 1997 | -0.8936 % change on previous year | +16.1% |
| 1998 | -0.9628 % change on previous year | +7.8% |
| 1999 | -0.9397 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 2000 | -0.8667 % change on previous year | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2003 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2004 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2005 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2006 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2007 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2008 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2009 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2010 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 2011 | 1.57 % change on previous year | — |
| 2012 | 1.55 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.53 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 1.5 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 1.48 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.46 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 1.44 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 1.42 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 1.4 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 1.38 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 2.46 % change on previous year | +78.1% |
| 2022 | 2.4 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 2.34 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 2.29 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 2.24 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.24 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6515 % change on previous year, 3.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.24 % change on previous year is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.68 % change on previous year, 1.3× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | +2379.2% | 0.0317 % change on previous year | 0.7868 % change on previous year |
| 1973 | -1048.7% | -0.0722 % change on previous year | -0.8289 % change on previous year |
| 1964 | +134.1% | 0.8268 % change on previous year | 1.94 % change on previous year |
| 1953 | +111.4% | -0.2779 % change on previous year | 0.0317 % change on previous year |
| 1972 | -103.6% | 1.98 % change on previous year | -0.0722 % change on previous year |
| 2001 | +100.0% | -0.8667 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.4757 % change on previous year | -0.289 % change on previous year | 0.8121 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 1.5 % change on previous year | 0.8158 % change on previous year | 1.97 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.1437 % change on previous year | -0.8289 % change on previous year | 1.98 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.8747 % change on previous year | -0.9369 % change on previous year | -0.7339 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.8699 % change on previous year | -1.04 % change on previous year | -0.6956 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.0867 % change on previous year | -0.8667 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.34 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 1.57 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.18 % change on previous year | 1.38 % change on previous year | 2.46 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 4 Solomon Islands 2.45 % change on previous year compare
- 5 Uganda 2.39 % change on previous year compare
- 6 Trinidad and Tobago 2.36 % change on previous year compare
- 8 Ethiopia 2.09 % change on previous year compare
- 9 Vanuatu 2.07 % change on previous year compare
- 10 Burkina Faso 2.04 % change on previous year compare
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)
- Population growth rate -0.558 (2100)
- Population density 343.51 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 901,396 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka?
- Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka was 2.24 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest long term urban population region, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.46 % change on previous year in 2021.
- What is the lowest long term urban population region, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.04 % change on previous year in 1995.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for long term urban population region, annual growth rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 7th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is long term urban population region, annual growth rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Long term urban population region, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Long term urban population region. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Long term urban population region Our World in Data
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
The year-on-year percentage change in Long term urban population region. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.