Share of population living in urbanized areas in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 20.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Sri Lanka, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in Sri Lanka is 20.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Sri Lanka peaked at 20.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Sri Lanka ranks 196th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
| 1800s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1810s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 1820s | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 1 |
| 1830s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 1 |
| 1840s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 1850s | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 1 |
| 1860s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
| 1880s | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 1 |
| 1890s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 1 |
| 1900s | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 1 |
| 1910s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 12.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 1 |
| 1930s | 13.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% | 1 |
| 1940s | 14.5% | 14.5% | 14.5% | 1 |
| 1950s | 16.0% | 15.8% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.7% | 16.7% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.5% | 18.9% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.0% | 17.3% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.5% | 15.9% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.7% | 15.7% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.8% | 15.7% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 18.2% | 20.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 232 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.97 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.95 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Sri Lanka?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Sri Lanka was 20.4% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 20.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Sri Lanka ranks 196th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.