Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) was 5,065 thousands in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
5,065 thousands
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
71st
of 233 countries
All-time high
5,512 thousands
in 1983
All-time low
4,840 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 14 years or younger in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 5,065 thousands for population aged 14 years or younger in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 14 years or younger in Sri Lanka peaked at 5,512 thousands in 1983 and was at its lowest, 4,840 thousands, in 1970.
That places Sri Lanka 71st out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,840 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 4,920 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 4,990 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 5,050 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 5,095 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 5,129 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 5,166 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 5,210 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 5,257 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 5,316 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 5,380 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 5,441 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 5,497 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 5,512 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 5,500 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 5,477 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 5,457 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 5,434 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 5,402 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 5,368 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 5,344 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 5,299 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 5,265 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 5,237 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 5,189 thousands | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 5,130 thousands | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 5,127 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 5,130 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 5,152 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 5,181 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 5,201 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 5,218 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 5,220 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 5,210 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 5,210 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 5,217 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 5,230 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 5,250 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 5,269 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 5,288 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 5,302 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 5,313 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 5,323 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 5,337 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 5,354 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 5,365 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 5,367 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5,360 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 5,343 thousands | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 5,317 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 5,285 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 5,246 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 5,203 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 5,159 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 5,114 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 5,065 thousands | -1.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5,065 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,508 thousands, 3.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5,065 thousands is below the median for South Asia, which is 6,717 thousands, 75% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5,097 thousands | 4,840 thousands | 5,316 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,447 thousands | 5,368 thousands | 5,512 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,206 thousands | 5,127 thousands | 5,344 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,231 thousands | 5,201 thousands | 5,288 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,338 thousands | 5,302 thousands | 5,367 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,179 thousands | 5,065 thousands | 5,285 thousands | 6 |
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 population aged 14 years or younger in Sri Lanka?
- Population aged 14 years or younger in Sri Lanka was 5,065 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 5,512 thousands in 1983.
- What is the lowest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,840 thousands in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population aged 14 years or younger?
- Sri Lanka ranks 71st out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 14 years or younger rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release