Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) was 3,523 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3,523 thousands
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
65th
of 233 countries
All-time high
3,775 thousands
in 2002
All-time low
2,359 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 15-24 years in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 15-24 years in Sri Lanka stood at 3,523 thousands.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 15-24 years in Sri Lanka peaked at 3,775 thousands in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2,359 thousands, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 65th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,359 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 2,414 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 2,463 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 2,512 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 2,571 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 2,642 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 2,715 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 2,781 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 2,844 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 2,905 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 2,965 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 3,022 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 3,069 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 3,093 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 3,097 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 3,093 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 3,136 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 3,191 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 3,231 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 3,263 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 3,292 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 3,275 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 3,326 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 3,400 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 3,467 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 3,532 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 3,562 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 3,602 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 3,632 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 3,668 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 3,713 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 3,760 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 3,775 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 3,736 thousands | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 3,679 thousands | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 3,609 thousands | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 3,534 thousands | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 3,466 thousands | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 3,409 thousands | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 3,368 thousands | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 3,343 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 3,335 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 3,339 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3,344 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 3,349 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 3,355 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 3,362 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 3,373 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 3,385 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 3,397 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 3,411 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 3,429 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 3,450 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 3,475 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 3,500 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 3,523 thousands | +0.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 3,523 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 997.95 thousands, 3.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 3,523 thousands is below the median for South Asia, which is 4,660 thousands, 76% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,621 thousands | 2,359 thousands | 2,905 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,116 thousands | 2,965 thousands | 3,263 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,476 thousands | 3,275 thousands | 3,668 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,605 thousands | 3,368 thousands | 3,775 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,358 thousands | 3,335 thousands | 3,397 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,464 thousands | 3,411 thousands | 3,523 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 15-24 years in Sri Lanka?
- Population aged 15-24 years in Sri Lanka was 3,523 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 15-24 years recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3,775 thousands in 2002.
- What is the lowest population aged 15-24 years recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,359 thousands in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population aged 15-24 years?
- Sri Lanka ranks 65th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 15-24 years rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 15-24 years (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release