Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 2,847 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,847 thousands
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
40th
of 233 countries
All-time high
2,847 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
463.02 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 2,847 thousands for population aged 65 years or older in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 49.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Sri Lanka peaked at 2,847 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 463.02 thousands, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 40th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 463.02 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 476.81 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 491.12 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 506.09 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 521.87 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 538.81 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 556.98 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 576.78 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 598.29 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 621.25 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 645.32 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 670.51 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 695.94 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 720.66 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 744.93 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 769.52 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 796.21 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 823.93 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 851.56 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 879.58 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 906.38 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 933.23 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 963.14 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 994.81 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 1,026 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 1,055 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 1,079 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 1,103 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 1,127 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 1,153 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 1,181 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1,213 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 1,244 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 1,272 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 1,298 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 1,324 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 1,353 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 1,388 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 1,428 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 1,473 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1,522 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 1,580 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 1,647 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 1,727 thousands | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 1,815 thousands | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 1,907 thousands | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 2,001 thousands | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 2,095 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 2,187 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 2,279 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 2,371 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 2,464 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 2,551 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 2,648 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 2,746 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 2,847 thousands | +3.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2,847 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 529.18 thousands, 5.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2,847 thousands is above the median for South Asia, which is 2,396 thousands, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 535.1 thousands | 463.02 thousands | 621.25 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 759.82 thousands | 645.32 thousands | 879.58 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,034 thousands | 906.38 thousands | 1,153 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,318 thousands | 1,181 thousands | 1,473 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,876 thousands | 1,522 thousands | 2,279 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,604 thousands | 2,371 thousands | 2,847 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 65 years or older in Sri Lanka?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Sri Lanka was 2,847 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2,847 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 463.02 thousands in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Sri Lanka ranks 40th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release