Population by age group in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population by age group was 2.70 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.70 million
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
41st
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.70 million
in 2023
All-time low
405,818
in 1962
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in Sri Lanka, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age group in Sri Lanka is 2.70 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 52.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.70 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 405,818, in 1962.
That places Sri Lanka 41st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by age group in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 590,487 | — |
| 1951 | 553,889 | -6.2% |
| 1952 | 521,261 | -5.9% |
| 1953 | 492,614 | -5.5% |
| 1954 | 467,827 | -5.0% |
| 1955 | 448,888 | -4.0% |
| 1956 | 435,503 | -3.0% |
| 1957 | 425,069 | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 417,257 | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 411,646 | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 407,980 | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 406,128 | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 405,818 | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 407,106 | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 410,376 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 415,737 | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 423,131 | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 432,625 | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 443,907 | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 456,399 | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 469,779 | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 483,844 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 498,493 | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 513,871 | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 530,246 | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 547,808 | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 566,799 | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 587,452 | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 609,686 | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 633,205 | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 657,836 | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 683,150 | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 708,230 | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 732,727 | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 757,160 | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 782,803 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 810,005 | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 837,681 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 865,509 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 892,922 | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 919,749 | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 948,129 | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 978,921 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 1.01 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 1.04 million | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 1.07 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 1.09 million | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 1.12 million | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 1.14 million | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 1.17 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 1.20 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.23 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.26 million | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 1.28 million | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 1.31 million | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 1.34 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.37 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.41 million | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.45 million | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 1.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1.55 million | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 1.61 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 1.69 million | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 1.77 million | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 1.86 million | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 1.95 million | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 2.05 million | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 2.14 million | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 2.23 million | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 2.32 million | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 2.42 million | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 2.51 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 2.60 million | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 2.70 million | +3.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.70 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 499,572, 5.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.70 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.29 million, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 476,444 | 411,646 | 590,487 | 10 |
| 1960s | 420,921 | 405,818 | 456,399 | 10 |
| 1970s | 544,118 | 469,779 | 633,205 | 10 |
| 1980s | 772,802 | 657,836 | 892,922 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.05 million | 919,749 | 1.17 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.33 million | 1.20 million | 1.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.92 million | 1.55 million | 2.32 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.55 million | 2.42 million | 2.70 million | 4 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.558 (2100)
- Population density 343.51 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 901,396 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age group in Sri Lanka?
- Population by age group in Sri Lanka was 2.70 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.70 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 405,818 in 1962.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population by age group?
- Sri Lanka ranks 41st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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