Population by age group in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population by age group was 2.70 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population by age group in Sri Lanka, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age group in Sri Lanka is 2.70 million people, 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 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 405,818 people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 476,444 people | 411,646 people | 590,487 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 420,921 people | 405,818 people | 456,399 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 544,118 people | 469,779 people | 633,205 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 772,802 people | 657,836 people | 892,922 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.05 million people | 919,749 people | 1.17 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.33 million people | 1.20 million people | 1.50 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.92 million people | 1.55 million people | 2.32 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.55 million people | 2.42 million people | 2.70 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 232 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.7% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.97 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age group in Sri Lanka?
- Population by age group in Sri Lanka was 2.70 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.70 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 405,818 people 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.