Population by income level in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population by income level was 21.76 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
21.76 million
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
62nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
22.18 million
in 2022
All-time low
9.66 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population by income level in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by income level in Sri Lanka is 21.76 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level in Sri Lanka peaked at 22.18 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 9.66 million, in 1960.
That places Sri Lanka 62nd out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population by income level in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.66 million | — |
| 1961 | 9.90 million | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 10.14 million | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 10.39 million | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 10.65 million | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 10.92 million | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 11.18 million | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 11.46 million | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 11.74 million | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 12.01 million | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 12.29 million | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 12.55 million | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 12.81 million | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 13.06 million | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 13.31 million | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 13.55 million | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 13.80 million | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 14.05 million | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 14.31 million | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 14.58 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 14.85 million | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 15.10 million | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 15.29 million | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 15.39 million | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 15.44 million | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 15.54 million | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 15.73 million | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 15.92 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 16.08 million | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 16.25 million | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 16.35 million | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 16.48 million | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 16.74 million | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 17.03 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 17.28 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 17.56 million | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 17.91 million | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 18.25 million | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 18.60 million | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 18.94 million | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 19.29 million | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 19.60 million | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 19.81 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 19.95 million | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 20.09 million | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 20.22 million | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 20.35 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 20.49 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 20.63 million | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 20.76 million | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 20.88 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 21.01 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 21.17 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 20.59 million | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 20.78 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 20.97 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 21.21 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 21.45 million | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 21.67 million | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 21.80 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 21.92 million | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 22.16 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 22.18 million | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 22.04 million | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 21.92 million | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 21.76 million | -0.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 21.76 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.78 million, 3.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 21.76 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 25.69 million, 85% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.81 million | 9.66 million | 12.01 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.43 million | 12.29 million | 14.58 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.56 million | 14.85 million | 16.25 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.51 million | 16.35 million | 18.94 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.12 million | 19.29 million | 20.76 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.15 million | 20.59 million | 21.80 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.99 million | 21.76 million | 22.18 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by income level in Sri Lanka?
- Population by income level in Sri Lanka was 21.76 million in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by income level recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 22.18 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest population by income level recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.66 million in 1960.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population by income level?
- Sri Lanka ranks 62nd out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by income level rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, differentiated by World Bank income level.