Population density in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Population density was 343.51 people per km² in 2100. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2100)
343.51 people per km²
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
45th
of 235 countries
All-time high
401.14 people per km²
in 2051
All-time low
12.93 people per km²
in 1000
Years of data
318
1000–2100

Population density in Sri Lanka, 1000–2100

0100200300400100015502100

Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people per km².

Analysis

Sri Lanka recorded 343.51 people per km² for population density in 2100.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population density in Sri Lanka peaked at 401.14 people per km² in 2051 and was at its lowest, 12.93 people per km², in 1000.

Sri Lanka ranks 45th of 235 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 density in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Population density in Sri Lanka, 1000 to 2100.
Year people per km² Change
1000 12.93 people per km²
1100 14.55 people per km² +12.5%
1200 16.17 people per km² +11.1%
1300 15.68 people per km² -3.0%
1400 15.03 people per km² -4.1%
1500 16.17 people per km² +7.5%
1600 20.21 people per km² +25.0%
1700 24.25 people per km² +20.0%
1710 24.38 people per km² +0.5%
1720 23.9 people per km² -2.0%
1730 23.43 people per km² -2.0%
1740 22.97 people per km² -2.0%
1750 22.52 people per km² -2.0%
1760 22.08 people per km² -2.0%
1770 21.65 people per km² -2.0%
1780 21.23 people per km² -2.0%
1790 20.81 people per km² -2.0%
1800 28.29 people per km² +35.9%
1801 27.78 people per km² -1.8%
1802 27.27 people per km² -1.8%
1803 26.78 people per km² -1.8%
1804 26.29 people per km² -1.8%
1805 25.81 people per km² -1.8%
1806 25.34 people per km² -1.8%
1807 24.88 people per km² -1.8%
1808 24.43 people per km² -1.8%
1809 23.99 people per km² -1.8%
1810 23.56 people per km² -1.8%
1811 23.13 people per km² -1.8%
1812 22.71 people per km² -1.8%
1813 22.3 people per km² -1.8%
1814 21.9 people per km² -1.8%
1815 21.5 people per km² -1.8%
1816 21.11 people per km² -1.8%
1817 20.72 people per km² -1.8%
1818 20.35 people per km² -1.8%
1819 20.13 people per km² -1.1%
1820 20.07 people per km² -0.3%
1821 20.17 people per km² +0.5%
1822 20.42 people per km² +1.3%
1823 20.84 people per km² +2.0%
1824 21.26 people per km² +2.0%
1825 21.69 people per km² +2.0%
1826 22.13 people per km² +2.0%
1827 22.58 people per km² +2.0%
1828 23.04 people per km² +2.0%
1829 23.51 people per km² +2.0%
1830 23.98 people per km² +2.0%
1831 24.47 people per km² +2.0%
1832 24.97 people per km² +2.0%
1833 25.48 people per km² +2.0%
1834 25.99 people per km² +2.0%
1835 26.52 people per km² +2.0%
1836 27.06 people per km² +2.0%
1837 27.61 people per km² +2.0%
1838 28.17 people per km² +2.0%
1839 28.74 people per km² +2.0%
1840 29.32 people per km² +2.0%
1841 29.92 people per km² +2.0%
1842 30.53 people per km² +2.0%
1843 31.15 people per km² +2.0%
1844 31.78 people per km² +2.0%
1845 32.42 people per km² +2.0%
1846 33.08 people per km² +2.0%
1847 33.76 people per km² +2.0%
1848 34.44 people per km² +2.0%
1849 34.88 people per km² +1.3%
1850 35.08 people per km² +0.6%
1851 35.06 people per km² -0.1%
1852 34.78 people per km² -0.8%
1853 34.26 people per km² -1.5%
1854 33.75 people per km² -1.5%
1855 33.25 people per km² -1.5%
1856 32.75 people per km² -1.5%
1857 32.26 people per km² -1.5%
1858 31.78 people per km² -1.5%
1859 31.64 people per km² -0.4%
1860 31.86 people per km² +0.7%
1861 32.45 people per km² +1.8%
1862 33.41 people per km² +3.0%
1863 34.75 people per km² +4.0%
1864 36.14 people per km² +4.0%
1865 37.59 people per km² +4.0%
1866 39.1 people per km² +4.0%
1867 40.67 people per km² +4.0%
1868 42.31 people per km² +4.0%
1869 43.72 people per km² +3.3%
1870 44.9 people per km² +2.7%
1871 45.84 people per km² +2.1%
1872 46.52 people per km² +1.5%
1873 46.94 people per km² +0.9%
1874 47.35 people per km² +0.9%
1875 47.77 people per km² +0.9%
1876 48.2 people per km² +0.9%
1877 48.62 people per km² +0.9%
1878 49.06 people per km² +0.9%
1879 49.51 people per km² +0.9%
1880 49.99 people per km² +1.0%
1881 50.5 people per km² +1.0%
1882 51.03 people per km² +1.1%
1883 51.58 people per km² +1.1%
1884 52.15 people per km² +1.1%
1885 52.72 people per km² +1.1%
1886 53.29 people per km² +1.1%
1887 53.87 people per km² +1.1%
1888 54.46 people per km² +1.1%
1889 55.12 people per km² +1.2%
1890 55.85 people per km² +1.3%
1891 56.65 people per km² +1.4%
1892 57.52 people per km² +1.5%
1893 58.48 people per km² +1.7%
1894 59.45 people per km² +1.7%
1895 60.43 people per km² +1.7%
1896 61.43 people per km² +1.7%
1897 62.45 people per km² +1.7%
1898 63.49 people per km² +1.7%
1899 64.56 people per km² +1.7%
1900 65.69 people per km² +1.7%
1901 66.85 people per km² +1.8%
1902 68.07 people per km² +1.8%
1903 69.33 people per km² +1.9%
1904 70.62 people per km² +1.9%
1905 71.93 people per km² +1.9%
1906 73.26 people per km² +1.9%
1907 74.62 people per km² +1.9%
1908 76.01 people per km² +1.9%
1909 77.32 people per km² +1.7%
1910 78.57 people per km² +1.6%
1911 79.74 people per km² +1.5%
1912 80.83 people per km² +1.4%
1913 81.84 people per km² +1.3%
1914 82.87 people per km² +1.3%
1915 83.91 people per km² +1.3%
1916 84.96 people per km² +1.3%
1917 86.02 people per km² +1.3%
1918 87.04 people per km² +1.2%
1919 88.01 people per km² +1.1%
1920 88.93 people per km² +1.0%
1921 89.79 people per km² +1.0%
1922 90.6 people per km² +0.9%
1923 91.36 people per km² +0.8%
1924 92.13 people per km² +0.8%
1925 92.9 people per km² +0.8%
1926 93.68 people per km² +0.8%
1927 94.47 people per km² +0.8%
1928 95.26 people per km² +0.8%
1929 96.03 people per km² +0.8%
1930 96.79 people per km² +0.8%
1931 97.54 people per km² +0.8%
1932 98.27 people per km² +0.7%
1933 98.98 people per km² +0.7%
1934 99.7 people per km² +0.7%
1935 100.42 people per km² +0.7%
1936 101.14 people per km² +0.7%
1937 101.88 people per km² +0.7%
1938 102.61 people per km² +0.7%
1939 103.64 people per km² +1.0%
1940 104.96 people per km² +1.3%
1941 106.58 people per km² +1.5%
1942 108.51 people per km² +1.8%
1943 110.77 people per km² +2.1%
1944 113.07 people per km² +2.1%
1945 115.41 people per km² +2.1%
1946 117.81 people per km² +2.1%
1947 120.25 people per km² +2.1%
1948 122.75 people per km² +2.1%
1949 125.48 people per km² +2.2%
1950 126.27 people per km² +0.6%
1951 128.62 people per km² +1.9%
1952 131.13 people per km² +2.0%
1953 133.77 people per km² +2.0%
1954 136.53 people per km² +2.1%
1955 139.4 people per km² +2.1%
1956 142.37 people per km² +2.1%
1957 145.51 people per km² +2.2%
1958 148.87 people per km² +2.3%
1959 152.44 people per km² +2.4%
1960 156.18 people per km² +2.5%
1961 160.03 people per km² +2.5%
1962 163.98 people per km² +2.5%
1963 168.04 people per km² +2.5%
1964 172.22 people per km² +2.5%
1965 176.48 people per km² +2.5%
1966 180.79 people per km² +2.4%
1967 185.21 people per km² +2.4%
1968 189.72 people per km² +2.4%
1969 194.21 people per km² +2.4%
1970 198.63 people per km² +2.3%
1971 202.91 people per km² +2.2%
1972 207.07 people per km² +2.1%
1973 211.14 people per km² +2.0%
1974 215.09 people per km² +1.9%
1975 219.03 people per km² +1.8%
1976 223.03 people per km² +1.8%
1977 227.12 people per km² +1.8%
1978 231.33 people per km² +1.9%
1979 235.69 people per km² +1.9%
1980 240.03 people per km² +1.8%
1981 244.09 people per km² +1.7%
1982 247.12 people per km² +1.2%
1983 248.77 people per km² +0.7%
1984 249.63 people per km² +0.3%
1985 251.28 people per km² +0.7%
1986 254.3 people per km² +1.2%
1987 257.3 people per km² +1.2%
1988 259.92 people per km² +1.0%
1989 262.67 people per km² +1.1%
1990 264.35 people per km² +0.6%
1991 266.33 people per km² +0.8%
1992 270.6 people per km² +1.6%
1993 275.23 people per km² +1.7%
1994 279.27 people per km² +1.5%
1995 283.93 people per km² +1.7%
1996 289.44 people per km² +1.9%
1997 294.99 people per km² +1.9%
1998 300.61 people per km² +1.9%
1999 306.25 people per km² +1.9%
2000 311.88 people per km² +1.8%
2001 316.85 people per km² +1.6%
2002 320.17 people per km² +1.0%
2003 322.53 people per km² +0.7%
2004 324.73 people per km² +0.7%
2005 326.81 people per km² +0.6%
2006 329.01 people per km² +0.7%
2007 331.27 people per km² +0.7%
2008 333.49 people per km² +0.7%
2009 335.54 people per km² +0.6%
2010 337.52 people per km² +0.6%
2011 339.62 people per km² +0.6%
2012 342.22 people per km² +0.8%
2013 345.28 people per km² +0.9%
2014 348.33 people per km² +0.9%
2015 351.28 people per km² +0.8%
2016 354.2 people per km² +0.8%
2017 357.06 people per km² +0.8%
2018 359.73 people per km² +0.7%
2019 362.28 people per km² +0.7%
2020 364.72 people per km² +0.7%
2021 366.96 people per km² +0.6%
2022 369.14 people per km² +0.6%
2023 371.35 people per km² +0.6%
2024 373.48 people per km² +0.6%
2025 375.52 people per km² +0.5%
2026 377.44 people per km² +0.5%
2027 379.27 people per km² +0.5%
2028 381.01 people per km² +0.5%
2029 382.65 people per km² +0.4%
2030 384.22 people per km² +0.4%
2031 385.74 people per km² +0.4%
2032 387.19 people per km² +0.4%
2033 388.58 people per km² +0.4%
2034 389.9 people per km² +0.3%
2035 391.15 people per km² +0.3%
2036 392.33 people per km² +0.3%
2037 393.47 people per km² +0.3%
2038 394.55 people per km² +0.3%
2039 395.56 people per km² +0.3%
2040 396.49 people per km² +0.2%
2041 397.33 people per km² +0.2%
2042 398.08 people per km² +0.2%
2043 398.75 people per km² +0.2%
2044 399.33 people per km² +0.1%
2045 399.88 people per km² +0.1%
2046 400.35 people per km² +0.1%
2047 400.69 people per km² +0.1%
2048 400.92 people per km² +0.1%
2049 401.05 people per km² +0.0%
2050 401.13 people per km² +0.0%
2051 401.14 people per km² +0.0%
2052 401.1 people per km² -0.0%
2053 400.98 people per km² -0.0%
2054 400.82 people per km² -0.0%
2055 400.65 people per km² -0.0%
2056 400.38 people per km² -0.1%
2057 400.01 people per km² -0.1%
2058 399.6 people per km² -0.1%
2059 399.14 people per km² -0.1%
2060 398.63 people per km² -0.1%
2061 398.08 people per km² -0.1%
2062 397.49 people per km² -0.1%
2063 396.83 people per km² -0.2%
2064 396.09 people per km² -0.2%
2065 395.27 people per km² -0.2%
2066 394.41 people per km² -0.2%
2067 393.52 people per km² -0.2%
2068 392.6 people per km² -0.2%
2069 391.69 people per km² -0.2%
2070 390.74 people per km² -0.2%
2071 389.75 people per km² -0.3%
2072 388.73 people per km² -0.3%
2073 387.65 people per km² -0.3%
2074 386.48 people per km² -0.3%
2075 385.28 people per km² -0.3%
2076 384.07 people per km² -0.3%
2077 382.82 people per km² -0.3%
2078 381.51 people per km² -0.3%
2079 380.13 people per km² -0.4%
2080 378.68 people per km² -0.4%
2081 377.19 people per km² -0.4%
2082 375.68 people per km² -0.4%
2083 374.14 people per km² -0.4%
2084 372.55 people per km² -0.4%
2085 370.92 people per km² -0.4%
2086 369.23 people per km² -0.5%
2087 367.52 people per km² -0.5%
2088 365.81 people per km² -0.5%
2089 364.06 people per km² -0.5%
2090 362.26 people per km² -0.5%
2091 360.45 people per km² -0.5%
2092 358.65 people per km² -0.5%
2093 356.83 people per km² -0.5%
2094 354.98 people per km² -0.5%
2095 353.11 people per km² -0.5%
2096 351.21 people per km² -0.5%
2097 349.3 people per km² -0.5%
2098 347.37 people per km² -0.6%
2099 345.43 people per km² -0.6%
2100 343.51 people per km² -0.6%

Sri Lanka compared with similar countries

  • Sri Lanka's 343.51 people per km² is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 67.23 people per km², 5.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • Sri Lanka's 343.51 people per km² is below the median for South Asia, which is 424.89 people per km², 81% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Population density in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1800 +35.9% 20.81 people per km² 28.29 people per km²
1600 +25.0% 16.17 people per km² 20.21 people per km²

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1000s 12.93 people per km² 12.93 people per km² 12.93 people per km² 1
1100s 14.55 people per km² 14.55 people per km² 14.55 people per km² 1
1200s 16.17 people per km² 16.17 people per km² 16.17 people per km² 1
1300s 15.68 people per km² 15.68 people per km² 15.68 people per km² 1
1400s 15.03 people per km² 15.03 people per km² 15.03 people per km² 1
1500s 16.17 people per km² 16.17 people per km² 16.17 people per km² 1
1600s 20.21 people per km² 20.21 people per km² 20.21 people per km² 1
1700s 24.25 people per km² 24.25 people per km² 24.25 people per km² 1
1710s 24.38 people per km² 24.38 people per km² 24.38 people per km² 1
1720s 23.9 people per km² 23.9 people per km² 23.9 people per km² 1
1730s 23.43 people per km² 23.43 people per km² 23.43 people per km² 1
1740s 22.97 people per km² 22.97 people per km² 22.97 people per km² 1
1750s 22.52 people per km² 22.52 people per km² 22.52 people per km² 1
1760s 22.08 people per km² 22.08 people per km² 22.08 people per km² 1
1770s 21.65 people per km² 21.65 people per km² 21.65 people per km² 1
1780s 21.23 people per km² 21.23 people per km² 21.23 people per km² 1
1790s 20.81 people per km² 20.81 people per km² 20.81 people per km² 1
1800s 26.09 people per km² 23.99 people per km² 28.29 people per km² 10
1810s 21.74 people per km² 20.13 people per km² 23.56 people per km² 10
1820s 21.57 people per km² 20.07 people per km² 23.51 people per km² 10
1830s 26.3 people per km² 23.98 people per km² 28.74 people per km² 10
1840s 32.13 people per km² 29.32 people per km² 34.88 people per km² 10
1850s 33.46 people per km² 31.64 people per km² 35.08 people per km² 10
1860s 37.2 people per km² 31.86 people per km² 43.72 people per km² 10
1870s 47.47 people per km² 44.9 people per km² 49.51 people per km² 10
1880s 52.47 people per km² 49.99 people per km² 55.12 people per km² 10
1890s 60.03 people per km² 55.85 people per km² 64.56 people per km² 10
1900s 71.37 people per km² 65.69 people per km² 77.32 people per km² 10
1910s 83.38 people per km² 78.57 people per km² 88.01 people per km² 10
1920s 92.52 people per km² 88.93 people per km² 96.03 people per km² 10
1930s 100.1 people per km² 96.79 people per km² 103.64 people per km² 10
1940s 114.56 people per km² 104.96 people per km² 125.48 people per km² 10
1950s 138.49 people per km² 126.27 people per km² 152.44 people per km² 10
1960s 174.69 people per km² 156.18 people per km² 194.21 people per km² 10
1970s 217.1 people per km² 198.63 people per km² 235.69 people per km² 10
1980s 251.51 people per km² 240.03 people per km² 262.67 people per km² 10
1990s 283.1 people per km² 264.35 people per km² 306.25 people per km² 10
2000s 325.23 people per km² 311.88 people per km² 335.54 people per km² 10
2010s 349.75 people per km² 337.52 people per km² 362.28 people per km² 10
2020s 374.15 people per km² 364.72 people per km² 382.65 people per km² 10
2030s 390.27 people per km² 384.22 people per km² 395.56 people per km² 10
2040s 399.29 people per km² 396.49 people per km² 401.05 people per km² 10
2050s 400.5 people per km² 399.14 people per km² 401.14 people per km² 10
2060s 395.46 people per km² 391.69 people per km² 398.63 people per km² 10
2070s 385.72 people per km² 380.13 people per km² 390.74 people per km² 10
2080s 371.58 people per km² 364.06 people per km² 378.68 people per km² 10
2090s 353.96 people per km² 345.43 people per km² 362.26 people per km² 10
2100s 343.51 people per km² 343.51 people per km² 343.51 people per km² 1

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 42 United Arab Emirates 367.99 people per km² compare
  2. 43 Belgium 365.29 people per km² compare
  3. 44 Benin 351.08 people per km² compare
  4. 46 Reunion 339.53 people per km² compare
  5. 47 Cote d'Ivoire 327.18 people per km² compare
  6. 48 Ethiopia 325.45 people per km² compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More population data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is population density in Sri Lanka?
Population density in Sri Lanka was 343.51 people per km² in 2100, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest population density recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 401.14 people per km² in 2051.
What is the lowest population density recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 12.93 people per km² in 1000.
How does Sri Lanka rank for population density?
Sri Lanka ranks 45th out of 235 countries with data for 2100.
Is population density rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population density. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population density in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/population-density/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Population density
Unit
people per km²
Source
HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
235 places, 68,610 data points, 1000–2100
Last refreshed

Population per square kilometer by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2100, based on data and estimates from different sources.