Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was -0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Sri Lanka, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Sri Lanka is -0.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 15.5% on the previous year and down 159.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.2% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -2.8%, in 2013.
That places Sri Lanka 202nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.2% | — |
| 1971 | 2.1% | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 1.9% | -4.1% |
| 1974 | 1.9% | -4.6% |
| 1975 | 1.8% | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1.8% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 1.8% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 1.9% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 1.8% | -2.2% |
| 1981 | 1.7% | -7.9% |
| 1982 | 1.2% | -26.6% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -45.9% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -48.4% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | +91.8% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +81.2% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | -13.5% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 0.6% | -39.4% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | +17.5% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | +112.3% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | -14.2% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | +13.6% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | +16.2% |
| 1997 | 1.9% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -13.3% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | -34.0% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | -29.7% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 0.7% | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +22.6% |
| 2013 | -2.8% | -468.1% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | -133.3% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | +23.2% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | -39.2% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -13.3% |
| 2021 | 1.1% | +102.7% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -89.5% |
| 2023 | -0.7% | -677.6% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | -15.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's -0.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's -0.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 0.5%. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -677.6% | 0.1% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | -468.1% | 0.8% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | +133.3% | -2.8% | 0.9% |
| 1992 | +112.3% | 0.7% | 1.6% |
| 2021 | +102.7% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| 1985 | +91.8% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.3% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.5% | 0.6% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | -2.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -0.7% | 1.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 199 Belarus -0.5% compare
- 200 United States Virgin Islands -0.5% compare
- 201 Serbia -0.5% compare
- 203 Bosnia and Herzegovina -0.7% compare
- 204 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -0.7% compare
- 205 Latvia -0.8% compare
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 growth in Sri Lanka?
- Population growth in Sri Lanka was -0.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.2% in 1970.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.8% in 2013.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population growth?
- Sri Lanka ranks 202nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 159.0%. 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 growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release