Population growth in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population growth was -0.6% in 2024. β Volatile
Population growth in Sri Lanka, 1970β2024
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 200th out of 212 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.
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
- 197 Belarus -0.5% compare
- 198 United States Virgin Islands -0.5% compare
- 199 Serbia -0.5% compare
- 201 Bosnia and Herzegovina -0.7% compare
- 202 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -0.7% compare
- 203 Latvia -0.8% compare
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.558 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 901,396 (2100)
- Population density 343.51 (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.558 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 1.95 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 232 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 1.95 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 1.95 (2024)
- Natural population growth 0.7037 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 1.97 (2023)
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 200th out of 212 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 Β· JSON β 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release