Population of cities towns and villages in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population of cities towns and villages was 3.46 million in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
3.46 million
World rank
78th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.86 million
in 1975
All-time low
3.17 million
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Population of cities towns and villages in Sri Lanka, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of cities towns and villages in Sri Lanka is 3.46 million, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of cities towns and villages in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.86 million in 1975 and was at its lowest, 3.17 million, in 1950.
Sri Lanka ranks 78th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Population of cities towns and villages in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.17 million | — |
| 1955 | 3.30 million | +4.3% |
| 1960 | 3.45 million | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 3.61 million | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 3.75 million | +3.9% |
| 1975 | 3.86 million | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 3.82 million | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 3.84 million | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 3.76 million | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 3.76 million | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 3.72 million | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 3.73 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 3.67 million | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 3.61 million | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 3.46 million | -4.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 3.46 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.60 million, 2.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 3.46 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.43 million, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.23 million | 3.17 million | 3.30 million | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.53 million | 3.45 million | 3.61 million | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.80 million | 3.75 million | 3.86 million | 2 |
| 1980s | 3.83 million | 3.82 million | 3.84 million | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.76 million | 3.76 million | 3.76 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.72 million | 3.72 million | 3.73 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.64 million | 3.61 million | 3.67 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.46 million | 3.46 million | 3.46 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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 of cities towns and villages in Sri Lanka?
- Population of cities towns and villages in Sri Lanka was 3.46 million in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population of cities towns and villages recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3.86 million in 1975.
- What is the lowest population of cities towns and villages recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.17 million in 1950.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population of cities towns and villages?
- Sri Lanka ranks 78th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population of cities towns and villages rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population of cities towns and villages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).