Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 2.70 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Sri Lanka, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Sri Lanka is 2.70 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 52.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.70 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 405,818 people, in 1962.
Sri Lanka ranks 41st of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 476,444 people | 411,646 people | 590,487 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 420,921 people | 405,818 people | 456,399 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 544,118 people | 469,779 people | 633,205 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 772,802 people | 657,836 people | 892,922 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.05 million people | 919,749 people | 1.17 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.33 million people | 1.20 million people | 1.50 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.92 million people | 1.55 million people | 2.32 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.55 million people | 2.42 million people | 2.70 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 232 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.7% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.97 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Sri Lanka?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Sri Lanka was 2.70 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.70 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 405,818 people in 1962.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- Sri Lanka ranks 41st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.