Population in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population was 22.97 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
22.97 million people
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
62nd
of 239 countries
All-time high
22.97 million people
in 2023
All-time low
800,000 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Sri Lanka, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Sri Lanka is 22.97 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Sri Lanka peaked at 22.97 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 800,000 people, in 1000.
That places Sri Lanka 62nd out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 800,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 900,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1200 | 1.00 million people | +11.1% |
| 1300 | 970,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1400 | 930,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1500 | 1.00 million people | +7.5% |
| 1600 | 1.25 million people | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 1.50 million people | +20.0% |
| 1710 | 1.51 million people | +0.5% |
| 1720 | 1.48 million people | -2.0% |
| 1730 | 1.45 million people | -2.0% |
| 1740 | 1.42 million people | -2.0% |
| 1750 | 1.39 million people | -2.0% |
| 1760 | 1.37 million people | -2.0% |
| 1770 | 1.34 million people | -2.0% |
| 1780 | 1.31 million people | -2.0% |
| 1790 | 1.29 million people | -2.0% |
| 1800 | 1.75 million people | +35.9% |
| 1801 | 1.72 million people | -1.8% |
| 1802 | 1.69 million people | -1.8% |
| 1803 | 1.66 million people | -1.8% |
| 1804 | 1.63 million people | -1.8% |
| 1805 | 1.60 million people | -1.8% |
| 1806 | 1.57 million people | -1.8% |
| 1807 | 1.54 million people | -1.8% |
| 1808 | 1.51 million people | -1.8% |
| 1809 | 1.48 million people | -1.8% |
| 1810 | 1.46 million people | -1.8% |
| 1811 | 1.43 million people | -1.8% |
| 1812 | 1.41 million people | -1.8% |
| 1813 | 1.38 million people | -1.8% |
| 1814 | 1.35 million people | -1.8% |
| 1815 | 1.33 million people | -1.8% |
| 1816 | 1.31 million people | -1.8% |
| 1817 | 1.28 million people | -1.8% |
| 1818 | 1.26 million people | -1.8% |
| 1819 | 1.25 million people | -1.1% |
| 1820 | 1.24 million people | -0.3% |
| 1821 | 1.25 million people | +0.5% |
| 1822 | 1.26 million people | +1.3% |
| 1823 | 1.29 million people | +2.0% |
| 1824 | 1.32 million people | +2.0% |
| 1825 | 1.34 million people | +2.0% |
| 1826 | 1.37 million people | +2.0% |
| 1827 | 1.40 million people | +2.0% |
| 1828 | 1.43 million people | +2.0% |
| 1829 | 1.45 million people | +2.0% |
| 1830 | 1.48 million people | +2.0% |
| 1831 | 1.51 million people | +2.0% |
| 1832 | 1.54 million people | +2.0% |
| 1833 | 1.58 million people | +2.0% |
| 1834 | 1.61 million people | +2.0% |
| 1835 | 1.64 million people | +2.0% |
| 1836 | 1.67 million people | +2.0% |
| 1837 | 1.71 million people | +2.0% |
| 1838 | 1.74 million people | +2.0% |
| 1839 | 1.78 million people | +2.0% |
| 1840 | 1.81 million people | +2.0% |
| 1841 | 1.85 million people | +2.0% |
| 1842 | 1.89 million people | +2.0% |
| 1843 | 1.93 million people | +2.0% |
| 1844 | 1.97 million people | +2.0% |
| 1845 | 2.01 million people | +2.0% |
| 1846 | 2.05 million people | +2.0% |
| 1847 | 2.09 million people | +2.0% |
| 1848 | 2.13 million people | +2.0% |
| 1849 | 2.16 million people | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 2.17 million people | +0.6% |
| 1851 | 2.17 million people | -0.1% |
| 1852 | 2.15 million people | -0.8% |
| 1853 | 2.12 million people | -1.5% |
| 1854 | 2.09 million people | -1.5% |
| 1855 | 2.06 million people | -1.5% |
| 1856 | 2.03 million people | -1.5% |
| 1857 | 2.00 million people | -1.5% |
| 1858 | 1.97 million people | -1.5% |
| 1859 | 1.96 million people | -0.4% |
| 1860 | 1.97 million people | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 2.01 million people | +1.8% |
| 1862 | 2.07 million people | +3.0% |
| 1863 | 2.15 million people | +4.0% |
| 1864 | 2.24 million people | +4.0% |
| 1865 | 2.33 million people | +4.0% |
| 1866 | 2.42 million people | +4.0% |
| 1867 | 2.52 million people | +4.0% |
| 1868 | 2.62 million people | +4.0% |
| 1869 | 2.70 million people | +3.3% |
| 1870 | 2.78 million people | +2.7% |
| 1871 | 2.84 million people | +2.1% |
| 1872 | 2.88 million people | +1.5% |
| 1873 | 2.90 million people | +0.9% |
| 1874 | 2.93 million people | +0.9% |
| 1875 | 2.96 million people | +0.9% |
| 1876 | 2.98 million people | +0.9% |
| 1877 | 3.01 million people | +0.9% |
| 1878 | 3.03 million people | +0.9% |
| 1879 | 3.06 million people | +0.9% |
| 1880 | 3.09 million people | +1.0% |
| 1881 | 3.12 million people | +1.0% |
| 1882 | 3.16 million people | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 3.19 million people | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 3.23 million people | +1.1% |
| 1885 | 3.26 million people | +1.1% |
| 1886 | 3.30 million people | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 3.33 million people | +1.1% |
| 1888 | 3.37 million people | +1.1% |
| 1889 | 3.41 million people | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 3.45 million people | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 3.50 million people | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 3.56 million people | +1.5% |
| 1893 | 3.62 million people | +1.7% |
| 1894 | 3.68 million people | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 3.74 million people | +1.7% |
| 1896 | 3.80 million people | +1.7% |
| 1897 | 3.86 million people | +1.7% |
| 1898 | 3.93 million people | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 3.99 million people | +1.7% |
| 1900 | 4.06 million people | +1.7% |
| 1901 | 4.14 million people | +1.8% |
| 1902 | 4.21 million people | +1.8% |
| 1903 | 4.29 million people | +1.9% |
| 1904 | 4.37 million people | +1.9% |
| 1905 | 4.45 million people | +1.9% |
| 1906 | 4.53 million people | +1.9% |
| 1907 | 4.62 million people | +1.9% |
| 1908 | 4.70 million people | +1.9% |
| 1909 | 4.78 million people | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 4.86 million people | +1.6% |
| 1911 | 4.93 million people | +1.5% |
| 1912 | 5.00 million people | +1.4% |
| 1913 | 5.06 million people | +1.3% |
| 1914 | 5.13 million people | +1.3% |
| 1915 | 5.19 million people | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 5.26 million people | +1.3% |
| 1917 | 5.32 million people | +1.3% |
| 1918 | 5.38 million people | +1.2% |
| 1919 | 5.44 million people | +1.1% |
| 1920 | 5.50 million people | +1.0% |
| 1921 | 5.55 million people | +1.0% |
| 1922 | 5.60 million people | +0.9% |
| 1923 | 5.65 million people | +0.8% |
| 1924 | 5.70 million people | +0.8% |
| 1925 | 5.75 million people | +0.8% |
| 1926 | 5.80 million people | +0.8% |
| 1927 | 5.84 million people | +0.8% |
| 1928 | 5.89 million people | +0.8% |
| 1929 | 5.94 million people | +0.8% |
| 1930 | 5.99 million people | +0.8% |
| 1931 | 6.03 million people | +0.8% |
| 1932 | 6.08 million people | +0.7% |
| 1933 | 6.12 million people | +0.7% |
| 1934 | 6.17 million people | +0.7% |
| 1935 | 6.21 million people | +0.7% |
| 1936 | 6.26 million people | +0.7% |
| 1937 | 6.30 million people | +0.7% |
| 1938 | 6.35 million people | +0.7% |
| 1939 | 6.41 million people | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 6.49 million people | +1.3% |
| 1941 | 6.59 million people | +1.5% |
| 1942 | 6.71 million people | +1.8% |
| 1943 | 6.85 million people | +2.1% |
| 1944 | 6.99 million people | +2.1% |
| 1945 | 7.14 million people | +2.1% |
| 1946 | 7.29 million people | +2.1% |
| 1947 | 7.44 million people | +2.1% |
| 1948 | 7.59 million people | +2.1% |
| 1949 | 7.76 million people | +2.2% |
| 1950 | 7.81 million people | +0.6% |
| 1951 | 7.96 million people | +1.9% |
| 1952 | 8.11 million people | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 8.28 million people | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 8.45 million people | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 8.62 million people | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 8.81 million people | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 9.00 million people | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 9.21 million people | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 9.43 million people | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 9.66 million people | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 9.90 million people | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 10.14 million people | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 10.39 million people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 10.65 million people | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 10.92 million people | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 11.18 million people | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 11.46 million people | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 11.74 million people | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 12.01 million people | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 12.29 million people | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 12.55 million people | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 12.81 million people | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 13.06 million people | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 13.31 million people | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 13.55 million people | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 13.80 million people | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 14.05 million people | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 14.31 million people | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 14.58 million people | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 14.85 million people | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 15.10 million people | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 15.29 million people | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 15.39 million people | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 15.44 million people | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 15.54 million people | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 15.73 million people | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 15.92 million people | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 16.08 million people | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 16.25 million people | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 16.35 million people | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 16.48 million people | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 16.74 million people | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 17.03 million people | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 17.28 million people | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 17.56 million people | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 17.91 million people | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 18.25 million people | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 18.60 million people | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 18.94 million people | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 19.29 million people | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 19.60 million people | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 19.81 million people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 19.95 million people | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 20.09 million people | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 20.22 million people | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 20.35 million people | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 20.49 million people | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 20.63 million people | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 20.76 million people | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 20.88 million people | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 21.01 million people | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 21.17 million people | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 21.36 million people | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 21.55 million people | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 21.73 million people | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 21.91 million people | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 22.09 million people | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 22.25 million people | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 22.41 million people | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 22.56 million people | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 22.70 million people | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 22.84 million people | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 22.97 million people | +0.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 22.97 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 3.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 22.97 million people is below the median for South Asia, which is 26.33 million people, 87% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +35.9% | 1.29 million people | 1.75 million people |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 1.00 million people | 1.25 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 900,000 people | 900,000 people | 900,000 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 970,000 people | 970,000 people | 970,000 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 930,000 people | 930,000 people | 930,000 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.50 million people | 1.50 million people | 1.50 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.51 million people | 1.51 million people | 1.51 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.48 million people | 1.48 million people | 1.48 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.42 million people | 1.42 million people | 1.42 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.39 million people | 1.39 million people | 1.39 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.37 million people | 1.37 million people | 1.37 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.34 million people | 1.34 million people | 1.34 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.31 million people | 1.31 million people | 1.31 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.29 million people | 1.29 million people | 1.29 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.61 million people | 1.48 million people | 1.75 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 1.34 million people | 1.25 million people | 1.46 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 1.33 million people | 1.24 million people | 1.45 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.63 million people | 1.48 million people | 1.78 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.99 million people | 1.81 million people | 2.16 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.07 million people | 1.96 million people | 2.17 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.30 million people | 1.97 million people | 2.70 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.94 million people | 2.78 million people | 3.06 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.25 million people | 3.09 million people | 3.41 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.71 million people | 3.45 million people | 3.99 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 4.41 million people | 4.06 million people | 4.78 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 5.16 million people | 4.86 million people | 5.44 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 5.72 million people | 5.50 million people | 5.94 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 6.19 million people | 5.99 million people | 6.41 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 7.09 million people | 6.49 million people | 7.76 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 8.57 million people | 7.81 million people | 9.43 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 10.81 million people | 9.66 million people | 12.01 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.43 million people | 12.29 million people | 14.58 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.56 million people | 14.85 million people | 16.25 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.51 million people | 16.35 million people | 18.94 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.12 million people | 19.29 million people | 20.76 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.64 million people | 20.88 million people | 22.41 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.77 million people | 22.56 million people | 22.97 million people | 4 |
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)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Sri Lanka?
- Population in Sri Lanka was 22.97 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 22.97 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 800,000 people in 1000.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population?
- Sri Lanka ranks 62nd out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.