Share of population living in rural areas in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of population living in rural areas was 15.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Sri Lanka, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in rural areas in Sri Lanka is 15.3%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Sri Lanka peaked at 40.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 2020.
Sri Lanka ranks 181st of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 40.5% | — |
| 1955 | 38.3% | -5.5% |
| 1960 | 35.8% | -6.6% |
| 1965 | 33.1% | -7.5% |
| 1970 | 30.5% | -7.7% |
| 1975 | 28.5% | -6.7% |
| 1980 | 25.7% | -9.6% |
| 1985 | 24.7% | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 23.0% | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 21.4% | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 19.3% | -10.0% |
| 2005 | 18.5% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | -7.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 39.4% | 38.3% | 40.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 34.4% | 33.1% | 35.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 29.5% | 28.5% | 30.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 25.2% | 24.7% | 25.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.2% | 21.4% | 23.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.9% | 18.5% | 19.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.1% | 16.6% | 17.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 178 Afghanistan 15.6% compare
- 179 Guam 15.5% compare
- 180 Burundi 15.4% compare
- 182 Iran 15.3% compare
- 183 Philippines 15.2% compare
- 184 Uzbekistan 14.6% 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)
- 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 share of population living in rural areas in Sri Lanka?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Sri Lanka was 15.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Sri Lanka ranks 181st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.