Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita was 84.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita 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 cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Sri Lanka is 84.7%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Sri Lanka peaked at 84.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 59.5%, in 1950.
Sri Lanka ranks 56th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 59.5% | — |
| 1955 | 61.7% | +3.8% |
| 1960 | 64.2% | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 66.9% | +4.2% |
| 1970 | 69.5% | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 71.5% | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 74.3% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 75.3% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 77.0% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 78.6% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 80.7% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 81.5% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 82.4% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 83.4% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 84.7% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 60.6% | 59.5% | 61.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 65.6% | 64.2% | 66.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 70.5% | 69.5% | 71.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 74.8% | 74.3% | 75.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 77.8% | 77.0% | 78.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 81.1% | 80.7% | 81.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 82.9% | 82.4% | 83.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 84.7% | 84.7% | 84.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 53 Uzbekistan 85.4% compare
- 54 Philippines 84.8% compare
- 55 Iran, Islamic Republic of 84.7% compare
- 57 Burundi 84.6% compare
- 58 Guam 84.5% compare
- 59 Afghanistan 84.4% 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 cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Sri Lanka?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in Sri Lanka was 84.7% 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 cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.5% in 1950.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita?
- Sri Lanka ranks 56th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.