Total population (thousands) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Total population (thousands) was 23,169 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
23,169 thousands
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
60th
of 233 countries
All-time high
23,169 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
12,152 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Sri Lanka, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Sri Lanka is 23,169 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Sri Lanka peaked at 23,169 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 12,152 thousands, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 60th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,152 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 12,422 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 12,682 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 12,937 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 13,185 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 13,426 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 13,672 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 13,922 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 14,177 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 14,444 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 14,716 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 14,980 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 15,218 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 15,355 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 15,423 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 15,461 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 15,628 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 15,835 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 15,998 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 16,159 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 16,338 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 16,367 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 16,584 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 16,895 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 17,157 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 17,394 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 17,734 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 18,076 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 18,420 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 18,772 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 19,118 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 19,468 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 19,732 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 19,879 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 20,024 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 20,152 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 20,282 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 20,423 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 20,562 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 20,697 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 20,816 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 20,942 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 21,076 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 21,263 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 21,455 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 21,640 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 21,820 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 22,002 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 22,173 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 22,333 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 22,488 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 22,636 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 22,765 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 22,905 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 23,038 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 23,169 thousands | +0.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 23,169 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 3.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 23,169 thousands is below the median for South Asia, which is 26,398 thousands, 88% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,302 thousands | 12,152 thousands | 14,444 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 15,477 thousands | 14,716 thousands | 16,159 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,374 thousands | 16,338 thousands | 18,772 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,034 thousands | 19,118 thousands | 20,697 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,552 thousands | 20,816 thousands | 22,333 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,833 thousands | 22,488 thousands | 23,169 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Sri Lanka?
- Total population in Sri Lanka was 23,169 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 23,169 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,152 thousands in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for total population?
- Sri Lanka ranks 60th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release