Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 19.22 million people in 2050. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2050)
19.22 million people
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
29th
of 238 countries
All-time high
19.22 million people
in 2050
All-time low
799,994 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Sri Lanka, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2050, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Sri Lanka stood at 19.22 million people. That is the highest value across all 133 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Sri Lanka peaked at 19.22 million people in 2050 and was at its lowest, 799,994 people, in 1000.
That places Sri Lanka 29th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 799,994 people | — |
| 1100 | 899,980 people | +12.5% |
| 1200 | 999,935 people | +11.1% |
| 1300 | 969,810 people | -3.0% |
| 1400 | 929,454 people | -4.2% |
| 1500 | 998,239 people | +7.4% |
| 1600 | 1.24 million people | +24.6% |
| 1700 | 1.48 million people | +18.7% |
| 1710 | 1.48 million people | +0.3% |
| 1720 | 1.45 million people | -2.1% |
| 1730 | 1.42 million people | -2.1% |
| 1740 | 1.39 million people | -2.2% |
| 1750 | 1.36 million people | -2.2% |
| 1760 | 1.33 million people | -2.2% |
| 1770 | 1.30 million people | -2.2% |
| 1780 | 1.27 million people | -2.3% |
| 1790 | 1.24 million people | -2.3% |
| 1800 | 1.21 million people | -2.3% |
| 1810 | 1.18 million people | -2.4% |
| 1820 | 1.15 million people | -2.4% |
| 1830 | 1.34 million people | +16.4% |
| 1840 | 1.67 million people | +24.3% |
| 1850 | 2.08 million people | +24.3% |
| 1860 | 2.33 million people | +12.1% |
| 1870 | 2.57 million people | +10.6% |
| 1880 | 2.53 million people | -1.7% |
| 1890 | 2.69 million people | +6.5% |
| 1900 | 3.14 million people | +16.5% |
| 1910 | 3.59 million people | +14.2% |
| 1920 | 4.09 million people | +14.1% |
| 1930 | 4.53 million people | +10.9% |
| 1940 | 5.08 million people | +12.1% |
| 1950 | 6.61 million people | +30.1% |
| 1951 | 6.74 million people | +1.9% |
| 1952 | 6.87 million people | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 7.01 million people | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 7.15 million people | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 7.28 million people | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 7.41 million people | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 7.54 million people | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 7.68 million people | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 7.82 million people | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 7.97 million people | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 8.12 million people | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 8.27 million people | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 8.43 million people | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 8.60 million people | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 8.75 million people | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 8.90 million people | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 9.05 million people | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 9.21 million people | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 9.38 million people | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 9.55 million people | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 9.74 million people | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 9.94 million people | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 10.14 million people | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 10.33 million people | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 10.53 million people | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 10.74 million people | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 10.96 million people | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 11.18 million people | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 11.41 million people | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 11.64 million people | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 11.86 million people | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 12.04 million people | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 12.16 million people | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 12.25 million people | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 12.39 million people | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 12.60 million people | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 12.81 million people | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 13.02 million people | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 13.23 million people | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 13.39 million people | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 13.57 million people | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 13.87 million people | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 14.18 million people | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 14.47 million people | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 14.78 million people | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 15.13 million people | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 15.48 million people | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 15.82 million people | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 16.15 million people | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 16.47 million people | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 16.74 million people | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 16.91 million people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 17.01 million people | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 17.09 million people | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 17.15 million people | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 17.20 million people | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 17.24 million people | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 17.27 million people | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 17.28 million people | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 17.28 million people | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 17.27 million people | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 17.30 million people | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 17.42 million people | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 17.54 million people | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 17.65 million people | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 17.75 million people | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 17.86 million people | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 17.95 million people | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 18.04 million people | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 18.13 million people | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 18.20 million people | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 18.27 million people | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 18.34 million people | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 18.41 million people | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 18.48 million people | +0.4% |
| 2026 | 18.54 million people | +0.3% |
| 2027 | 18.60 million people | +0.3% |
| 2028 | 18.65 million people | +0.3% |
| 2029 | 18.70 million people | +0.3% |
| 2030 | 18.74 million people | +0.2% |
| 2031 | 18.79 million people | +0.2% |
| 2032 | 18.83 million people | +0.2% |
| 2033 | 18.87 million people | +0.2% |
| 2034 | 18.91 million people | +0.2% |
| 2035 | 18.94 million people | +0.2% |
| 2036 | 18.98 million people | +0.2% |
| 2037 | 19.01 million people | +0.2% |
| 2038 | 19.04 million people | +0.2% |
| 2039 | 19.07 million people | +0.1% |
| 2040 | 19.09 million people | +0.1% |
| 2041 | 19.12 million people | +0.1% |
| 2042 | 19.14 million people | +0.1% |
| 2043 | 19.15 million people | +0.1% |
| 2044 | 19.17 million people | +0.1% |
| 2045 | 19.19 million people | +0.1% |
| 2046 | 19.20 million people | +0.1% |
| 2047 | 19.21 million people | +0.0% |
| 2048 | 19.21 million people | +0.0% |
| 2049 | 19.22 million people | +0.0% |
| 2050 | 19.22 million people | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 19.22 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.23 million people, 15.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 19.22 million people is above the median for South Asia, which is 14.56 million people, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +30.1% | 5.08 million people | 6.61 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 799,994 people | 799,994 people | 799,994 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 899,980 people | 899,980 people | 899,980 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 999,935 people | 999,935 people | 999,935 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 969,810 people | 969,810 people | 969,810 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 929,454 people | 929,454 people | 929,454 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 998,239 people | 998,239 people | 998,239 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.24 million people | 1.24 million people | 1.24 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.48 million people | 1.48 million people | 1.48 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.48 million people | 1.48 million people | 1.48 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.42 million people | 1.42 million people | 1.42 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.39 million people | 1.39 million people | 1.39 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.36 million people | 1.36 million people | 1.36 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.33 million people | 1.33 million people | 1.33 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.30 million people | 1.30 million people | 1.30 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.27 million people | 1.27 million people | 1.27 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.24 million people | 1.24 million people | 1.24 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.21 million people | 1.21 million people | 1.21 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 1.18 million people | 1.18 million people | 1.18 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.15 million people | 1.15 million people | 1.15 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.34 million people | 1.34 million people | 1.34 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.67 million people | 1.67 million people | 1.67 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 2.08 million people | 2.08 million people | 2.08 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.33 million people | 2.33 million people | 2.33 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.57 million people | 2.57 million people | 2.57 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.53 million people | 2.53 million people | 2.53 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.69 million people | 2.69 million people | 2.69 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.14 million people | 3.14 million people | 3.14 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.59 million people | 3.59 million people | 3.59 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 4.09 million people | 4.09 million people | 4.09 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 4.53 million people | 4.53 million people | 4.53 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 5.08 million people | 5.08 million people | 5.08 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 7.21 million people | 6.61 million people | 7.82 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.67 million people | 7.97 million people | 9.38 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.45 million people | 9.55 million people | 11.41 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.40 million people | 11.64 million people | 13.23 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.68 million people | 13.39 million people | 16.15 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.04 million people | 16.47 million people | 17.28 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.61 million people | 17.27 million people | 18.04 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.43 million people | 18.13 million people | 18.70 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 18.92 million people | 18.74 million people | 19.07 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 19.17 million people | 19.09 million people | 19.22 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 19.22 million people | 19.22 million people | 19.22 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 26 South Africa 23.02 million people compare
- 27 Cameroon 20.85 million people compare
- 28 Uzbekistan 20.55 million people compare
- 30 Brazil 18.96 million people compare
- 31 Chad 18.51 million people compare
- 32 Burkina Faso 16.82 million people compare
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Sri Lanka?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Sri Lanka was 19.22 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 19.22 million people in 2050.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 799,994 people in 1000.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Sri Lanka ranks 29th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.