Urban and rural population in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Urban and rural population was 4.75 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
4.75 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
104th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.75 million
in 2025
All-time low
1.20 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Sri Lanka, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Sri Lanka stood at 4.75 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Sri Lanka peaked at 4.75 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.20 million, in 1950.
That places Sri Lanka 104th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban and rural population in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.20 million | — |
| 1951 | 1.22 million | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 1.24 million | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 1.27 million | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 1.30 million | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 1.35 million | +3.4% |
| 1956 | 1.40 million | +4.0% |
| 1957 | 1.46 million | +4.5% |
| 1958 | 1.53 million | +4.9% |
| 1959 | 1.61 million | +5.1% |
| 1960 | 1.70 million | +5.2% |
| 1961 | 1.78 million | +5.2% |
| 1962 | 1.87 million | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 1.96 million | +4.8% |
| 1964 | 2.06 million | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 2.17 million | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 2.28 million | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 2.40 million | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 2.52 million | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 2.64 million | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 2.74 million | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 2.82 million | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 2.87 million | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 2.93 million | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 2.97 million | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 3.01 million | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 3.06 million | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 3.09 million | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 3.13 million | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 3.17 million | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 3.21 million | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 3.24 million | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 3.25 million | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 3.23 million | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 3.19 million | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 3.16 million | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 3.13 million | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 3.10 million | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 3.06 million | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 3.02 million | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 2.96 million | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 2.90 million | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 2.87 million | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 2.84 million | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 2.81 million | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 2.79 million | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 2.78 million | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 2.77 million | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 2.78 million | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 2.79 million | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 2.82 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 2.86 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 2.89 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 2.94 million | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 3.00 million | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 3.07 million | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 3.15 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 3.25 million | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 3.36 million | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 3.48 million | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 3.60 million | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 3.74 million | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 3.87 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 3.94 million | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 4.01 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 4.08 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 4.16 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 4.23 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 4.30 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 4.37 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 4.44 million | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 4.50 million | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 4.56 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 4.63 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 4.69 million | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 4.75 million | +1.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 4.75 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 4.75 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.30 million, 39% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.36 million | 1.20 million | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.14 million | 1.70 million | 2.64 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.98 million | 2.74 million | 3.17 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.16 million | 3.02 million | 3.25 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.83 million | 2.77 million | 2.96 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.08 million | 2.82 million | 3.48 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.03 million | 3.60 million | 4.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.59 million | 4.44 million | 4.75 million | 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)
- Population growth rate -0.558 (2100)
- Population density 343.51 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 901,396 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Sri Lanka?
- Urban and rural population in Sri Lanka was 4.75 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 4.75 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.20 million in 1950.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for urban and rural population?
- Sri Lanka ranks 104th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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