Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 4.75 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sri Lanka, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sri Lanka stood at 4.75 million people. 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, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sri Lanka peaked at 4.75 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.20 million people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.36 million people | 1.20 million people | 1.61 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.14 million people | 1.70 million people | 2.64 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.98 million people | 2.74 million people | 3.17 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.16 million people | 3.02 million people | 3.25 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.83 million people | 2.77 million people | 2.96 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.08 million people | 2.82 million people | 3.48 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.03 million people | 3.60 million people | 4.37 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.59 million people | 4.44 million people | 4.75 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 232 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.95 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.97 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.95 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sri Lanka?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sri Lanka was 4.75 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 4.75 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.20 million people in 1950.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Sri Lanka ranks 104th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.