Sri Lanka

Country in Asia

In brief

Population growth per year: -0.7% (2025). World rank 205 of 216; in Asia, 49 of 49. Living in cities: 20.5% (2025). World rank 211 of 216; in Asia, 49 of 49. Born in another country: 0.2% (2024). World rank 205 of 215; in Asia, 43 of 49. From 2015 to 2025: population 21M → 21.8M, population growth per year +0.9% → -0.7%, and living in cities 18.8% → 20.5%. Better than all its neighbours (India): life expectancy, life expectancy, and life expectancy.

Population and migration

Population: 21,756,000 2025
Population density: 331.6 per km² 2025
Population growth per year: -0.7% 2025
Living in cities: 20.5% 2025
Net migration per year: -30.7K 2025
Born in another country: 0.2% 2024

Age and life expectancy

Aged 0–14: 21.7% 2025
Aged 15–64: 65.8% 2025
Aged 65 and over: 12.5% 2025
Life expectancy: 77.7 years 2024
Life expectancy, women: 80.8 years 2024
Life expectancy, men: 74.5 years 2024

Births and deaths

Children per woman: 2 2024
Births per 1,000 people: 10.1 2024
Deaths per 1,000 people: 7.8 2024

Society

Languages: Sinhala, Tamil
Religions: Buddhist 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Catholic 6.1%, and other Christian 1.3% (2012)