Sri Lanka

All demographic indicators on this page are based on UN mid 2025 estimates unless stated otherwise.

Sri Lanka population (live estimate)

Real-time estimate based on UN demographic growth models.

23,229,000

Annual growth: 0.523%.

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Official population estimates

World population
23,229,000
Median age
33.3
Population growth rate (%)
0.523 ▲ Population is growing

This map shows first-level administrative regions (ADM1).

Key Facts

  • Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte - Colombo
  • Official language: Tamil
  • Region: Southern Asia
  • Continent: Asia
Languages
Languages and linguistic groups
Religions
Religious composition
Cities
Major cities and urban areas
Administrative divisions
Provinces
Population
Population structure and dynamics

Languages

A brief overview of the linguistic situation in the country.

Official language
Sinhala, Tamil
Minority language
2
Working / administrative language
2

Sri Lanka has a linguistic landscape shaped by its ancient civilizations, regional cultures, and historical influences. Major national languages coexist with minority and Indigenous languages, reflecting deep cultural diversity.

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Religions

A brief overview of the religious composition of the country.

Dominant religion
Buddhism
Largest share
69.6%
Number of religions
7

The population of Sri Lanka shows strong regional variation driven by geography, urbanization, and migration. Large cities often concentrate diverse linguistic communities, while rural areas preserve traditional patterns.

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Cities

A brief overview of the major cities and urban structure of the country.

Largest city
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte - Colombo
Number of cities
24

The cities shown here represent major urban centres with populations over 50,000, as defined by the UN Degree of Urbanisation (DEGURBA) methodology. Smaller towns and rural settlements are not included.

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