Sri Lanka Population
South Asia · 62nd most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
21,890,635
The population of Sri Lanka is about 21,890,635 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 21.9 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.26% of the world's people.
Sri Lanka is ranked 62nd of 217 by population. Growth has nearly stopped: the population changes by only 0.48% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 23.1 million. That is 2.3 times its 1960 population of 9.7 million. Population density is 353 people per square kilometre. 20% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
21.9 million
Yearly change
+0.48%
World rank
62nd
Share of world
0.26%
Density
353/km²
Land area
61,860 km²
Life expectancy
77.7 yrs
Births per woman
1.95
GDP per capita
$5,002
GDP
$108.8B
Population of Sri Lanka, 1960–2050
Sri Lanka population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9,661,389 | — | 156 |
| 1970 | 12,287,110 | +2.27% | 199 |
| 1980 | 14,847,974 | +1.84% | 240 |
| 1990 | 16,352,458 | +0.64% | 264 |
| 2000 | 19,293,054 | +1.84% | 312 |
| 2010 | 20,879,089 | +0.59% | 338 |
| 2020 | 21,919,000 | +0.53% | 354 |
| 2024 | 21,916,000 | −0.55% | 354 |
| 2026proj. | 21,860,098 | +0.48% | 353 |
| 2030proj. | 22,222,016 | +0.38% | 359 |
| 2040proj. | 22,863,782 | +0.21% | 370 |
| 2050proj. | 23,090,710 | +0.01% | 373 |
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 8.1 times as many people as Sri Lanka. Bangladesh is 3.9 times more densely populated.
Sri Lanka population: questions and answers
What is the population of Sri Lanka in 2026?
About 21,860,098 (21.9 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Sri Lanka's population growing?
Yes, by about 0.48% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Sri Lanka?
About 353 people per km², with a land area of 61,860 km².
What will the population of Sri Lanka be in 2050?
About 23.1 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
What is the life expectancy in Sri Lanka?
77.7 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.