According to the final report of the 15th Population and Housing Census of Sri Lanka, the country’s total population has risen to 21,781,800. The report, handed over today to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by the Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics, shows that the population has grown by 1,422,361 over the past 12 years since the 2012 census.
Notably, this census marks a historic milestone as it was conducted for the first time in Sri Lanka using digital technology, including tablet computers and smartphones.
The data also reveals that the majority of the population are women, who make up 51.7 percent of the total, totaling 11,269,456. The male population accounts for 48.3 percent, or 10,512,344 individuals. Compared to the previous census, the number of women has increased by 757,112, while the sex ratio—number of men per 100 women—has slightly decreased to 93.3.
At the district level, Gampaha District reports the highest population with 2,436,142 residents, followed by Colombo District with 2,375,415, and Kurunegala District with 1,768,156. The lowest population is recorded in Mullaitivu District, with 122,619 residents. The census also shows a migrant population of 3,167,263, with the largest group residing in Gampaha District.
Analyzing the population by age groups, the working-age population (15–59 years) is 13,353,837. Children under 14 years number 4,506,839, while the elderly population aged 65 and above totals 2,737,814.
Officials noted that this comprehensive census data will serve as a critical reference for formulating the country’s economic and social policies over the coming decade.
