By 2026, Sri Lanka is projected to be home to 23,348,315 people. That is a 3-fold increase on the 7,811,047 recorded in 1950. It is growing modestly, at 0.50% a year, adding about 116.7K people a year. Settlement is dense, at 372 people/km². Half the population is younger than 33.6 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 40.2 by 2050. Women outnumber men, at 94 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it falling to 21,249,406 (-9% from 2026).
Total population
23,348,315
Density
372 people/km²
Median age
33.6 years
Growth rate
+0.50%
Sri Lanka's population continues to grow, though at a moderate pace. The sex ratio of 94 males per 100 females is notably lower than the global average of ~101. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 34 in 2026 to 40 by 2050. Population density is high at 372 people per km².