Sri Lanka's Population Grows by More Than 1.4 Million to Reach 21.76 Million
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Synopsis
The Census of Population and Housing 2024 reveals Sri Lanka's population has reached 21,763,170, marking an increase of 1,403,731 since 2012. The average growth rate is 0.5% over the last decade, with significant demographic insights for policy-making.
Key Takeaways
- Sri Lanka's population now stands at 21,763,170.
- Population growth from 2012 to 2024 is 1,403,731.
- The average annual growth rate is 0.5 percent.
- Western Province has the highest population concentration.
- Census incorporates modern data collection methods.
Colombo, April 7 (NationPress) The overall population of Sri Lanka, as per the Census of Population and Housing 2024, stands at 21,763,170, reflecting an increase of 1,403,731 since the Census of Population and Housing 2012, according to the country's Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).
The average annual growth rate during the intercensal period from 2012 to 2024 is 0.5 percent. In comparison, the growth rate from 2001 to 2012 was recorded at 0.7 percent, as noted by the DCS.
The majority of the population, accounting for 28.1 percent, resides in the Western Province, while the Northern Province has the smallest share at 5.3 percent.
Population density is highest in the Colombo District, with 3,549 persons per square kilometer, while the Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province reports the lowest density at only 50 persons per square kilometer, according to reports from the DCS and Xinhua news agency.
Sri Lanka initiated its latest population and housing census in November 2023, an event that occurs every decade.
The census began at the Presidential Secretariat, which was the first building documented.
A significant aspect of the census was the use of tablet computers, in addition to conventional printed materials, for data collection, as stated by the President's Office.
This census serves as a critical resource for formulating national policies, public administration, and understanding demographics, ethnic distributions, and various social characteristics.
It gathers housing data down to the village official division level, assigning a unique identifier to each building and collecting GPS coordinates for every structure.
Moreover, this effort results in digitized maps at the village official division level.
Originally, the DCS had planned to conduct the population and housing census in 2021, but it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The last census in Sri Lanka was conducted in 2012.
