Sri Lanka Population Pyramid (2026)
Sri Lanka has a population of 23,348,314 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 60th-largest population in the world and 0.28% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 21.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 12.8%, with 93.7 males for every 100 females.
Sri Lanka Demographics
Sri Lanka has 23.3 million people in 2026, up 90.0% from 12.3 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 146,893 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 12.8% — the 68th-highest of 194 countries.
Median age 33.6 — the 79th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 23.7% (5,544,121)
All generations in Sri Lanka →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Sri Lanka's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Sri Lanka has 93.7 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 762,556 (3.3% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:11,292,879
- Percentage:48.4%
Female Statistics
- Population:12,055,435
- Percentage:51.6%
- Ratio Format:1:1.068
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Sri Lanka indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 316,459 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 328,525 | 14.5 | 2.00 | estimate |
| 2022 | 326,112 | 14.3 | 1.98 | estimate |
| 2023 | 324,102 | 14.1 | 1.97 | estimate |
| 2024 | 320,429 | 13.9 | 1.95 | projection |
| 2025 | 318,489 | 13.7 | 1.94 | projection |
| 2026 | 316,459 | 13.6 | 1.93 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (316,459 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Sri Lanka's median age is 33.6 years
Half the population is younger than 33.6 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,594,286 | 6.8% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 1,650,940 | 7.1% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 1,748,323 | 7.5% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 1,797,692 | 7.7% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 1,746,030 | 7.5% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 1,632,265 | 7.0% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 1,624,638 | 7.0% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 1,538,168 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 1,583,339 | 6.8% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 1,603,190 | 6.9% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,352,556 | 5.8% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 1,294,367 | 5.5% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 1,184,921 | 5.1% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 1,050,516 | 4.5% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 833,675 | 3.6% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 602,685 | 2.6% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 323,184 | 1.4% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 134,208 | 0.6% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 44,539 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 8,106 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 688 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.93 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (13.6 vs 7.3 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Sri Lanka Total Fertility Rate: 1.93 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.00 | 14.5 | |
| 2022 | 1.98 | 14.3 | ↓0.02 |
| 2023 | 1.97 | 14.1 | ↓0.01 |
| 2024 | 1.95 | 13.9 | ↓0.02 |
| 2025 | 1.94 | 13.7 | ↓0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.93 | 13.6 | ↓0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.88
Sri Lanka's total fertility rate is 1.93 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Sri Lanka ranks 101 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −64.7% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Sri Lanka's population has increased by 198.9%.
The median age has increased from 19.9 in 1950 to 33.6 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Sri Lanka's Demographics
Sri Lanka has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 21.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 12.8%.
The largest five-year age band is 15–19, at 7.7% of the population, compared with 6.8% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Sri Lanka's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Sri Lanka's working-age share peaked in 2005 at 67.5% and is 65.8% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Sri Lanka is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.93 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Sri Lanka's median age changed by +2.6 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 23,348,314 |
| Male Population | 11,292,879(48.4%) |
| Female Population | 12,055,435(51.6%) |
| Median Age | 33.6 years |
| Sex Ratio | 93.7 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 4,993,549(21.4%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 15,357,164(65.8%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 2,997,601(12.8%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 52.0 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 32.5 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 19.5 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Sri Lanka
How long the average person in Sri Lanka is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Sri Lanka is projected to grow to 24.8 million people by 2050 (+6.3% from 2026).
The median age rises from 33.6 in 2026 to 40.2 by 2050.
Sri Lanka's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 20.8%, growing from 12.3 million in 1970 to 14.8 million by 1980
The median age increased by 1.4 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 3.3 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 0.6 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 12.3M to 14.8M
- • Growth rate of 20.8% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 19.0 to 20.4 years (+1.4y)
- • 65+ share changed by +0.6 points; under-15 share by −3.3 points
How Does Sri Lanka Compare to Its Neighbors?
Sri Lanka has an older population than India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal. Sri Lanka has a smaller population than India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal.
Sri Lanka
India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Nepal
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka (Current) | 23,348,314 | 33.6 | 21.4% | 12.8% | stationary |
| India | 1,476,625,577 | 29.2 | 23.8% | 7.6% | stationary |
| Pakistan | 259,299,792 | 20.8 | 35.8% | 4.4% | expansive |
| Bangladesh | 177,818,045 | 26.3 | 27.3% | 6.8% | stationary |
| Nepal | 29,629,410 | 25.7 | 27.7% | 6.7% | stationary |
Frequently Asked Questions About Sri Lanka
How does Sri Lanka rank globally by population?
Sri Lanka ranks 60th in the world by population with 23.3 million people as of 2026, representing 0.28% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Sri Lanka's age structure reveal about its development?
Sri Lanka's age structure — 21.4% under 15, 65.8% working-age (15–64) and 12.8% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 33.6 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has 52.0 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Sri Lanka experiencing a demographic dividend?
Sri Lanka has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Sri Lanka's working-age share peaked in 2005 at 67.5% and is 65.8% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Sri Lanka's population?
Sri Lanka has more females than males, with 93.7 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Sri Lanka Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/sri-lanka
View UN World Population Prospects Data →