The mid year population in 2000 is estimated to be 19.36 million showing an increase of 1.7 per cent compared with a 1.4 per cent increase in 1999. This increase was due to both natural increase and net migration in 2000. However, according to the World Development Report 2000, the average annual population growth in Sri Lanka was well below that of most countries in the South Asian region due to the demographic transition, and improvements in other socio-economic conditions that have taken place in recent years.

Nevertheless, the net addition of between 200,000 to 300,000 persons annually to the population of the country continues to impose a burden on its limited resources. The rising share of aged population would further aggravate the situation. A higher dependency ratio, land fragmentation, high cost of social overheads such as education, health and housing, and problems associated with an ageing population, are some of socio-economic issues associated with the current structure and trend in population, which need the attention of policy makers. 

Sinhala and Tamil are official languages in Sri Lanka. Sinhala, a language of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. English is widely spoken and understood. Place names and sign-boards on buses and trains are usually in all three languages. Sri Lanka is a land of religious freedom and tolerance. Wherever you travel you will come across a Buddhist Temple or Dagaba, a Hindu Kovil, a Christian Church or a Mosque, each with its own distinctive architecture. When visiting holy places please conform to the requirements as regards dress in order not to show disrespect.

Population :19,576,783
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of mid-1999, approximately 66,000 were housed in 133 refugee camps in south India, another 40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2002 est.)

Ethnic Groups :
Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%

Religions :
Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999)

Language :
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

Age Structure :
0-14 years: 25.6% (male 2,559,246; female 2,446,393)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 6,446,320; female 6,802,515)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 628,398; female 693,911) (2002 est.)

Population Growth Rate :0.85% (2002 est.) / Death Rate : 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) / Net Migration Rate :-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex Ratio :
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth :
total population: 72.35 years
female: 75 years (2002 est.)
male: 69.83 years

Total Fertility Rate :1.93 children born/woman (2002 est.) / Infant Mortality Rate:15.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Literacy :
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.2%
male: 93.4%
female: 87.2% (1995 est.)

Population and Land Area by Provinces