The total population of Sri Lanka stands at 21,763,170, according to the latest Census of Population and Housing 2024, which was officially presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (07 April).
This marks an increase of over 1.4 million compared to the last census conducted in 2012.
The 2024 enumeration phase—the 15th national census—was carried out between October 2024 and the second week of February 2025. The official census moment was recorded at midnight on 19 December 2024.
The report shows that the country’s annual population growth rate has declined from 0.7 percent (2001–2012) to 0.5 percent (2012–2024), indicating a slowdown in growth, though the population continues to rise.
The Western Province remains the most populous, accounting for 28.1 percent of the total population, while the Northern Province reports the lowest share at 5.3 percent.
Gampaha District leads with the highest population of 2,433,685, followed closely by Colombo District with 2,374,461. Kurunegala, Kandy, Kalutara, Ratnapura, and Galle also each recorded populations exceeding one million.
On the other end, Mullaitivu (122,542), Mannar (123,674), Kilinochchi (136,434), and Vavuniya (172,257) — all in the Northern Province — remain the least populated districts.
Mullaitivu District recorded the highest annual growth rate at 2.23 percent, while Vavuniya showed the lowest at just 0.01 percent.
Colombo District also continues to have the highest population density with 3,549 persons per square kilometer, while Mullaitivu has the lowest at 50 persons per square kilometer.
The census was conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics. (Newswire)