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Sri Lanka: Administrative Division

Contents: Provinces and Districts

The population of the provinces and districts of Sri Lanka according to census results.

The Details icon links to further information about a selected division including its population structure (gender, urbanization, age groups, age distribution, ethnic group, religion, place of birth).

NameStatusPopulation
Census
1981-03-17		Population
Census
2001-07-17		Population
Census
2012-03-20		Population
Census
2024-12-19
Central (Madhyama)Province2,009,2482,423,9662,571,5572,712,804
KandyDistrict1,048,3171,279,0281,375,3821,461,269
MataleDistrict357,354441,328484,531526,578
Nuwara EliyaDistrict603,577703,610711,644724,957
Eastern (Kilakku, Negenahira)Province975,2511,419,6021,555,5101,782,050
AmparaDistrict388,970592,997649,402744,150
BatticaloaDistrict330,333486,447526,567595,435
TrincomaleeDistrict255,948340,158379,541442,465
North Central (Uturumeda)Province849,4921,104,6771,266,6631,406,890
AnuradhapuraDistrict587,929745,693860,575959,552
PolonnaruwaDistrict261,563358,984406,088447,338
Northern (Vatakku, Uturu)Province1,109,4041,040,9631,061,3151,149,240
JaffnaDistrict738,788490,621583,882594,333
KilinochchiDistrict91,764127,263113,510136,434
MannarDistrict106,235151,57799,570123,674
MullaitivuDistrict77,189121,66792,238122,542
VavuniyaDistrict95,428149,835172,115172,257
North Western (Wayamba)Province1,704,3342,169,8922,380,8612,578,894
KurunegalaDistrict1,211,8011,460,2151,618,4651,760,829
PuttalamDistrict492,533709,677762,396818,065
SabaragamuwaProvince1,482,0311,801,3311,928,6552,015,039
KegalleDistrict684,944785,524840,648869,901
RatnapuraDistrict797,0871,015,8071,088,0071,145,138
Southern (Dakunu)Province1,882,6612,278,2712,477,2852,605,506
GalleDistrict814,531990,4871,063,3341,096,585
HambantotaDistrict424,344526,414599,903671,037
MataraDistrict643,786761,370814,048837,884
UvaProvince914,5221,177,3581,266,4631,399,049
BadullaDistrict640,952779,983815,405871,763
MoneragalaDistrict273,570397,375451,058527,286
Western (Basnahira)Province3,919,8075,381,1975,851,1306,113,698
ColomboDistrict1,699,2412,251,2742,324,3492,374,461
GampahaDistrict1,390,8622,063,6842,304,8332,433,685
KalutaraDistrict829,7041,066,2391,221,9481,305,552
Sri LankaRepublic14,846,75018,797,25720,359,43921,763,170

Source: Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka.

Explanation: The results of the 2024 census are provisional.

Further information about the population structure:

Gender (E 2021)
Males10,727,000
Females11,429,000
Urbanization (C 2012)
Rural15,753,322
Urban3,704,470
Estate901,647
Age Groups (C 2012)
0-14 years5,131,666
15-64 years13,625,110
65+ years1,602,663
Age Distribution (C 2012)
0-9 years3,491,614
10-19 years3,284,301
20-29 years3,085,731
30-39 years3,048,492
40-49 years2,645,039
50-59 years2,283,689
60-69 years1,551,199
70-79 years695,600
80+ years273,774
Ethnic Group (C 2012)
Sinhalese15,250,081
Tamil3,108,770
Sri Lankan Moor1,892,638
Other ethnic group107,950
Religion (C 2012)
Buddhists14,272,056
Hindus2,561,299
Muslims1,967,523
Christians1,552,161
Other religion6,400
Place of Birth (C 2012)
in the same district16,916,180
elsewhere3,443,259