The final report of the 15th Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, which was successfully completed in 2024, was launched today by the Department of Census and Statistics in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The 15th Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka is the first instance in which Information Technology was utilized for national-scale data collection.
A summary of the report states that the total population of Sri Lanka is reported at 21,781,800, with a national population density of 350 persons per square kilometre. The Western Province continues to serve as the nation’s primary demographic hub, containing 28.1 per cent of the total population. Collectively, nearly two-thirds of the country’s inhabitants reside within four provinces: Western (28.1%), Central (12.5%), Southern (12.0%), and North-western (11.9%). At the district level, Gampaha reported the highest population (2,436,142), while Mullaitivu (122,619) remains the least populous.
The 2024 data highlight a significant transition toward an ageing society. The elderly population (60 years and over) now constitutes 18.0 per cent of the total population, while the child population (0-14 years) has contracted to 20.7 per cent. This shift is further evidenced by an Ageing Index of 87, indicating that there are 87 elderly persons for every 100 children. Furthermore, the Median Age (35 years) has increased by approximately five years compared to the previous census conducted in 2012, reflecting a maturing population structure.
The national sex ratio is reported at 93.3, indicating that females outnumber males in the country. Marital analysis shows that 41.8 per cent of the population is never married, and the Singulate Mean Age at Marriage is 29.2 years for males and 25.6 years for females. Notably, a significant gender disparity exists in late-life widowhood, with 44.2percent of females aged 65 and over being widowed, compared to 10.5 per cent of males. Further, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 1.3, remaining below the replacement threshold, while the Total Marital Fertility Rate (TMFR) is 2.7.
While the working-age population (15-59 years) remains the largest cohort at 61.3 per cent, the dependency structure is shifting. The Child Dependency Ratio has declined to 33.7, while the Old-Age Dependency Ratio has risen significantly to 29.4, placing an increased dependency burden on the current workforce.
The ethnic landscape of Sri Lanka in 2024 is characterized by a Sinhalese majority, which accounts for 74.1 per cent of the total population, followed by Sri Lankan Tamils at 12.3 per cent and Sri Lanka Moors/Muslim at 10.5 per cent. In terms of religious affiliation, Buddhism remains the predominant faith, practiced by 69.8 per cent of the population, while Hindu, Islam, and Roman Catholic represent 12.6 per cent, 10.7 per cent, and 5.6 per cent of the total population, respectively.
Sri Lanka has achieved a historic milestone in education, with the national language literacy rate rising to 97.4 per cent in 2024, up from 95.7 per cent in 2012. Notably, for the first time since the inception of the census in 1881, the traditional gender gap in literacy has closed, with both males and females reaching an almost equal literacy rate of 97.9 and 97.0 per cent respectively. In terms of modern competencies, digital literacy among individuals aged 5 and over has reached 67.6 per cent, while computer literacy stands at 34.7 per cent, reflecting the nation’s ongoing digital transformation.
Sri Lanka comprises a total of 6,111,315 households. The Nuclear Household remains the predominant structure, accounting for over 50.0 per cent of all households. The average household size is 3.5 persons, with the Estate Sector reporting the highest average at 3.6. Nationally, over 70.0 per cent of household heads are male. A critical demographic finding is the prevalence of Single-Person Households, which account for 10.5 per cent of the total. Within this category, 640,704 households consist of individuals living alone; notably, 370,229 of these are aged 60 and over, and, of them, majority are females (71.3%).
The census also provides statistics on functional difficulties among the population aged 5 years and over, across six core domains: vision, hearing, mobility (walking or climbing steps), cognition (remembering and concentration), self-care, and communication. 3,223,413 individuals (157 per 1,000) report at least one physical or mental difficulty. Within this group, 727,293 individuals were identified with significant disabilities across over six core functional domains. This represents a national disability rate of 35 per 1,000, with the highest prevalence rate reported in the Kurunegala District (43 per 1,000).
According to data for 2024, 19.2 per cent of the population (4.18 million people) are reported to be suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Based on self-reported information, the highest prevalence rates are observed for High blood pressure (10.1%) and Diabetes (8.5%). These conditions are more widespread among females and older individuals, with more than half of the population aged 60 years and over affected by at least one chronic disease. Furthermore, as the level of education increases, the risk of experiencing non-communicable diseases gradually decreases. This indicates the existence of a significant “health literacy gap.”
Lifetime migrants characterize 13 per cent of the population. The districts with the highest percentages of lifetime migrants are Vavuniya (29.2%), Kilinochchi (24.0%), and Mullaitivu (23.9%), while Colombo hosts the largest absolute volume of migrants (491,236). Migration by previous residence is predominantly long-term (62.9 per cent staying over 10 years) and driven largely by Marriage (41.8%), followed by Employment (17.5%). The highest internal in-migrant population is reported from Gampaha (524,737), and Colombo (519,379) is in second place. Interestingly, migration for employment is significantly higher in Colombo (37.8%) and Gampaha (26.1%) than the value reported for the country (17.5%).
As of 2024, 672,249 Sri Lankans are temporarily living abroad, a group dominated by males (61.3%). The primary drivers for overseas migration are Employment (86.0%) and Education (8.0%). The highest numbers of migrants originated from the Gampaha (12.8%), Colombo (10.6%), and Kurunegala (9.5%) districts. The Middle Eastern region remains the primary destination, specifically Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Australia and Japan are the main destinations of those who have migrated for Education.
In terms of workforce engagement, the census highlights a 47.3 per cent labour force participation rate, leaving a substantial 52.7 per cent of the working-age population economically inactive. This inactivity is defined by a clear gender split: over half of inactive females (50.6%) are kept from the workforce by domestic duties and caregiving roles, whereas the largest share of inactive males (41.3 per cent) is inactive due to education or professional training. Within the economically active cohort, the Employment Rate stands at 94 per cent, while the Unemployment Rate is 6 per cent. Spatial analysis reveals significant regional disparities; the Batticaloa District reports the highest incidence of unemployment at 10.1 per cent, while the Moneragala District records the lowest unemployment rate of 3.9 per cent.
Regarding living conditions, the census identified 6,030,541 occupied housing units, an increase of 822,801 units since 2012. The Rural sector contains the highest concentration of housing (4.77 million units), and the Gampaha district reports the highest number of occupied dwellings. Infrastructure and utility access have seen considerable modernization. Access to the national electricity grid has reached a near-universal 98.0 per cent, while 92.2 per cent of households have access to drinking water within their housing unit or garden.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board serves as the primary water source for 38.9 per cent of households. In terms of energy, though 55.4 per cent of households still utilize firewood for cooking, there has been a significant nationwide shift toward LPG (42.4%) compared to 2012. Sanitation standards are high, with 99.6 per cent of households utilizing water-sealed toilets.
Furthermore, a major shift in communication technology is evident: while use of radios, desktop computers, and fixed-line phones has plummeted, laptop usage has surged from 5.6 per cent to 19.7 per cent, and motorcycles/scooters have emerged as the most prevalent mode of private transport.
Full report : https://www.statistics.gov.lk//Resource/en/Population/CPH_2024/CPH2024_Final_Eng.pdf (Newswire)