Population in largest city in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population in largest city was 647,557 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population in largest city in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Sri Lanka is 647,557, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Sri Lanka peaked at 647,557 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 484,952, in 1960.
Sri Lanka ranks 137th of 153 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in largest city in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 484,952 | — |
| 1961 | 493,627 | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 502,469 | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 511,470 | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 517,437 | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 523,394 | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 529,428 | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 535,531 | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 541,713 | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 547,950 | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 554,267 | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 560,657 | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 564,326 | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 566,952 | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 569,595 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 572,250 | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 574,921 | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 577,597 | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 580,289 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 582,994 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 585,715 | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 588,456 | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 591,252 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 594,061 | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 596,887 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 599,719 | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 602,568 | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 605,431 | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 608,311 | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 611,197 | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 614,100 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 617,018 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 619,953 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 622,894 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 625,854 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 628,827 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 631,818 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 634,816 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 637,832 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 640,862 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 643,911 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 646,966 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 638,910 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 630,455 | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 622,101 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 613,880 | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 605,756 | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 597,740 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 589,820 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 582,025 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 574,323 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 566,723 | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 562,985 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 568,957 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 575,000 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 581,107 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 587,279 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 593,517 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 599,821 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 606,158 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 612,535 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 619,001 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 625,637 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 632,543 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 639,818 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 647,557 | +1.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 647,557 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.00 million, 22% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 518,797 | 484,952 | 547,950 | 10 |
| 1970s | 570,385 | 554,267 | 582,994 | 10 |
| 1980s | 598,360 | 585,715 | 611,197 | 10 |
| 1990s | 627,397 | 614,100 | 640,862 | 10 |
| 2000s | 617,156 | 582,025 | 646,966 | 10 |
| 2010s | 581,587 | 562,985 | 606,158 | 10 |
| 2020s | 629,515 | 612,535 | 647,557 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More urban development data for Sri Lanka
- Population in the largest city 14.6% (2025)
- Population density 356.24 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.2 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 87.19 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 45.5% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 1.29 million current US$ (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Sri Lanka?
- Population in largest city in Sri Lanka was 647,557 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 647,557 in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 484,952 in 1960.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population in largest city?
- Sri Lanka ranks 137th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.