A general view shows Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. (AFP)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's total population stood at 21.78 million, marking a modest growth since the previous national census in 2012, according to preliminary results of the 2024 census released by the Department of Census and Statistics.
Female made up 51.7 percent of the population, compared with 48.3 percent male. The national sex ratio was recorded at 93.3, meaning there were 93 males for every 100 females.
The report highlighted Sri Lanka's rapidly aging demographic structure. The share of the population aged 65 and above rose sharply to 12.6 percent in 2024 from 7.9 percent in 2012. In contrast, the child population under 15 declined from 25.2 percent to 20.7 percent during the same period.
The working-age group (15-64 years old) accounted for 66.7 percent of the total population, slightly down from 66.9 percent 12 years earlier.
