Provinces
The area and population of the provinces of Sri Lanka according to census results and latest official estimates.
| Name | Abbr. | Capital | Area A (km²) | Population Census (Cf) 1981-03-17 | Population Census (Cf) 2001-07-17 | Population Census (Cf) 2012-03-20 | Population Estimate (Ep) 2021-07-01 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | LKA | Colombo / Sri Jayawardenepura | 65,610 | 14,846,750 | 18,797,257 | 20,359,439 | 22,156,000 | → | ||
| Central (Madhyama) | CEN | Kandy | 5,674 | 2,009,248 | 2,423,966 | 2,571,557 | 2,811,000 | 567400 | → | |
| Eastern (Kilakku, Negenahira) | EAS | Trincomalee | 9,996 | 975,251 | 1,419,602 | 1,555,510 | 1,783,000 | 999600 | → | |
| North Central (Uturumeda) | NCE | Anuradhapura | 10,472 | 849,492 | 1,104,677 | 1,266,663 | 1,402,000 | 1047200 | → | |
| Northern (Vatakku, Uturu) | NOR | Jaffna | 8,884 | 1,109,404 | 1,040,963 | 1,061,315 | 1,165,000 | 888400 | → | |
| North Western (Wayamba) | NWE | Kurunegala | 7,888 | 1,704,334 | 2,169,892 | 2,380,861 | 2,592,000 | 788800 | → | |
| Sabaragamuwa | SAB | Ratnapura | 4,968 | 1,482,031 | 1,801,331 | 1,928,655 | 2,088,000 | 496800 | → | |
| Southern (Dakunu) | SOU | Galle | 5,544 | 1,882,661 | 2,278,271 | 2,477,285 | 2,696,000 | 554400 | → | |
| Uva | UVA | Badulla | 8,500 | 914,522 | 1,177,358 | 1,266,463 | 1,400,000 | 850000 | → | |
| Western (Basnahira) | WES | Colombo | 3,684 | 3,919,807 | 5,381,197 | 5,851,130 | 6,219,000 | 368400 | → |
- The Northern and Eastern province were not or only partially enumerated during the 2001 census. Thus, their 2001 figures are estimates.
- Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka (web).
Major Cities
| Name | Adm. | Population Census (Cf) 2012-03-20 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombo | WES | 561,314 |
| 2 | Kaduwela | WES | 252,041 |
| 3 | Maharagama | WES | 196,423 |
| 4 | Kesbewa | WES | 185,122 |
| 5 | Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia | WES | 184,468 |
| 6 | Moratuwa | WES | 168,280 |
| 7 | Negombo | WES | 142,449 |
| 8 | Sri Jayawardenepura | WES | 107,925 |
| 9 | Kalmunai | EAS | 99,893 |
| 10 | Kandy | CEN | 98,828 |
Contents: Cities
The population of all cities (i.e. municipal and urban councils) in Sri Lanka by census years.
| Name | Status | Adm. | Population Census (Cf) 1981-03-17 | Population Census (Cf) 2001-07-17 | Population Census (Cf) 2012-03-20 | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akkaraipattu | MC | EAS | ... | ... | 30,934 | 700 | |
| Ambalangoda | UC | SOU | 15,560 | 19,720 | 19,990 | 710 | |
| Ampara | UC | EAS | 16,213 | 17,957 | 22,511 | 3200 | |
| Anuradhapura | MC | NCE | 35,981 | 53,151 | 50,595 | 3600 | |
| Badulla | MC | UVA | 33,068 | 41,005 | 42,237 | 1040 | |
| Balangoda | UC | SAB | 10,070 | 12,062 | 16,510 | 650 | |
| Bandarawela | MC | UVA | ... | ... | 24,168 | 2700 | |
| Batticaloa | MC | EAS | 42,963 | 80,313 | 86,227 | 7500 | |
| Beruwala | UC | WES | 26,320 | 33,053 | 37,793 | 440 | |
| Boralesgamuwa | UC | WES | ... | ... | 60,110 | 0 | |
| Chavakachcheri | UC | NOR | ... | ... | 16,129 | 1950 | |
| Chilaw | UC | NWE | 20,810 | 24,105 | 21,441 | 560 | |
| Colombo | MC | WES | 587,647 | 647,100 | 561,314 | 3730 | |
| Dambulla | MC | CEN | ... | ... | 23,814 | 5400 | |
| Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia | MC | WES | 173,529 | 210,546 | 184,468 | 2100 | |
| Embilipitiya | UC | SAB | ... | ... | 36,712 | 0 | |
| Eravur | UC | EAS | ... | ... | 24,643 | 0 | |
| Galle | MC | SOU | 76,863 | 90,270 | 86,333 | 1680 | |
| Gampaha | MC | WES | 10,656 | 57,461 | 62,335 | 3800 | |
| Gampola | UC | CEN | 21,224 | 24,283 | 37,871 | 330 | |
| Hambantota | MC | SOU | 8,577 | 11,134 | 23,236 | 8300 | |
| Haputale | UC | UVA | ... | 4,780 | 5,288 | 230 | |
| Hatton-Dickoya | UC | CEN | 9,860 | 14,255 | 14,585 | 210 | |
| Hikkaduwa | UC | SOU | ... | ... | 27,075 | 0 | |
| Horana | UC | WES | ... | 9,149 | 9,550 | 410 | |
| Ja-Ela | UC | WES | 24,485 | 30,910 | 31,232 | 770 | |
| Jaffna | MC | NOR | 118,224 | ... | 80,829 | 2020 | |
| Kadugannawa | UC | CEN | ... | 1,215 | 12,654 | 80 | |
| Kaduwela (Battaramulla) | MC | WES | ... | 209,251 | 252,041 | 8700 | |
| Kalmunai (incl. Sainthamarathu) | MC | EAS | 22,825 | 94,579 | 99,893 | 2300 | |
| Kalutara | UC | WES | 31,503 | 37,451 | 32,417 | 850 | |
| Kandy | MC | CEN | 97,872 | 109,343 | 98,828 | 2700 | |
| Kattankudy (Kathankudi) | UC | EAS | 17,500 | 34,749 | 40,356 | 0 | |
| Katunayake (-Seeduwa) | UC | WES | 31,491 | 73,316 | 60,915 | 2180 | |
| Kegalle | UC | SAB | 15,016 | 17,139 | 15,993 | 800 | |
| Kesbewa | UC | WES | ... | ... | 185,122 | 0 | |
| Kilinochchi | NOR | ... | ... | ... | 0 | ||
| Kinniya | UC | EAS | ... | ... | 36,772 | 0 | |
| Kolonnawa | UC | WES | 41,005 | 55,341 | 60,044 | 1630 | |
| Kuliyapitiya | UC | NWE | 5,800 | 6,382 | 5,509 | 790 | |
| Kurunegala | MC | NWE | 26,198 | 28,401 | 24,833 | 1140 | |
| Maharagama | UC | WES | ... | 185,193 | 196,423 | 3800 | |
| Mannar | UC | NOR | ... | ... | 24,417 | 2800 | |
| Matale | MC | CEN | 29,752 | 36,451 | 36,462 | 900 | |
| Matara | MC | SOU | 38,843 | 76,254 | 74,193 | 1300 | |
| Minuwangoda | UC | WES | 6,400 | 7,651 | 7,523 | 310 | |
| Moneragala | UVA | ... | ... | ... | 0 | ||
| Moratuwa | MC | WES | 134,826 | 177,563 | 168,280 | 2300 | |
| Mullaitivu | NOR | ... | ... | ... | 0 | ||
| Nawalapitiya | UC | CEN | 12,440 | 13,533 | 13,338 | 430 | |
| Negombo | MC | WES | 60,762 | 121,701 | 142,449 | 3100 | |
| Nuwara Eliya | MC | CEN | 20,471 | 25,388 | 23,804 | 1200 | |
| Panadura | UC | WES | 31,090 | 33,432 | 30,069 | 700 | |
| Peliyagoda | UC | WES | 25,466 | 29,880 | 27,736 | 360 | |
| Point Pedro | UC | NOR | ... | ... | 12,334 | 1110 | |
| Polonnaruwa | NCE | ... | ... | ... | 0 | ||
| Puttalam | UC | NWE | 21,586 | 41,761 | 45,511 | 2560 | |
| Ratnapura | MC | SAB | 37,497 | 46,183 | 47,105 | 2020 | |
| Seethawakapura (Avissawella) | UC | WES | 14,150 | 21,597 | 30,308 | 1970 | |
| Sri Jayawardenepura (Kotte) | MC | WES | 101,039 | 116,366 | 107,925 | 1690 | |
| Tangalle | UC | SOU | 9,590 | 10,458 | 8,473 | 360 | |
| Thalawakele-Lindula | UC | CEN | 5,680 | 3,746 | 4,691 | 150 | |
| Trincomalee | UC | EAS | 44,313 | ... | 48,351 | 780 | |
| Valvettithurai | UC | NOR | ... | ... | 8,283 | 730 | |
| Vavuniya | UC | NOR | 18,512 | 53,143 | 34,816 | 2300 | |
| Wattala-Mabole | UC | WES | 20,000 | 28,852 | 28,031 | 440 | |
| Wattegama | UC | CEN | 6,470 | 7,843 | 8,157 | 420 | |
| Weligama | UC | SOU | 17,720 | 21,783 | 22,377 | 530 |
- Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka (web).