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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 and latest official estimates.

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
Estimate
2021-07-01
Central (Madhyama)Province2,009,2482,423,9662,571,5572,811,000
KandyDistrict1,048,3171,279,0281,375,3821,501,000
MataleDistrict357,354441,328484,531530,000
Nuwara EliyaDistrict603,577703,610711,644780,000
Eastern (Kilakku, Negenahira)Province975,2511,419,6021,555,5101,783,000
AmparaDistrict388,970592,997649,402752,000
BatticaloaDistrict330,333486,447526,567590,000
TrincomaleeDistrict255,948340,158379,541441,000
North Central (Uturumeda)Province849,4921,104,6771,266,6631,402,000
AnuradhapuraDistrict587,929745,693860,575954,000
PolonnaruwaDistrict261,563358,984406,088448,000
Northern (Vatakku, Uturu)Province1,109,4041,040,9631,061,3151,165,000
JaffnaDistrict738,788490,621583,882626,000
KilinochchiDistrict91,764127,263113,510133,000
MannarDistrict106,235151,57799,570114,000
MullaitivuDistrict77,189121,66792,23898,000
VavuniyaDistrict95,428149,835172,115194,000
North Western (Wayamba)Province1,704,3342,169,8922,380,8612,592,000
KurunegalaDistrict1,211,8011,460,2151,618,4651,743,000
PuttalamDistrict492,533709,677762,396849,000
SabaragamuwaProvince1,482,0311,801,3311,928,6552,088,000
KegalleDistrict684,944785,524840,648898,000
RatnapuraDistrict797,0871,015,8071,088,0071,190,000
Southern (Dakunu)Province1,882,6612,278,2712,477,2852,696,000
GalleDistrict814,531990,4871,063,3341,147,000
HambantotaDistrict424,344526,414599,903676,000
MataraDistrict643,786761,370814,048873,000
UvaProvince914,5221,177,3581,266,4631,400,000
BadullaDistrict640,952779,983815,405895,000
MoneragalaDistrict273,570397,375451,058505,000
Western (Basnahira)Province3,919,8075,381,1975,851,1306,219,000
ColomboDistrict1,699,2412,251,2742,324,3492,480,000
GampahaDistrict1,390,8622,063,6842,304,8332,443,000
KalutaraDistrict829,7041,066,2391,221,9481,296,000
Sri LankaRepublic14,846,75018,797,25720,359,43922,156,000

Source: Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka (web).

Explanation: The 2021 estimates 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)
Buddhist14,272,056
Hindu2,561,299
Muslim1,967,523
Christian1,552,161
Other religion6,400
Place of Birth (C 2012)
in the same district16,916,180
elsewhere3,443,259