Demographics of Sri Lanka

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Demographics of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka single age population pyramid 2020.png
Sri Lanka population pyramid in 2020
Population23,187,516 (2022)
Density332/km2(2018)
Growth rate0.61% (2022)
Birth rate11.2 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Death rate8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Life expectancy75.94 years (2012 est.)
 • male72.43 years (2012 est.)
 • female79.59 years (2012 est.)
Fertility rate1.97 children born/woman (2023 est.) [1]
Infant mortality rate9.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years25.24% (2019) [2]
15–64 years66.92% (2019) [2]
65 and over7.84% (2019) [2]
Sex ratio
Total0.93 male(s)/female (2018) [2]
At birth1.02 male(s)/female (2018) [2]
Under 151.02 male(s)/female (2018) [2]
15–64 years0.93 male(s)/female (2018) [2]
65 and over0.76 male(s)/female (2018) [2]
Nationality
Nationalitynoun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Major ethnic Sinhala (74.9%) (2012 census)
Minor ethnic
Language
Official Sinhala, Tamil
Spoken English
Historical population of Sri Lanka Historical population of Sri Lanka.svg
Historical population of Sri Lanka

This is a demography of the population of Sri Lanka including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the population, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Contents

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, also called Ceylon and many other names. It is about the size of Ireland. It is about 28 kilometres (18 mi.) off the south-eastern coast of India with a population of about 22 million. Density is highest in the south west where Colombo, the country's main port and industrial center, is located. The net population growth is about 0.7%. Sri Lanka is ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse.

Overview

Population of Sri Lanka
YearPop.±%
1827 [a] 889,584—    
1871 2,400,380+169.8%
1881 2,759,738+15.0%
1891 3,007,789+9.0%
1901 3,565,954+18.6%
1911 4,106,350+15.2%
1921 4,498,605+9.6%
1931 5,306,871+18.0%
1946 6,657,339+25.4%
1953 8,097,895+21.6%
1963 10,582,064+30.7%
1971 12,689,897+19.9%
1981 14,846,750+17.0%
1990 17,325,773+16.7%
2000 18,777,601+8.4%
2010 20,261,737+7.9%
2020 21,413,249+5.7%
Source: [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

According to the 2012 census the population of Sri Lanka was 20,359,439, giving a population density of 325/km2. [7] The population had grown by 5,512,689 (37.1%) since the 1981 census (the last full census), equivalent to an annual growth rate of 1.1%. [7] 3,704,470 (18.2%) lived in urban sectors - areas governed by municipal and urban councils. [8]

5,131,666 (25.2%) of the population were aged 14 or under whilst 2,525,573 (12.4%) were aged 60 or over, leaving a working age (15-59) population of 12,702,700. [9] The dependency ratio was 60.2%. [7] The mean age was 32 years and the median age was 31 years. [7] The sex ratio was 94 males per 100 females. [7] The fertility rate for married females aged 15 or over was 2.65 live births. [10] There were 5,264,282 households, of which 3,986,236 (75.7%) were headed by males and 1,278,046 (24.3%) were headed by females. [7]

Of the 15,227,773 aged 15 or over, 10,322,105 (67.8%) were married, 3,927,602 (25.8%) were never married, 792,947 (5.2%) were widowed and 185,119 (1.2%) were divorced or separated. [11]

Of those aged 15 or over, 7,857,370 (51.6%) were economically active, 4,199,558 (27.6%) did housework, 1,431,105 (9.4%) were students, 914,934 (6.0%) were unable to work and 346,084 (2.3%) were pensioners. [12] 521,938 (6.6%) of the economically active were unemployed. [7] 604,540 Sri Lankans were living aboard for more than six months but were intending to return to Sri Lanka, mostly in the Gulf states (373,050 61.7%). [13]

The overall literacy rate for those aged 10 and over was 95.7% but amongst those living in the estate sector it was only 86.1%. [14] Of the 18,615,577 aged 5 or over, 499,563 (2.7%) had received a higher education qualification, 2,293,841 (12.3%) had passed G.C.E. A/L, 3,159,402 (17.0%) had passed G.C.E. O/L and 700,419 (3.8%) had no formal schooling. [15] The remaining 11,962,352 (64.3%) had left school with no qualifications or were currently at school. [15]

Sri Lanka's population is aging faster than any other nation in South Asia and has the fifth highest rapidly growing population of older people in Asia after China, Thailand, South Korea and Japan. [16] [17] [18] In 2015, Sri Lanka's population aged over 60 was 13.9%, by 2030 this will increase to 21% and by 2050 this number will reach 27.4%. [17] [18] Sri Lanka's rapidly growing older population has ignited concerns of the socio-economic challenges that the country will face because of this. [19]

Ethnicity

Majority ethnicity by DS Division according to 2012 census Sri Lanka - Ethnicity 2012.png
Majority ethnicity by DS Division according to 2012 census

The Sinhalese make up 74.9% of the population (according to 2012 census) and are concentrated in the densely populated south-west and central parts of the island. [20]

The Sri Lanka Tamils, who live predominantly in the north and east of the island, form the largest minority group at 11.1% (according to the 2012 census) of the population. [20]

The Moors, descendants of Arab + Indian traders and native Sri Lankan Tamils, form the third largest ethnic group at 9.3% of the population. [20] These Tamil-speaking Muslims are mostly concentrated in urban areas in the southern parts of the island with substantial populations in the Central and Eastern provinces. During times of Portuguese colonization, Moors were persecuted, and many forced to retreat to the central highlands and the eastern coast.[ citation needed ]

There are also Indian Tamils who form a distinct ethnic group comprising 4.1% of the population. [20] The British brought them to Sri Lanka in the 19th century as tea and rubber plantation workers, and they remain concentrated in the "tea country" of south-central Sri Lanka. The Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka were considered to be "stateless" and over 300,000 Indian Tamils were deported back to India, due to the agreement between Sri Lanka and India in 1964. [21] Under the pact, India granted citizenship to the remainder, some 200,000 of whom now live in India. Another 75,000 Indian Tamils, who themselves or whose parents once applied for Indian citizenship, now wish to remain in Sri Lanka. The government has stated these Tamils will not be forced to return to India, although they are not technically citizens of Sri Lanka. By the 1990s most Indian Tamils had received Sri Lankan citizenship, and some even were not granted Sri Lankan citizenship until 2003. [21] [22]

Smaller minorities include the Veddas, the indigenous people of Sri Lanka; Malays who descend from Austronesian settlers; the Burghers, who are descendants of European colonists, principally from Portugal, the Netherlands and, the UK; the ethnic Chinese migrants who came to the island in the 18th and 19th centuries; and the Kaffirs, a small population who are descended from Africans.

Population of Sri Lanka by ethnic group 1881 to 2012 [20] [23] [24]
Year Sinhalese Sri Lankan Tamils [b] Sri Lankan Moors [c] Indian Tamils [b] Sri Lankan Malays Burghers/
Eurasian		 Indian Moors [c] OthersTotal
No.
No.%No.%No.%No.%No.%No.%No.%No.%
1881 Census1,846,600
66.91%
687,200
24.90%
184,500
6.69%
8,900
0.32%
17,900
0.65%
14,500
0.53%
2,759,700
1891 Census2,041,200
67.86%
723,900
24.07%
197,200
6.56%
10,100
0.34%
21,200
0.70%
14,200
0.47%
3,007,800
1901 Census2,330,800
65.36%
951,700
26.69%
228,000
6.39%
11,900
0.33%
23,500
0.66%
20,000
0.56%
3,566,000
1911 Census2,715,500
66.13%
528,000
12.86%
233,900
5.70%
531,000
12.93%
13,000
0.32%
26,700
0.65%
32,700
0.80%
25,600
0.62%
4,106,400
1921 Census3,016,200
67.05%
517,300
11.50%
251,900
5.60%
602,700
13.40%
13,400
0.30%
29,400
0.65%
33,000
0.73%
34,600
0.77%
4,498,600
1931 Estimate3,473,000
65.45%
598,900
11.29%
289,600
5.46%
818,500
15.43%
16,000
0.30%
32,300
0.61%
36,300
0.68%
41,800
0.79%
5,306,000
1946 Census [d] 4,620,500
69.41%
733,700
11.02%
373,600
5.61%
780,600
11.73%
22,500
0.34%
41,900
0.63%
35,600
0.53%
48,900
0.73%
6,657,300
1953 Census [e] 5,616,700
69.36%
884,700
10.93%
464,000
5.73%
974,100
12.03%
25,400
0.31%
46,000
0.57%
47,500
0.59%
39,500
0.49%
8,097,900
1963 Census7,512,900
71.00%
1,164,700
11.01%
626,800
5.92%
1,123,000
10.61%
33,400
0.32%
45,900
0.43%
55,400
0.52%
19,900
0.19%
10,582,000
1971 Census9,131,241
71.96%
1,423,981
11.22%
855,724
6.74%
1,174,606
9.26%
43,459
0.34%
45,376
0.36%
15,510
0.12%
12,689,897
1981 Census10,979,561
73.95%
1,886,872
12.71%
1,046,926
7.05%
818,656
5.51%
46,963
0.32%
39,374
0.27%
28,398
0.19%
14,846,750
2001 Census [f]
2011 Census [g] 15,250,081
74.90%
2,269,266
11.15%
1,892,638
9.30%
839,504
4.12%
44,130
0.22%
38,293
0.19%
25,527
0.13%
20,359,439

Religion

Majority religion by DS Division according to 2012 census Sri Lanka - Religion 2012.png
Majority religion by DS Division according to 2012 census

Religion in Sri Lanka (2012) [25]

   Buddhism (70.2%)
   Hinduism (12.6%)
   Islam (9.7%)
   Roman Catholic (6.1%)
  Other Christian (1.3%)
  Other (0.05%)

According to the 2012 census Buddhists make up 70.2% of the population, Hindus 12.6%, Muslims 9.7% and Christians 7.6%. [26] Most Sinhalese are Buddhist; most Tamils are Hindu; and the Moors and Malays are mostly Muslim. Sizeable minorities of both Sinhalese and Tamils are Christians, most of whom are Roman Catholic. The Burgher population is mostly Roman Catholic or Presbyterian. The Veddas have Animist and Buddhist practices. The 1978 constitution, while assuring freedom of religion, gives "the foremost place" to Buddhism. [27] [28]

Population of Sri Lanka by religion 1881 to 2012 [26] [29] [30]
Year Buddhist Hindu Muslim Christian OthersTotal
No.%No.%No.%No.%No.%No.
1881 Census1,698,100
61.53%
593,600
21.51%
197,800
7.17%
268,000
9.71%
2,300
0.08%
2,759,800
1891 Census1,877,000
62.40%
615,900
20.48%
212,000
7.05%
302,100
10.04%
800
0.03%
3,007,800
1901 Census2,141,400
60.06%
826,800
23.19%
246,100
6.90%
349,200
9.79%
2,500
0.07%
3,566,000
1911 Census2,474,200
60.25%
938,300
22.85%
283,600
6.91%
409,200
9.96%
1,100
0.03%
4,106,400
1921 Census2,769,800
61.57%
982,100
21.83%
302,500
6.72%
443,400
9.86%
800
0.02%
4,498,600
1931 Estimate3,266,600
61.55%
1,166,900
21.99%
354,200
6.67%
518,100
9.76%
1,100
0.02%
5,306,900
1946 Census4,294,900
64.51%
1,320,400
19.83%
436,600
6.56%
603,200
9.06%
2,200
0.03%
6,657,300
1953 Census5,209,400
64.33%
1,610,500
19.89%
541,500
6.69%
724,400
8.95%
12,100
0.15%
8,097,900
1963 Census7,003,300
66.18%
1,958,400
18.51%
724,000
6.84%
884,900
8.36%
11,400
0.11%
10,582,000
1971 Census8,536,868
67.27%
2,238,666
17.64%
901,785
7.11%
1,004,326
7.91%
8,252
0.07%
12,689,897
1981 Census10,288,325
69.30%
2,297,806
15.48%
1,121,717
7.56%
1,130,568
7.61%
8,334
0.06%
14,846,750
2001 Census [f]
2012 Census [g] 14,272,056
70.10%
2,561,299
12.58%
1,967,523
9.66%
1,552,161
7.62%
6,400
0.03%
20,359,439

Languages

A multi-lingual road sign A road sign in Colombo - Katunayake Expressway, Sri Lanka.jpg
A multi-lingual road sign

Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language, is the first language of Sinhalese people.

Tamil, a Dravidian language, is the first language of native Sri Lankan Tamils. Tamil is also the first language of the majority of Sri Lankan Moors and the Indian Tamils - according to the 2012 census 98% of Sri Lankan Moors could speak Tamil but only 59% could speak Sinhala. [31]

English is fluently spoken by approximately 23.8% [32] of the Sri Lanka's population, and widely used for official and commercial purposes.

Malays speak Sri Lanka Malay, a Creole language mixing Sinhala, Tamil and Malay. Many of the Burghers speak Sri Lankan Indo-Portuguese although its use has declined and the majority now speak Sinhala. [31] The Veddas speak Vedda, a Creole language closely based on Sinhala. Use of English has declined since independence, but it continues to be spoken by many in the middle and upper middle classes, particularly in Colombo. According to the 2012 census 24% of the population could speak English. [31] The government is seeking to reverse the decline in the use of English, mainly for economic but also for political reasons. According to the constitution Sinhala and Tamil are official languages whilst English is the link language. [33]

Vital statistics

UN estimates: [34]

PeriodLive births per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR1CDR1NC1TFR1IMR1
1950–1955322,000171,000151,00037.419.817.55.80103.9
1955–1960367,000143,000223,00038.615.123.55.8086.7
1960–1965377,000128,000248,00035.512.123.45.2077.5
1965–1970391,000116,000276,00032.99.723.24.7069.3
1970–1975383,000103,000280,00029.17.821.34.0055.4
1975–1980401,00099,000302,00027.86.920.93.6138.8
1980–1985401,00096,000305,00025.66.119.53.1930.3
1985–1990362,000110,000253,00021.66.515.12.6424.1
1990–1995349,000119,000230,00019.66.712.92.3922.1
1995–2000329,000146,000183,00017.87.99.92.1618.9
2000–2005360,000121,000239,00018.76.312.42.2715.9
2005–2010386,000132,000253,00019.06.512.52.3612.4
2010–201516.46.69.82.11
2015–202014.97.17.82.03
1CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): [35]

Yeartotalurbanruralestate
CBRTFRCBRTFRCBRTFRCBRTFR
1981–19833,12,43,23,4
19872,8 (2,4)2,3 (1,9)2,9 (2,4)3,4 (3,2)
2006–200718,72,3 (2,1)18,52,2 (2,0)18,62,3 (2,1)20,02,5 (2,1)

Births and deaths

YearPopulationLive birthsDeathsNatural increaseCrude birth rateCrude death rateRate of natural increaseCrude migration rateTFR
1948287,69593,711193,98439.713.026.7
1949291,19191,889199,30239.112.426.7
1950304,63595,142209,49339.712.627.1
1951313,662100,072213,59039.812.926.9
1952313,53295,298218,23438.812.026.8
1953321,21789,003232,21438.710.927.8
1954303,89486,794217,10035.710.425.3
1955325,53894,368231,17037.311.026.3
1956325,06787,561237,50636.49.826.6
1957334,13592,759241,37636.510.126.4
1958335,69090,815244,87535.89.726.1
1959356,33687,971268,36537.09.127.9
1960361,70284,918276,78436.68.628.0
1961363,67781,653282,02435.88.027.8
1962370,76288,928281,83435.58.527.0
1963365,84291,673274,16934.18.525.6
1964361,57795,618265,95933.28.824.4
1965369,43791,728277,70933.18.824.3
1966369,15394,419274,73432.38.324.0
1967369,53187,877281,65431.97.524.4
1968384,17894,903289,27532.07.924.1
1969372,774102,356270,41830.48.122.3
1970367,90194,129273,77229.47.521.9
1971382,66896,328286,34030.47.722.7
1972385,462100,080285,38230.08.121.9
1973367,158100,678266,48028.07.720.3
1974365,902119,518246,38427.59.018.5
1975374,689115,108259,58127.88.519.3
1976380,702106,506274,19627.87.820.0
1977389,522103,284286,23827.97.420.5
1978404,83193,971310,86028.56.621.9
1979417,98694,244323,74228.96.522.4
1980418,37391,020327,35328.46.222.2
1981423,97388,481335,49228.25.922.3
1982408,89592,244316,65126.96.120.8
1983405,12295,174309,94826.36.220.1
1984391,064100,725290,33925.16.518.6
1985389,59998,089291,51024.66.218.4
1986361,73596,145265,59022.46.016.4
1987357,72397,756259,96721.86.015.8
1988344,17995,934248,24520.75.814.9
1989363,343105,239258,10421.66.315.3
1990341,22397,713243,51020.86.014.8
1991356,59395,574261,01921.75.815.9
1992356,84298,380258,46221.55.915.6
1993350,70796,179254,52820.85.715.1
1994356,071100,394255,67720.85.914.9
1995343,224104,707238,51719.96.013.9
1996340,649122,161218,48819.57.012.5
1997333,219114,591218,62818.86.412.4
1998322,672112,653210,01918.26.212.0
1999328,725115,330213,39518.16.311.8
2000347,749116,200231,54918.46.112.3
2001358,583112,858245,72518.95.913.0
2002367,709111,863255,84619.15.813.3
2003370,643115,495255,14818.95.913.0
2004364,711114,915249,79618.55.812.7
2005370,731132,097238,63418.16.511.6
2006373,538117,467256,07118.85.912.9
2007386,573118,992267,58119.25.913.3
2008373,575123,814249,76118.46.112.3
2009368,304127,776240,52818.06.211.8
2010364,565128,603235,96217.76.211.4
2011363,415123,261240,15417.45.911.5
201220,425,000355,900122,063233,83717.56.011.52.252
201320,585,000365,792127,124238,66817.96.211.7-3.92.264
201420,771,000349,715127,758221,95716.86.210.6-1.62.148
201520,970,000334,821131,634203,18716.06.39.7-0.12.046
201621,203,000331,073130,765200,30815.66.29.41,71.985
201721,444,000326,052139,822186,23015.26.58.72.71.944
201821,670,000328,112139,498188,61415.16.48.71.81.937
201921,803,000319,010146,053172,95714.66.77.9-1.8
202021,919,000301,706132,431169,27513.86.07.8-2.5
202122,156,000284,848163,936120,91212.97.45.55.31.7(e)
202222,181,000275,321179,79295,52912.48.14.3-3.21.65(e)
202322,037,000247,900181,23966,66111.28.23.0-9.51.49(e)
202421,916,000

[36] [37]

Current vital statistics

[38]

PeriodLive birthsDeathsNatural increase
January - June 2023128,834+
January - June 2024109,025
DifferenceDecrease2.svg -19,809 (-15.4%)Decrease Positive.svgDecrease2.svg -

Life expectancy

Life expectancy in Sri Lanka since 1901 Life expectancy in Sri Lanka.svg
Life expectancy in Sri Lanka since 1901
Life expectancy in Sri Lanka since 1960 by gender Life expectancy by WBG -Sri Lanka -diff.png
Life expectancy in Sri Lanka since 1960 by gender
PeriodLife expectancy in
Years		PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950–195554.51985–199068.9
1955–196058.31990–199570.0
1960–196560.31995–200069.1
1965–197062.92000–200573.2
1970–197565.22005–201074.1
1975–198067.02010–201574.6
1980–198569.1

Source: UN World Population Prospects [39]

Population pyramid

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 20.III.2012): [40]
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total9 856 63410 502 80520 359 439100
0–4879 223864 6391 743 8628.57
5–9882 108865 6441 747 7528.58
10–14829 069810 9831 640 0528.06
15–19819 927824 3221 644 2498.08
20–24742 316790 5671 532 8837.53
25–29743 510809 3381 552 8487.63
30–34796 866842 5491 639 4158.05
35–39686 037723 0401 409 0776.92
40–44661 623697 5861 359 2096.68
45–49618 140667 6901 285 8306.32
50–54581 293638 1671 219 4605.99
55–59500 871563 3581 064 2295.23
60–64425 428492 482917 9104.51
65-69283 764349 525633 2893.11
70-74181 846230 568412 4142.03
75-79116 389166 797283 1861.39
80-8464 25095 129159 3790.78
85-8928 29345 14873 4410.36
90-949 29314 96524 2580.12
95+6 38810 30816 6960.08
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–142 590 4002 541 2665 131 66625.21
15–646 576 0117 049 09913 625 11066.92
65+690 223912 4401 602 6637.87

Immigrant country of origin

As of 2017, 40,018 foreign-born people lived in Sri Lanka per United Nations' population division. [41]

Country of birthPopulation (2017)
Flag of India.svg  India 10,814
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 5,107
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2,482
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 1,755
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 1,689
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1,417
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 1,409
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,193
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 925
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 849
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 829
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 741
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 674
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 613
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 612
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 611
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 561

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Ethnicity in Sri Lanka (2012) [25]

   Sinhalese (74.9%)
   Sri Lanka Tamils (11.2%)
   Sri Lankan Moors (9.3%)
   Indian Tamils (4.2%)
  Other (0.5%)
Population pyramid 2016 Bevolkerungspyramide Sri Lanka 2016.png
Population pyramid 2016

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated: [42]

  • Population - 21,481,334 (July 2012 est.) [h]
  • Age structure - 0–14 years: 23.9% (male 2,594,815/female 2,493,002); 15–64 years: 68% (male 7,089,307/female 7,418,123); 65 years and over: 8.1% (male 803,172/female 926,372) (2010 est.)
  • Median age - total: 31.1 years; male: 30.1 years; female: 32.2 years (2012 est.)
  • Population growth rate - 0.913% (2012 est.)
  • Birth rate - 11.2 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
  • Death rate - 8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
  • Net migration rate - -1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
  • Urbanization - urban population: 14% of total population (2010); rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  • Sex ratio - at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female; under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female; 15–64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female; 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female; total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
  • Infant mortality rate - total: 9.47 deaths/1,000 live births; male: 10.44 deaths/1,000 live births; female: 8.45 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Life expectancy at birth - total population: 75.94 years; male: 72.43 years; female: 79.59 years (2012 est.)
  • Total fertility rate - 1.97 children born/woman (2023 est.)
  • Health expenditures - 4% of GDP (2009)
  • Physicians density - 0.492 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
  • Hospital bed density - 3.1 beds/1,000 population (2004)
  • HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate - less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
  • HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS - 2,800 (2009 est.)
  • HIV/AIDS - deaths - fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
  • Major infectious diseases - degree of risk: high; food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A; vectorborne disease: dengue fever and chikungunya; water contact disease: leptospirosis; animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
  • Nationality - noun: Sri Lankan(s);
    adjective: Sri Lankan
  • Ethnic group - Sinhalese 73.8%; Sri Lankan Tamil 11.15%; Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%; Indian Tamil 4.6%; other 0.5%; unspecified 2.75% (2001 census provisional data) [i]
  • Religion - Buddhism 70.19%; Hinduism 12.61%; Islam 9.71%; Christianity 7.45%; Other 0.05% (2012 [43] provisional data)
  • Languages - Sinhala 74%; Tamil 25%; other 1% [j]
  • Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write; total population: 91.2%; male: 92.6%; female:90% (2010 census)

Notes

  1. ↑ Non-scientific census of the whole island.
  2. 1 2 Indian Tamils were only classified as a separate ethnic group from 1911 onwards. Prior to this they were included with Sri Lankan Tamils.
  3. 1 2 Indian Moors were only classified as a separate ethnic group from 1911 to 1971. Prior to 1911 they were included with Sri Lankan Moors. After 1971 they were included with Others.
  4. ↑ The 1941 Census was postponed due to World War II.
  5. ↑ The 1951 Census was postponed due to a shortage of paper at the time.
  6. 1 2 2001 Census was only carried out in 18 of the 25 districts. Inclusion of data would be misleading.
  7. 1 2 The official census dates for the 2011 Census was 20 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2010 est.) Aside from such migrants, there is an estimated 1.7 million Sri Lankans who are employed abroad (2010 est.), through which Sri Lanka earned USD 4.1 billion in annual worker remittances in 2010. Such remittances are a key source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka.
  9. ↑ These figures are based on the 2001 census which was only carried out partially in the Northern and Eastern provinces, where the majority of Sri Lankan Tamils and Hindus live. Therefore the Sri Lankan Tamil and Hindu percentage is grossly understated. The Sri Lankan government estimates that the Tamils (Sri Lankan and Indian) account for 18% of the population.
  10. ↑ English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population as second language.

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References

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