Urban population share in Sri Lanka in 2025 — 20.5%. Ranked 212 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 2.9 pp.
1960–2025 · % of population
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sri Lanka
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20.5 | +0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 20.3 | +0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 20.1 | +0.2 pp |
| 2022 | 20 | +0.2 pp |
| 2021 | 19.8 | +0.2 pp |
| 2020 | 19.7 | +0.2 pp |
| 2019 | 19.5 | +0.2 pp |
| 2018 | 19.3 | +0.2 pp |
| 2017 | 19.2 | +0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 19 | +0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 18.8 | +0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 18.6 | +0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 18.4 | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 18.3 | +0.5 pp |
| 2011 | 17.8 | +0.5 pp |
| 2010 | 17.2 | +0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 16.7 | +0.5 pp |
| 2008 | 16.3 | +0.4 pp |
| 2007 | 15.9 | +0.4 pp |
| 2006 | 15.5 | +0.3 pp |
| 2005 | 15.2 | +0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 14.9 | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 14.7 | +0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 14.6 | +0 pp |
| 2001 | 14.6 | −0 pp |
| 2000 | 14.6 | −0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 14.7 | −0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 14.9 | −0.3 pp |
| 1997 | 15.2 | −0.3 pp |
| 1996 | 15.5 | −0.4 pp |
| 1995 | 15.9 | −0.4 pp |
| 1994 | 16.3 | −0.4 pp |
| 1993 | 16.7 | −0.5 pp |
| 1992 | 17.1 | −0.5 pp |
| 1991 | 17.6 | −0.5 pp |
| 1990 | 18.1 | −0.5 pp |
| 1989 | 18.6 | −0.5 pp |
| 1988 | 19 | −0.5 pp |
| 1987 | 19.5 | −0.4 pp |
| 1986 | 19.9 | −0.4 pp |
| 1985 | 20.3 | −0.4 pp |
| 1984 | 20.7 | −0.3 pp |
| 1983 | 21 | −0.3 pp |
| 1982 | 21.3 | −0.2 pp |
| 1981 | 21.5 | −0.2 pp |
| 1980 | 21.6 | −0.1 pp |
| 1979 | 21.8 | −0.1 pp |
| 1978 | 21.9 | −0.1 pp |
| 1977 | 22 | −0.1 pp |
| 1976 | 22.1 | −0.1 pp |
| 1975 | 22.2 | −0.1 pp |
| 1974 | 22.3 | −0.1 pp |
| 1973 | 22.4 | −0 pp |
| 1972 | 22.4 | +0 pp |
| 1971 | 22.4 | +0.2 pp |
| 1970 | 22.3 | +0.3 pp |
| 1969 | 22 | +0.4 pp |
| 1968 | 21.5 | +0.5 pp |
| 1967 | 21 | +0.6 pp |
| 1966 | 20.4 | +0.6 pp |
| 1965 | 19.8 | +0.5 pp |
| 1964 | 19.3 | +0.4 pp |
| 1963 | 18.9 | +0.4 pp |
| 1962 | 18.5 | +0.4 pp |
| 1961 | 18 | +0.5 pp |
| 1960 | 17.6 | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.
Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.
Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.
The absolute number of city dwellers by country.
Environment Population living in slumsWhat share of the urban population lives in slums under the UN definition.
Environment PM2.5 air pollutionThe mean annual concentration of fine particles the population is exposed to.
