Population

Total Population:

Approximately 22 million people (as of 2023).

Population Density: About 340 people per square kilometer, making Sri Lanka one of the most densely populated countries in Asia.

Demographics

Age Distribution: A significant portion of the population is young, with a median age of around 32 years.

Urbanization: Approximately 18% of the population lives in urban areas, with Colombo being the largest city and economic center.

Ethnic Groups

Sinhalese: About 75% of the population belongs to the Sinhalese ethnic group.

Tamils: Around 15% are Tamils, primarily located in the northern and eastern regions of the country.

Other Groups: The remaining 10% consists Burghers (of European descent), and other minorities.

Religion

Buddhism: Approximately 70% of the population are Buddhists.

Hinduism: About 12% are Hindus, mainly Tamils.

Islam: Muslims make up about 9%, while

Christianity: Christians account for roughly 7% of the population.

Language

Sinhalese is spoken by the majority, followed by Tamil. English is widely used as a second language, especially in education and business.

Education and Health

Education: Sri Lanka has a high literacy rate of nearly 92%, with education being free and mandatory up to the age of 16.

Healthcare: The country has a public healthcare system that offers free treatment, leading to improved health outcomes and life expectancy.