Saturday Apr 11, 2026
Saturday Apr 11, 2026
Saturday, 11 April 2026 04:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The population reached 21,781,800, with demographic trends pointing to a rapidly ageing society and structural shifts in the workforce, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.
The findings were released with the final report of the 15th Census of Population and Housing 2024, marking the first census in the country to utilise information technology for national-scale data collection.
The data show that the elderly population aged 60 years and over now accounts for 18% of the total population, while the child population has declined to 20.7%, reflecting a narrowing demographic gap. The Ageing Index stands at 87, indicating 87 elderly persons for every 100 children, while the median age has risen to 35 years from the previous census.
Fertility trends continue to weaken, with the Total Fertility Rate at 1.3, remaining below replacement levels, pointing to long-term pressures on labour supply and economic growth.
The working-age population remains the largest segment at 61.3%, but dependency dynamics are shifting. The Old-Age Dependency Ratio has risen to 29.4, while the Child Dependency Ratio has declined to 33.7, increasing the burden on the economically active population.
Labour force participation stands at 47.3%, leaving more than half of the working-age population economically inactive. The data show a strong gender divide, with 50.6% of inactive females outside the workforce due to domestic and caregiving responsibilities, while 41.3% of inactive males are engaged in education or training.
The employment rate among the active labour force is 94%, with unemployment at 6%, though regional disparities persist, with Batticaloa recording the highest unemployment rate at 10.1%.
Geographically, the Western Province remains the country’s primary population centre, accounting for 28.1% of the population, with Gampaha district reporting the highest population and Mullaitivu the lowest. Nearly two-thirds of the population is concentrated across the Western, Central, Southern and North-Western provinces.
Education indicators show further gains, with national literacy rising to 97.4%, up from 95.7% in 2012. For the first time, the gender gap in literacy has closed, with male and female literacy rates reaching 97.9% and 97.0% respectively.
Digital literacy has reached 67.6%, while computer literacy stands at 34.7%, reflecting gradual progress in technology adoption.
Health data indicate a rising burden of non-communicable diseases, affecting 19.2% of the population, with high blood pressure and diabetes the most prevalent conditions, particularly among older age groups.
Sri Lanka recorded 6.1 million households, with nuclear families remaining the dominant structure. However, single-person households account for 10.5%, with a significant proportion comprising elderly individuals living alone, predominantly women.
Migration patterns show that 13% of the population are lifetime migrants, while 672,249 Sri Lankans are temporarily living abroad, largely for employment, with the Middle East remaining the primary destination.
Housing and infrastructure indicators show near-universal access to electricity at 98%, while 92.2% of households have access to drinking water within their premises. Firewood remains the primary cooking fuel for 55.4% of households, although LPG usage has increased significantly.
