# Sri Lanka – Provinces, Districts, Towns & Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/

Country · South Asia 

# Sri Lanka

ශ්‍රී ලංකා · இலங்கை

Sri Lanka is an island country in the Indian Ocean, south of India across the Palk Strait. It had an estimated **22,037,001 people** in 2023, across 66,041 km². Sri Lanka has 9 provinces, 25 districts, 339 Divisional Secretariat (DS) divisions and about 14,000 Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions — the smallest unit of civil administration, each served by a village officer.

- 22,037,001people (2023)
- 66,041km²
- 9provinces
- 29,261mapped services

## How many people live in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka had an estimated **22,037,001 people** in 2023. There are 1,065 women for every 1,000 men. Spread over 66,041 km², that is about **334 people per km²**.

25.3% of people are children under 15 and 7.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years. For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 49 children and older people.

0–4 ****1,893,001**

5–9 ****1,896,002**

10–14 ****1,778,998**

15–19 ****1,782,999**

20–24 ****1,660,002**

25–29 ****1,682,000**

30–34 ****1,774,002**

35–39 ****1,524,000**

40–44 ****1,468,998**

45–49 ****1,391,000**

50–54 ****1,317,999**

55–59 ****1,149,999**

60–64 ****990,999**

65–69 ****683,004**

70–74 ****443,995**

75–79 ****305,002**

80+ ****295,001**

Source: [Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, population estimates 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-lka).

## Provinces of Sri Lanka

Province People per km² Area km² Districts Services 

[Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/) 6,159,996 1,642 3,752 3 9,352 

[Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/) 2,788,003 486 5,731 3 4,177 

[Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/) 2,688,001 485 5,545 3 5,594 

[North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/) 2,572,000 319 8,066 2 1,578 

[Sabaragamuwa Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/) 2,079,998 421 4,945 2 1,421 

[Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/eastern/) 1,774,002 184 9,647 3 2,109 

[Uva Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/uva/) 1,405,000 163 8,630 2 1,714 

[North Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/) 1,395,000 131 10,688 2 1,260 

[Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/) 1,175,001 130 9,037 5 2,056 

Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka); [Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, population estimates 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-lka).

## Largest towns in Sri Lanka

- Colombo648,034
- Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia219,827
- Maharagama195,355
- Jaffna169,102
- Moratuwa168,280
- Negombo137,223
- Pita Kotte118,179
- Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte115,826
- Kandy111,701
- Trincomalee108,420
- Kalmunai100,171
- Galle93,118
- Point Pedro89,810
- Batticaloa86,742
- Katunayaka84,643

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Sri Lanka

Named natural and historic features inside Sri Lanka, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

6,752 reservoirs and tanks; 1,480 rivers and streams; 33 waterfalls; 31 lakes; 9 dams.

- Abacola Wewa
- Abakola Wewa
- Abakola Wewa
- Aberdeen Falls
- Abin Ara
- Abokkagama Wewa
- Achairigama Wewa
- Achari Wewa
- Acharigama Wewa
- Acharigama Wewa
- Achchankulakkulam
- Achchariyagama Wewa
- Achirigama Wewa
- Achiyagama Wewa
- Adaikaththa Kulam
- Adamba Kulam
- Adamban Kulam
- Adammana Wewa
- Adampan Aru
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampan Kulam

…and 8,281 more.

### Coast and islands

70 lagoons; 65 islands; 54 headlands; 10 beaches; 5 bays.

- Ahungalla Point
- Anaikkidanku
- Analaitivu
- Andarakala Kalapuwa
- Arugam Kalapu
- Atalahua Point
- Attaditivu
- Attulla Lagoon
- Ava Point
- Babungala Point
- Bagura Kalapuwa
- Barberyn Island
- Battenburg Point (historical)
- Batticaloa Lake
- Bebiliduwa
- Beruwala Point
- Biggs Point
- Brown Rock Point
- Buffalo Island
- Bundala Lewaya
- Butawa Lewaya
- Butawa Point
- Challitivumunai
- Chenganan Point

…and 180 more.

### Hills and mountains

499 hills; 372 mountains; 16 peaks; 7 mountain passes; 2 valleys.

- Pidurutalagala · 2,506 m
- Kirigalpota · 2,196 m
- Ramboda Pass · 2,168 m
- Kikilimana · 2,146 m
- Conical Hill · 2,083 m
- Adam’s Peak · 2,077 m
- Uda Radella · 2,039 m
- Namunakuli · 2,018 m
- Single Tree Hill · 2,012 m
- Elbedda · 1,948 m
- Water Fall P. T. New · 1,948 m
- Mahakudagala · 1,928 m
- Ballabandigala · 1,896 m
- Benasamanalagala · 1,845 m
- Ragala Rock · 1,831 m
- Dell Number One · 1,759 m
- Dakinapura · 1,727 m
- Detanagala New · 1,722 m
- Ratkanda · 1,714 m
- Kotagala · 1,684 m
- Preston Hill · 1,673 m
- Pidurutalawa · 1,618 m
- Katterawella · 1,615 m
- Rilagala · 1,552 m

…and 872 more.

### Forests and nature

564 forests; 114 forest reserves; 55 gardens; 12 parks; 8 nature reserves; 2 wildlife reserves.

- Aandankulam
- Adampane
- Adampankulam
- Adawikanda
- Agra Bopats Proposed Forest Reserve
- Agrabopats
- Akagapura
- Akkiriyan Forest Reserve
- Alesgarden
- Alioluwa
- Alirawala
- Alkola Ella
- Aluthgama
- Aluthgoda
- Aluthwewa
- Alutwewa
- Ambagahatota
- Ambagasdowa
- Ambagaswewa
- Ambanmukalana Forest Reserve
- Anaikkidanku
- Anaisuddakaddukulam
- Anamaduwa Forest Reserve
- Andankulam Forest Reserve

…and 731 more.

### History

54 ruins; 16 forts; 11 ancient sites; 7 historic sites; 1 museum; 1 palace.

- Abhayagiriya
- Aeolus Bastion
- Arachchimulla
- Asokaramana
- Aurora Bastion
- Budugalge
- Chuvantamurippu Ruins
- Clippenberg Bastion
- Deegamadutu Dagoba
- Demetagoda Vihare
- Dewramwehera
- Dimbulagala Archaeological Reserve
- Fort Eyrie
- Fort Frederick
- Galandanayehena Ruins
- Galbendi Neeravia Ruins
- Habessa Ruins
- Hammenhiel Fort
- International Buddhist Museum
- Kadigala
- Kaludinapokuna Ruins
- Kanatikallu Ruins
- Kanthaka Chetiya
- Karandaoya

…and 66 more.

### Estates

3,110 estates; 1,580 estates; 676 rubber estates; 443 oil-palm estates; 240 tea estates.

- Aadneven
- Aagare
- Abakolawewa
- Abaranaella
- Abayawatta
- Abbasi
- Abbey Rock
- Abbeyaraig
- Abbotsford
- Abbotsleigh Group
- Aberdeen
- Aberfoyle
- Abergeldie
- Abergelle
- Abhayanayaka
- Ablette
- Aboyne
- Accrawatte
- Acharigama
- Achariyakulama
- Achchithotem
- Achirigama
- Adam’s Peak
- Adapparawatta

…and 6,025 more.

### Getting around

38 railway stations; 16 airports; 13 railway halts; 9 lighthouses; 3 ports; 3 bridges; 2 harbours.

- Aluthgama railway station
- Alutoya
- Ampara Airport
- Balane
- Bandaranaike International Airport
- Barberyn Lighthouse
- Baseline Road
- Batticaloa Airport
- Batticaloa Lighthouse
- Black Bridge
- Bujjamuwa
- Colombo Galbokka Lighthouse
- Colombo Lighthouse (historical)
- Colombo Pilot Station Lighthouse
- Cotta Road
- Dondra Head Lighthouse
- Fort Station
- Galella
- Galle Harbour
- Galle Lighthouse
- Galle Lighthouse (historical)
- Galle railway station
- Galoya Junction
- Great Western Railway Station

…and 60 more.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Sri Lanka

Places mapped inside Sri Lanka in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals1,419
- Banks2,319
- ATMs245
- Petrol pumps780
- Hotels10,557
- Shopping malls254
- Schools4,721
- Colleges and universities1,401
- Cinemas216
- Pharmacies527
- Restaurants6,164
- Police stations511
- Dental clinics147

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- What is the population of Sri Lanka?22,037,001 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Sri Lanka?About 31 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Sri Lanka?About 334 people per km²
- What is the largest town in Sri Lanka?Colombo
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Sri Lanka?6,752 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Sri Lanka?Pidurutalagala (2,506 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- How many hospitals are in Sri Lanka?1,419 mapped
- How many banks are in Sri Lanka?2,319 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Sri Lanka?245 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Sri Lanka?780 mapped
- How many provinces does Sri Lanka have?9