# Central Province, Sri Lanka – Districts, Population & Map

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

Province · Sri Lanka 

# Central Province

Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka. It had an estimated **2,788,003 people** in 2023 on 5,731 km² (about 486 per km²). Its main town is Kandy. It is divided into 3 districts. 2,966 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 4,177 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 2,788,003people (2023)
- 5,731km²
- 3districts
- 4,177mapped services

## How many people live in Central Province?

Central Province had an estimated **2,788,003 people** in 2023 — 12.7% of Sri Lanka, 2nd of 9 provinces. The 2012 census counted 2,571,557, so the population has changed by +8.4% since. There are 1,092 women for every 1,000 men (above the Sri Lanka figure of 1,065). Spread over 5,731 km², that is about **486 people per km²**, 2nd of 9 provinces.

26.4% of people are children under 15 and 8.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 31 across Sri Lanka). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 53 children and older people.

0–4 ****249,330**

5–9 ****251,811**

10–14 ****234,325**

15–19 ****217,798**

20–24 ****194,302**

25–29 ****200,252**

30–34 ****214,256**

35–39 ****181,132**

40–44 ****181,936**

45–49 ****182,133**

50–54 ****173,626**

55–59 ****150,422**

60–64 ****131,440**

65–69 ****91,929**

70–74 ****59,817**

75–79 ****38,288**

80+ ****35,206**

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).

## Where is Central Province?

Central Province lies in [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 5 other provinces: [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/eastern/), [North Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/), [North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/), [Sabaragamuwa Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/) and [Uva Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/uva/). By area it is the 6th largest of 9 provinces in Sri Lanka. It covers 8.7% of [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). The centre of Central Province is about 108 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 7.3817° N, 80.7231° E. Local names: මධ්‍යම පළාත · மத்திய மாகாணம் .

Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka).

## Districts of Central Province

District People per km² Area km² DS divisions Services 

[Kandy District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/kandy/) 1,482,003 769 1,928 20 2,072 

[Nuwara Eliya District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/nuwara-eliya/) 781,001 448 1,745 10 1,171 

[Matale District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/) 524,999 255 2,059 11 934 

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 Central Province

- Kandy111,701
- Dambulla66,716
- Matale36,462
- Nuwara Eliya27,500
- Gampola24,283
- Hatton15,073
- Talawakele3,545
- Kadugannawa1,214
- Sigiriya1,001

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 Central Province

Named natural and historic features inside Central Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

196 reservoirs and tanks; 154 rivers and streams; 17 waterfalls; 6 dams; 3 lakes.

- Aberdeen Falls
- Adams Peak Falls
- Agra Oya
- Ahatulla Wewa
- Ahorande Wewa
- Ahupiniella Falls
- Akuramboda Oya
- Alakola Ela
- Aliyawala Oya
- Ambagaha Dalupota Wewa
- Ambawela Reservoir
- Ambokka Ganga
- Ambotale Ela
- Andagala Alut Wewa
- Andawala Ela
- Andinnapatha Ela
- Andinnapatha Wewa
- Angunakola Wewa
- Angunapelessa Wewa
- Arangamuwa Wewa
- Arawwala Oya
- Atabage Oya
- Atabendi Wewa
- Bakamuna Wewa

…and 352 more.

### Coast and islands

1 island.

- Sri Lanka

### Hills and mountains

66 mountains; 28 hills; 6 peaks; 5 mountain passes; 1 valley.

- Pidurutalagala · 2,506 m
- Kirigalpota · 2,196 m
- Ramboda Pass · 2,168 m
- Kikilimana · 2,146 m
- Conical Hill · 2,083 m
- Uda Radella · 2,039 m
- Single Tree Hill · 2,012 m
- Elbedda · 1,948 m
- Water Fall P. T. New · 1,948 m
- Mahakudagala · 1,928 m
- Benasamanalagala · 1,845 m
- Ragala Rock · 1,831 m
- Dell Number One · 1,759 m
- Dakinapura · 1,727 m
- Kotagala · 1,684 m
- Preston Hill · 1,673 m
- Katterawella · 1,615 m
- Rilagala · 1,552 m
- Katukitulgala · 1,481 m
- Patanagala · 1,472 m
- Peacock · 1,468 m
- Dambagastalawa · 1,467 m
- Yakahaluwela · 1,466 m
- Dotelagala · 1,444 m

…and 82 more.

### Forests and nature

38 forests; 9 forest reserves; 2 nature reserves; 2 gardens.

- Agra Bopats Proposed Forest Reserve
- Agrabopats
- Akagapura
- Alkola Ella
- Arunodagama
- Ballabendigala
- Campbell’s Lane Forest Reserve
- Dakinapura
- Diyamolliya
- Galaha Forest Reserve
- Galpalama
- Great Western
- Hakgala
- Hattota Amuna
- Hennekkanda
- Horton Plains
- Horton Plains Nature Reserve
- Inamalawa Forest Reserve
- Kabaragaha Ela
- Kabaragala
- Kabarawa
- Kadurupitiya
- Kalumudugolla
- Kalundewa

…and 27 more.

### History

2 ruins; 1 historic site; 1 fort; 1 museum.

- International Buddhist Museum
- Kaludinapokuna Ruins
- Seetakotuwa Ruins
- Sigiriya
- Sri Dalada Maligawa

### Estates

956 estates; 149 tea estates; 105 estates; 55 rubber estates; 24 oil-palm estates.

- Aadneven
- Abbeyaraig
- Abbotsford
- Abbotsleigh Group
- Aberdeen
- Abergeldie
- Accrawatte
- Adam’s Peak
- Agalawatta
- Agra
- Agra Elbedde
- Agra Ouvah
- Agradya
- Agrakande
- Agraoya
- Agrawatte
- Akramboda
- Akramboda Group
- Akramboda Group
- Alagalla
- Alakolamada
- Alawathuwala
- Albion
- Aldie

…and 1,265 more.

### Getting around

14 railway stations; 2 airports; 2 bridges.

- Balane
- Black Bridge
- Great Western Railway Station
- Gregory Lake Seaplane Base
- Ihala Watawala
- Kadugennawa
- Kandy
- Katugastota
- Parakumpura
- Pilimatalawa
- Radella
- Red Bridge
- Sarasav Uvana
- Sigiriya Airport
- Ukuwela
- Watagoda Railway Station
- Watawala Railway Station
- Wattegama

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.

## Weather in Central Province and the best time to visit

In Central Province, the warmest month is Apr (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jan (23 °C). About 1,645 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (279 mm) and the driest Jul (62 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March and June to September**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 23 116 

Feb 24 89 

Mar 26 96 

Apr 27 154 

May 26 133 

Jun 26 73 

Jul 25 62 

Aug 26 70 

Sep 26 101 

Oct 25 228 

Nov 24 279 

Dec 23 243 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Central Province

Places mapped inside Central Province in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals167
- Banks248
- ATMs21
- Petrol pumps83
- Hotels2,227
- Shopping malls17
- Schools462
- Colleges and universities147
- Cinemas14
- Pharmacies55
- Restaurants655
- Police stations64
- Dental clinics17

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

- Where is Central Province?In Sri Lanka
- What is the population of Central Province?2,788,003 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Central Province?About 31 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Central Province?About 486 people per km²
- What borders Central Province?Eastern Province, North Central Province, North Western Province, Sabaragamuwa Province and Uva Province
- What is the largest town in Central Province?Kandy
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Central Province?196 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Central Province?Pidurutalagala (2,506 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Central Province?January to March and June to September
- How many hospitals are in Central Province?167 mapped
- How many banks are in Central Province?248 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Central Province?21 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Central Province?83 mapped
- What is the P-code of Central Province?LK2 (OCHA common operational dataset)