# North Western Province, Sri Lanka – Districts & Population

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

Province · Sri Lanka 

# North Western Province

North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. It had an estimated **2,572,000 people** in 2023 on 8,066 km² (about 319 per km²). Its main town is Kurunegala. It is divided into 2 districts. 3,546 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,578 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 2,572,000people (2023)
- 8,066km²
- 2districts
- 1,578mapped services

## How many people live in North Western Province?

North Western Province had an estimated **2,572,000 people** in 2023 — 11.7% of Sri Lanka, 4th of 9 provinces. The 2012 census counted 2,380,861, so the population has changed by +8.0% since. There are 1,078 women for every 1,000 men (above the Sri Lanka figure of 1,065). Spread over 8,066 km², that is about **319 people per km²**, 5th of 9 provinces.

25.4% of people are children under 15 and 7.4% 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 49 children and older people.

0–4 ****225,940**

5–9 ****221,033**

10–14 ****206,680**

15–19 ****203,730**

20–24 ****178,153**

25–29 ****194,894**

30–34 ****208,188**

35–39 ****181,230**

40–44 ****172,834**

45–49 ****165,640**

50–54 ****157,843**

55–59 ****142,924**

60–64 ****122,973**

65–69 ****74,318**

70–74 ****50,103**

75–79 ****33,407**

80+ ****32,110**

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 North Western Province?

North Western Province lies in [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 5 other provinces: [Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/), [North Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/), [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/), [Sabaragamuwa Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/) and [Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/). By area it is the 5th largest of 9 provinces in Sri Lanka. It covers 12.2% of [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). The centre of North Western Province is about 112 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 7.9125° N, 80.1071° E. Local names: වයඹ පළාත · வட மேல் 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 North Western Province

District People per km² Area km² DS divisions Services 

[Kurunegala District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/) 1,727,000 352 4,906 30 961 

[Puttalam District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/) 845,000 267 3,160 16 617 

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 North Western Province

- Puttalam45,661
- Kurunegala28,571
- Chilaw24,712
- Kuliyapitiya6,877

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 North Western Province

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

### Water

2,049 reservoirs and tanks; 149 rivers and streams; 6 lakes.

- Abokkagama Wewa
- Achairigama Wewa
- Achari Wewa
- Acharigama Wewa
- Achchariyagama Wewa
- Achirigama Wewa
- Achiyagama Wewa
- Adammana Wewa
- Adampane Wewa
- Addiyakaluwa Wewa
- Adikarigama Wewa
- Adippola Wewa
- Adiriyagoda Wewa
- Agare Wewa
- Agunawila Wewa
- Aiyanakatuwa Wewa
- Akarawatta Wewa
- Akarawatta Wewa
- Akkarawelliya Wewa
- Akurana Wewa
- Alakola Wewa
- Alankulama Wewa
- Alankulama Wewa
- Alawatte Wewa

…and 2,180 more.

### Coast and islands

8 islands; 2 lagoons; 2 headlands.

- Attaditivu
- Chilaw Point
- Erumativu
- Heyativu
- Karaditivu
- Karamuna
- Karukkativu
- Mantivu
- Mutupantiya Lagoon
- Oddakarentivu
- Periyativu
- Talavillu Odai

### Hills and mountains

54 hills; 21 mountains.

- Ambokka · 1,069 m
- Ingurugala · 805 m
- Butawella · 737 m
- Bisogala · 663 m
- Kallumadura · 608 m
- Moratenna · 600 m
- Kauwel · 561 m
- Mipitiyakanda · 554 m
- Ambokka New · 524 m
- Galgiriya · 476 m
- Heginairkanda · 444 m
- Kalugahatenna · 418 m
- Kandalawa · 379 m
- Galpawe · 367 m
- Madurugodapitakanda · 336 m
- Rilagala · 332 m
- Mattawa · 323 m
- Yagama · 310 m
- Umbuwewa · 307 m
- Viharakele · 290 m
- Pudukulama · 282 m
- Yakdessagala · 275 m
- Wattegala · 274 m
- Angurukandeyaya · 250 m

…and 51 more.

### Forests and nature

39 gardens; 36 forests; 17 forest reserves.

- Aluthwewa
- Alutwewa
- Ambagaswewa
- Ambanmukalana Forest Reserve
- Anamaduwa Forest Reserve
- Andarawewa
- Andiyagala
- Angittankulama
- Attavillu Forest Reserve
- Badagama Forest Reserve
- Bakmeewewa
- Balasooriyagama
- Bangadeniya
- Boagolla
- Dalupothawewa
- Dikkele Forest Reserve
- Dumbuluwawa
- Eluapola
- Galatabeniwewa
- Galatenpokuna
- Galewalpola
- Galthihenewewa
- Halmillewa
- Hambayayawewa

…and 68 more.

### History

8 ruins; 1 fort.

- Galandanayehena Ruins
- Manikkankanda Ruins
- Rock Cave Temple
- Sesseruwa
- Sri Lanka Navy Dutch Fort
- Talkote Ruins
- Viharehinna
- Weragala Ruins
- Wirandagoda

### Estates

543 estates; 438 estates; 319 oil-palm estates; 15 rubber estates; 2 tea estates.

- Aagare
- Abakolawewa
- Acharigama
- Achchithotem
- Achirigama
- Adapparawatta
- Adelaide
- Agara
- Agarawatta
- Agare
- Agare
- Agarewatte
- Ahahendra
- Ahalandewatte
- Akkaraheta
- Akkarapahala
- Akurawa Group
- Akurumulla
- Alahinnegama
- Alakoladeniya
- Alamvillu
- Alawwa
- Alikatuwa
- Aliwalathena

…and 1,293 more.

### Getting around

1 railway station.

- Kakkapalliya

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 North Western Province and the best time to visit

In North Western Province, the warmest month is Apr (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Jan (25 °C). About 1,295 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (247 mm) and the driest Jul (34 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to February and June to September**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 25 56 

Feb 26 47 

Mar 28 76 

Apr 29 145 

May 28 110 

Jun 28 44 

Jul 27 34 

Aug 27 51 

Sep 27 87 

Oct 27 227 

Nov 26 247 

Dec 26 171 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in North Western Province

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

- Hospitals120
- Banks168
- ATMs9
- Petrol pumps83
- Hotels389
- Shopping malls41
- Schools302
- Colleges and universities86
- Cinemas17
- Pharmacies50
- Restaurants265
- Police stations45
- Dental clinics3

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 North Western Province?In Sri Lanka
- What is the population of North Western Province?2,572,000 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in North Western Province?About 31 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of North Western Province?About 319 people per km²
- What borders North Western Province?Central Province, North Central Province, Northern Province, Sabaragamuwa Province and Western Province
- What is the largest town in North Western Province?Puttalam
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in North Western Province?2,049 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in North Western Province?Ambokka (1,069 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit North Western Province?January to February and June to September
- How many hospitals are in North Western Province?120 mapped
- How many banks are in North Western Province?168 mapped
- How many ATMs are in North Western Province?9 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in North Western Province?83 mapped
- What is the P-code of North Western Province?LK6 (OCHA common operational dataset)