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

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

Province · Sri Lanka 

# Northern Province

Northern Province is a province of Sri Lanka. It had an estimated **1,175,001 people** in 2023 on 9,037 km² (about 130 per km²). Its main town is Jaffna. It is divided into 5 districts. 1,418 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 2,056 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 1,175,001people (2023)
- 9,037km²
- 5districts
- 2,056mapped services

## How many people live in Northern Province?

Northern Province had an estimated **1,175,001 people** in 2023 — 5.3% of Sri Lanka, the least populous of 9 provinces. The 2012 census counted 1,061,315, so the population has changed by +10.7% since. There are 1,076 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Sri Lanka figure of 1,065). Spread over 9,037 km², that is about **130 people per km²**, the least densely populated of 9 provinces.

26.8% of people are children under 15 and 7.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 28 years (it is 31 across Sri Lanka). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 52 children and older people.

0–4 ****100,293**

5–9 ****105,369**

10–14 ****109,730**

15–19 ****114,211**

20–24 ****101,408**

25–29 ****92,529**

30–34 ****91,488**

35–39 ****74,513**

40–44 ****65,360**

45–49 ****63,752**

50–54 ****62,031**

55–59 ****56,444**

60–64 ****53,500**

65–69 ****34,849**

70–74 ****22,624**

75–79 ****14,698**

80+ ****12,202**

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 Northern Province?

Northern Province lies in [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 3 other provinces: [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/eastern/), [North Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/) and [North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/). By area it is the 3rd largest of 9 provinces in Sri Lanka. It covers 13.7% of [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). The centre of Northern Province is about 259 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 9.1803° N, 80.4814° E. Local names: උතුරු පළාත · வட 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 Northern Province

District People per km² Area km² DS divisions Services 

[Jaffna District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/) 628,002 575 1,091 15 1,083 

[Vavuniya District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/vavuniya/) 196,000 101 1,935 4 391 

[Kilinochchi District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/kilinochchi/) 136,001 103 1,319 4 210 

[Mannar District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/mannar/) 115,999 58 2,011 5 187 

[Mullaitivu District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/mullaitivu/) 98,999 37 2,681 6 185 

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 Northern Province

- Jaffna169,102
- Point Pedro89,810
- Valvedditturai78,205
- Vavuniya60,176
- Mannar35,817
- Mullaittivu28,973
- Kilinochchi13,006
- Keppapularu8,361
- Iththikkandal70
- Ielanthaiwan50
- Moonkilmurichchan40

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 Northern Province

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

### Water

1,638 reservoirs and tanks; 100 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.

- Achchankulakkulam
- Adaikaththa Kulam
- Adamba Kulam
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampan Kulam
- Adampen Kulam
- Adappan Kulam
- Adappan Kulam
- Addaitivu Kulam
- Adembe Kulam
- Ahilandiya Kulam
- Akattik Kulam
- Akattimurippu Tank
- Akkarayan Aru
- Akkarayan Kulam
- Aladi Kulam
- Aladi Kulam
- Aladi Kulam
- Aladi Kulam
- Aladikollan Kulam
- Aladimuruppu Kulam
- Alagarsamalan Kulam

…and 1,716 more.

### Coast and islands

27 islands; 9 lagoons; 1 beach; 1 headland.

- Anaikkidanku
- Analaitivu
- Chinnakakaytivu
- Delft Island
- Erumaitivu
- Iranaitivu
- Kachchativu
- Kakkativu
- Kannaditivu
- Kannativu
- Karaitivu
- Karaitivu
- Karativu
- Kayts
- Kokkilai Lagoon
- Korayaypitti Kalappu
- Kurikadduwan
- Kurukkukadal
- Mandaitivu
- Mannar Island
- Mantivu
- Naduturitti
- Nainativu
- Nanthi Kadal

…and 14 more.

### Hills and mountains

1 mountain.

- Madukanda · 132 m

### Forests and nature

90 forests; 23 forest reserves; 3 gardens.

- Adampankulam
- Akkiriyan Forest Reserve
- Anaikkidanku
- Andankulam Forest Reserve
- Arasankulam
- Arasankulam
- Arasankulam
- Ariyamadu Garden
- Attavillu Forest Reserve
- Attimoddai
- Avanakkaruttan
- Chalampaikkulam
- Chemmanattiyan
- Chinna Tettakkuli
- Chinnaputtukulam
- Chonaka-Nedunkulam
- Chundikulam
- Engineerthoddam
- Geevanagar
- Ilanthaimoddai
- Illupaikidam
- Illuppaikkulam
- Iluppaikkulam
- Irampaikkulam Forest Reserve

…and 92 more.

### History

4 ruins; 1 ancient site; 1 fort.

- Chuvantamurippu Ruins
- Fort Eyrie
- Hammenhiel Fort
- Kanatikallu Ruins
- Puliyadi Irakkam
- Puthankulam Ruins

### Estates

78 estates; 14 oil-palm estates; 11 estates.

- Alampil
- Alankulam
- Alathevely
- Ariyalai East
- Averikadu
- Ayanankai
- Bingamalakadu
- Carambagam
- Chavakachcheri
- Cheddikadu
- Chellammah
- Chellan
- Chelliyativu
- Chemmalai
- Chinnakkonamalai
- Chundikulam
- Comar
- Eyakkachchi
- Gnanimadam
- Irattala Totam
- Iruvil
- Kailayer
- Kaluthaippiddy
- Kalvalavoo

…and 79 more.

### Getting around

4 railway halts; 3 airports.

- Iranamadu
- Kankesanturai Airport
- Murikandy Railway Halt
- Saltern Siding
- Thirukethiswaram
- Toddaveli
- Vavuniya Airport

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 Northern Province and the best time to visit

In Northern Province, the warmest month is Apr (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Jan (25 °C). About 1,334 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (296 mm) and the driest Jun (23 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 25 80 

Feb 26 61 

Mar 28 56 

Apr 29 103 

May 29 93 

Jun 29 23 

Jul 29 29 

Aug 29 55 

Sep 28 71 

Oct 28 222 

Nov 26 296 

Dec 25 245 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Northern Province

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

- Hospitals150
- Banks149
- ATMs14
- Petrol pumps91
- Hotels212
- Shopping malls9
- Schools1,019
- Colleges and universities126
- Cinemas12
- Pharmacies27
- Restaurants189
- Police stations48
- Dental clinics10

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 Northern Province?In Sri Lanka
- What is the population of Northern Province?1,175,001 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Northern Province?About 28 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Northern Province?About 130 people per km²
- What borders Northern Province?Eastern Province, North Central Province and North Western Province
- What is the largest town in Northern Province?Jaffna
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Northern Province?1,638 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Northern Province?Madukanda (132 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Northern Province?January to March
- How many hospitals are in Northern Province?150 mapped
- How many banks are in Northern Province?149 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Northern Province?14 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Northern Province?91 mapped
- What is the P-code of Northern Province?LK4 (OCHA common operational dataset)