# Jaffna District, Northern Province – DS divisions & Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/ District · Northern Province # Jaffna District Jaffna District is a district of Sri Lanka in Northern Province. It had an estimated **628,002 people** in 2023 on 1,091 km² (about 575 per km²). Its main town is Jaffna. It is divided into 15 DS divisions. 441 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,083 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 628,002people (2023) - 1,091km² - 15DS divisions - 1,083mapped services ## How many people live in Jaffna District? Jaffna District had an estimated **628,002 people** in 2023 — 53.4% of Northern Province, 16th of 25 districts. There are 1,129 women for every 1,000 men (above the Northern Province figure of 1,076). Spread over 1,091 km², that is about **575 people per km²**, 7th of 25 districts. 24.5% of people are children under 15 and 9.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 30 years (it is 28 across Northern Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 51 children and older people. 0–4 ****45,861** 5–9 ****51,887** 10–14 ****56,308** 15–19 ****58,704** 20–24 ****56,159** 25–29 ****48,716** 30–34 ****45,692** 35–39 ****37,711** 40–44 ****33,664** 45–49 ****34,064** 50–54 ****34,973** 55–59 ****33,451** 60–64 ****33,315** 65–69 ****23,211** 70–74 ****15,382** 75–79 ****10,221** 80+ ****8,683** 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 Jaffna District? Jaffna District lies in [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 2 other districts: [Kilinochchi District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/kilinochchi/) and [Mullaitivu District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/mullaitivu/). By area it is the 24th largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 12.1% of [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/). The centre of Jaffna District is about 301 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 9.6440° N, 79.9084° E. Local names: යාපනය දිස්ත්‍රික් · யாழ்ப்பாணம் மாவட் . Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka). ## DS divisions of Jaffna District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Delft DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/delft/) 48 6 14 [Islands North (Kayts) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/islands-north-kayts/) 32 15 23 [Islands South (Velanai) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/islands-south-velanai/) 91 30 41 [Jaffna DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/jaffna/) 11 28 287 [Karainagar DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/karainagar/) 24 9 18 [Nallur DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/nallur/) 33 40 185 [Thenmaradchi (Chavakachcheri) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/thenmaradchi-chavakachcheri/) 236 61 90 [Vadamaradchchi East DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/vadamaradchchi-east/) 189 18 24 [Vadamaradchchi South-West (Karaveddy) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/vadamaradchchi-south-west-karaveddy/) 86 35 58 [Vadamaradchi North (Point Pedro) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/vadamaradchi-north-point-pedro/) 39 35 70 [Valikamam East (Kopay) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/valikamam-east-kopay/) 109 31 69 [Valikamam North (Thllippalai) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/valikamam-north-thllippalai/) 62 45 52 [Valikamam South (Uduvil) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/valikamam-south-uduvil/) 34 30 48 [Valikamam South West (Sandilipay) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/valikamam-south-west-sandilipay/) 48 28 60 [Valikamam West (Chankanai) DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/jaffna/valikamam-west-chankanai/) 49 25 44 Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). ## Largest towns in Jaffna District - Jaffna169,102 - Point Pedro89,810 - Valvedditturai78,205 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 Jaffna District Named natural and historic features inside Jaffna District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 133 reservoirs and tanks; 1 lake; 1 river or stream. - Adaikaththa Kulam - Adamba Kulam - Adembe Kulam - Alan Kulam - Alewettuwan Kulam - Alukkan Kulam - Ampaik Kulam - Atolu Kulam - Chemmani Kulam - Chemmani Kulam - Chettikeni Kulam - Chulakundu Kulam - Cilinda Kulam - Elantaitidal Kulam - Elekadi Kulam - Eluvaraikondan Kulam - Erallikeray Kulam - Eruvili Kulam - Ilanthai Kulam - Ilanthaik Kulam - Ilrarayit Kulam - Inuviddia Kulam - Inuvitiya Kulam - Iranchi Kulam …and 111 more. ### Coast and islands 19 islands; 2 lagoons; 1 headland. - Analaitivu - Chinnakakaytivu - Delft Island - Kachchativu - Kannativu - Karaitivu - Karaitivu - Karativu - Kayts - Kurikadduwan - Kurukkukadal - Mandaitivu - Naduturitti - Nainativu - Palaitivu - Palmyra Point - Puliyantivu - Pungudutivu - Thuruthupiddi - Uppu Aru Lagoon - Uraitivu - Velanai ### Forests and nature 3 forests. - Chundikulam - Kokku Thoduvai - Taunton ### History 1 ruin; 1 fort. - Fort Eyrie - Hammenhiel Fort ### Estates 27 estates; 2 estates; 1 oil-palm estate. - Alathevely - Ariyalai East - Bingamalakadu - Carambagam - Chavakachcheri - Cheddikadu - Chellammah - Chundikulam - Kaluthaippiddy - Koraikkundu - Kudamiyantoddam - Kundirmanalkadu - Madduvil North - Manchalkarichchan - Melsan - Miriyankadu - Muthalaippalla Toduvay - Olandakkadu - Parachiveli - Parandathoddam - Passaiyur - Periya Iruppiddy - Puthirany - Rawalai …and 6 more. ### Getting around 1 airport. - Kankesanturai 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 Jaffna District and the best time to visit In Jaffna District, the warmest month is Apr (average 30 °C) and the coolest is Jan (26 °C). About 1,144 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (293 mm) and the driest Jun (21 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to February**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 26 45 Feb 27 33 Mar 28 39 Apr 30 75 May 30 78 Jun 29 21 Jul 29 24 Aug 29 50 Sep 28 73 Oct 28 210 Nov 27 293 Dec 26 202 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Jaffna District Places mapped inside Jaffna District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals85 - Banks76 - ATMs10 - Petrol pumps44 - Hotels154 - Shopping malls9 - Schools460 - Colleges and universities76 - Cinemas8 - Pharmacies22 - Restaurants118 - Police stations15 - Dental clinics6 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 Jaffna District?In Northern Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Jaffna District?628,002 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Jaffna District?About 30 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Jaffna District?About 575 people per km² - What borders Jaffna District?Kilinochchi District and Mullaitivu District - What is the largest town in Jaffna District?Jaffna - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Jaffna District?133 named in GeoNames - What is the best time to visit Jaffna District?January to February - How many hospitals are in Jaffna District?85 mapped - How many banks are in Jaffna District?76 mapped - How many ATMs are in Jaffna District?10 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Jaffna District?44 mapped - What is the P-code of Jaffna District?LK41 (OCHA common operational dataset)