# Southern Province, Sri Lanka – Districts, Population & Map > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/ Province · Sri Lanka # Southern Province Southern Province is a province of Sri Lanka. It had an estimated **2,688,001 people** in 2023 on 5,545 km² (about 485 per km²). Its main town is Galle. It is divided into 3 districts. 2,464 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 5,594 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 2,688,001people (2023) - 5,545km² - 3districts - 5,594mapped services ## How many people live in Southern Province? Southern Province had an estimated **2,688,001 people** in 2023 — 12.2% of Sri Lanka, 3rd of 9 provinces. The 2012 census counted 2,477,285, so the population has changed by +8.5% since. There are 1,074 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Sri Lanka figure of 1,065). Spread over 5,545 km², that is about **485 people per km²**, 3rd of 9 provinces. 25.1% of people are children under 15 and 9.4% 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 53 children and older people. 0–4 ****230,792** 5–9 ****230,646** 10–14 ****213,785** 15–19 ****216,676** 20–24 ****196,121** 25–29 ****196,453** 30–34 ****201,322** 35–39 ****177,535** 40–44 ****174,371** 45–49 ****165,507** 50–54 ****162,419** 55–59 ****146,661** 60–64 ****123,812** 65–69 ****90,121** 70–74 ****60,429** 75–79 ****48,558** 80+ ****52,793** 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 Southern Province? Southern Province lies in [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 4 other provinces: [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/eastern/), [Sabaragamuwa Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/), [Uva Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/uva/) and [Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/). By area it is the 7th largest of 9 provinces in Sri Lanka. It covers 8.4% of [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). The centre of Southern Province is about 102 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 6.2494° N, 80.4609° E. Local names: දකුණු පළාත · தென் 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 Southern Province District People per km² Area km² DS divisions Services [Galle District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/) 1,139,000 706 1,613 22 2,947 [Matara District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/) 869,001 665 1,306 16 1,580 [Hambantota District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/hambantota/) 680,000 259 2,625 12 1,067 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 Southern Province - Galle93,118 - Ambalantota80,506 - Matara76,254 - Beliatta58,675 - Ambalangoda56,783 - Devinuwara45,000 - Bentota37,000 - Weligama22,179 - Hambantota19,999 - Tangalle10,497 - Mirissa city4,695 - Talpe3,000 - Koggala3,000 - Wanduruppa2,006 - Unawatuna2,000 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 Southern Province Named natural and historic features inside Southern Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 320 reservoirs and tanks; 100 rivers and streams; 9 lakes; 1 dam. - Abakola Wewa - Agara Ara - Agara Wewa - Agaragadane Wewa - Akada Wewa - Aliota Wala - Aliyawetunna Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alutgang Wewa - Aluth Wewa - Aluth Wewa - Amara Wewa - Ambagaha Wewa - Amban Ela - Ampitiya Wewa - Anallan Wewa - Anda Dola - Andalla Wewa - Andara Wewa - Andiyangama Wewa - Angunakola Wala - Angunukola Wewa - Arabokka Wewa - Arangamuwa Wewa …and 406 more. ### Coast and islands 28 lagoons; 26 headlands; 18 islands; 3 beaches; 2 bays. - Ahungalla Point - Atalahua Point - Attulla Lagoon - Babungala Point - Bundala Lewaya - Butawa Lewaya - Butawa Point - Didduwa - Dimiduwa - Dondra Head - Dondra Kalapuwa - Embilikala Kalapuwa - Erawanaduwa - Ereminia Gala Point - Etheliwela Kalapuwa - Galmanduwa - Galpahura Point - Gandura Bay - Gandura Point - Garanduwa Kalapuwa - Gibbet Island - Glosenberg Point - Godagala Point - Godawaye Point …and 53 more. ### Hills and mountains 82 hills; 28 mountains. - Kurulugala Old · 1,076 m - Rammale · 806 m - Aninkanda · 780 m - Deniyakanda · 736 m - Dotalawakanda · 727 m - Morawaka · 700 m - Dotulugala · 656 m - Dettegala · 585 m - Kohilarambe · 555 m - Bissagala · 530 m - Kabaragala · 518 m - Ketapola · 427 m - Uramutta · 427 m - Yakdehikanda · 413 m - Hindelnattu · 403 m - Tibotuwakota · 401 m - Karawila · 397 m - Nawarayagodella · 396 m - Adarakanda · 356 m - Hettikanda · 327 m - Galboda Kanda · 316 m - Malgallakanda · 316 m - Pimburukanda · 285 m - Kondagala · 280 m …and 86 more. ### Forests and nature 50 forests; 29 forest reserves; 4 parks; 3 nature reserves; 3 gardens; 1 wildlife reserve. - Angunakolawata - Bembawa - Beraliya Proposed Forest Reserve - Binkemhela - Butawa - Butawa Lewaya - Colony - Dandeniya Aparekka Forest Reserve - Darakulkanda Forest Reserve - Dediyagala Forest Reserve - Dellawa Forest Reserve - Diyadawa Forest Reserve - Eppaladeniya - Etheliwela Eliya - Galge - Galwewa - Gedanwala - Gode Kalapuwa - Gonadeniya Forest Reserve - Gonaleheba - Heenwewa - Julpallama - Kalametiya Sanctuary - Kandewattagoda …and 66 more. ### History 12 forts; 4 ruins; 2 ancient sites. - Aeolus Bastion - Arachchimulla - Aurora Bastion - Clippenberg Bastion - Dewramwehera - Kurunde Vihare Ruins - Kustarajagala Archaeological Site - Moon Bastion - Nandimittera Chaitya - Neptune Bastion - Sailors Bastion - Schwarte Fort - Sithulpahuwa - Star Bastion - Sun Bastion - Triton Bastion - Utrecht Bastion - Zwart Bastion ### Estates 231 estates; 191 estates; 93 rubber estates; 53 tea estates; 20 oil-palm estates. - Abaranaella - Abbey Rock - Adikariwatta - Agara Eliya - Agroc - Akulketiyewatte - Akuratikanda - Akuressa - Akurugoda - Alikahena - Allen Valley - Alutgoda - Aluthwewa - Alutwatte - Amangiliya - Amunekuttiya - Amunudahaya - Amusoda - Ananda - Andapana - Andaradeniya - Andoled Uwa - Anganaketiya - Anningkande …and 564 more. ### Getting around 4 lighthouses; 3 airports; 2 ports; 1 harbour; 1 railway station; 1 railway halt. - Dondra Head Lighthouse - Galle Harbour - Galle Lighthouse - Galle Lighthouse (historical) - Galle railway station - Hambantota International Airport - Hambantota Lighthouse - Henewela Rail Motor Halt - Koggala Airport - Port of Hambantota - Ruhunu Magampura International Port - Weerawila International 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 Southern Province and the best time to visit In Southern Province, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jan (26 °C). About 1,837 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (285 mm) and the driest Feb (79 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March and June to August**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 26 95 Feb 27 79 Mar 28 107 Apr 28 182 May 28 194 Jun 27 106 Jul 27 89 Aug 27 115 Sep 27 161 Oct 27 231 Nov 27 285 Dec 26 193 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Southern Province Places mapped inside Southern Province in open map data, by type. - Hospitals139 - Banks276 - ATMs16 - Petrol pumps73 - Hotels3,136 - Shopping malls34 - Schools399 - Colleges and universities116 - Cinemas16 - Pharmacies54 - Restaurants1,259 - Police stations61 - Dental clinics15 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 Southern Province?In Sri Lanka - What is the population of Southern Province?2,688,001 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Southern Province?About 31 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Southern Province?About 485 people per km² - What borders Southern Province?Eastern Province, Sabaragamuwa Province, Uva Province and Western Province - What is the largest town in Southern Province?Galle - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Southern Province?320 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Southern Province?Kurulugala Old (1,076 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Southern Province?January to March and June to August - How many hospitals are in Southern Province?139 mapped - How many banks are in Southern Province?276 mapped - How many ATMs are in Southern Province?16 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Southern Province?73 mapped - What is the P-code of Southern Province?LK3 (OCHA common operational dataset)