# Galle District, Southern Province – DS divisions & Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/ District · Southern Province # Galle District Galle District is a district of Sri Lanka in Southern Province. It had an estimated **1,139,000 people** in 2023 on 1,613 km² (about 706 per km²). Its main town is Galle. It is divided into 22 DS divisions. 1,215 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 2,947 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 1,139,000people (2023) - 1,613km² - 22DS divisions - 2,947mapped services ## How many people live in Galle District? Galle District had an estimated **1,139,000 people** in 2023 — 42.4% of Southern Province, 7th of 25 districts. There are 1,086 women for every 1,000 men (above the Southern Province figure of 1,074). Spread over 1,613 km², that is about **706 people per km²**, 5th of 25 districts. 24.8% of people are children under 15 and 10.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 32 years (it is 31 across Southern Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 54 children and older people. 0–4 ****94,043** 5–9 ****96,513** 10–14 ****92,341** 15–19 ****91,842** 20–24 ****82,233** 25–29 ****81,537** 30–34 ****85,190** 35–39 ****75,051** 40–44 ****75,587** 45–49 ****69,921** 50–54 ****67,615** 55–59 ****60,017** 60–64 ****52,536** 65–69 ****41,768** 70–74 ****28,599** 75–79 ****21,711** 80+ ****22,496** 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 Galle District? Galle District lies in [Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 3 other districts: [Kalutara District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/kalutara/), [Matara District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/) and [Ratnapura District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/). By area it is the 20th largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 29.1% of [Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/). The centre of Galle District is about 92 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 6.2042° N, 80.2309° E. Local names: ගාල්ල දිස්ත්‍රික් · காலி மாவட்டம் . 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 Galle District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Akmeemana DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/akmeemana/) 71 63 112 [Ambalangoda DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/ambalangoda/) 49 36 101 [Baddegama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/baddegama/) 67 48 27 [Balapitiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/balapitiya/) 54 51 140 [Bentota DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/bentota/) 71 51 269 [Bope-Poddala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/bope-poddala/) 29 44 70 [Elpitiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/elpitiya/) 151 51 48 [Galle 4 Gravets DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/galle-4-gravets/) 22 50 556 [Gonapinuwala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/gonapinuwala/) 25 19 27 [Habaraduwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/habaraduwa/) 49 59 743 [Hikkaduwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/hikkaduwa/) 13 27 553 [Imaduwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/imaduwa/) 58 43 19 [Karandeniya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/karandeniya/) 89 40 23 [Madampagama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/madampagama/) 23 38 67 [Nagoda DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/nagoda/) 173 53 16 [Neluwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/neluwa/) 153 34 22 [Niyagama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/niyagama/) 104 34 30 [Rathgama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/rathgama/) 27 32 62 [Thawalama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/thawalama/) 174 36 34 [Wanduramba DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/wanduramba/) 46 22 11 [Welivitiya-Divitura DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/welivitiya-divitura/) 56 20 7 [Yakkalamulla DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/yakkalamulla/) 109 44 10 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 Galle District - Galle93,118 - Ambalangoda56,783 - Bentota37,000 - Talpe3,000 - Koggala3,000 - Unawatuna2,000 - Hikkaduwa1,300 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 Galle District Named natural and historic features inside Galle District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 44 rivers and streams; 9 lakes; 3 reservoirs and tanks. - Amban Ela - Anda Dola - Badal Ela - Beekke Reservoir - Boralessa Wewa - Dedduwa Lake - Dik Ela - Diviture Ela - Elpitiya Ela - Galagoda Ela - Galbendi Dola - Gonala Dola - Halwature Ganga - Hattaka Ela - Heen Dola - Hikkaduwa Ganga - Hiyare Reservoir - Holuwagoda Ela - Homa Dola - Kannali Ela - Keembiya Ela - Kepu Ela - Koggala Lake - Kudamahawela Ela …and 32 more. ### Coast and islands 18 islands; 11 headlands. - Ahungalla Point - Babungala Point - Didduwa - Dimiduwa - Erawanaduwa - Ereminia Gala Point - Galmanduwa - Galpahura Point - Gibbet Island - Glosenberg Point - Godagala Point - Gonaduwa - Gravet Point - Kadapawunuduwa - Kodduwa - Kotavanni - Lenaduwa - Madduwa - Madolduwa - Meraladuwa - Mimaduwa - Muwannaduwa - Naiduwa - Nindan Godella …and 5 more. ### Hills and mountains 51 hills; 14 mountains. - Dotulugala · 656 m - Dettegala · 585 m - Kohilarambe · 555 m - Kabaragala · 518 m - Yakdehikanda · 413 m - Hindelnattu · 403 m - Tibotuwakota · 401 m - Hettikanda · 327 m - Galboda Kanda · 316 m - Malgallakanda · 316 m - Pimburukanda · 285 m - Kondagala · 280 m - Kekirikanda · 246 m - Nerugalkanda · 211 m - Owitihenakanda · 207 m - Puwakgulanekanda · 207 m - Udahakanda · 205 m - Ambagaha Kanda · 198 m - Uhanowita Kanda · 159 m - Maluegoda · 156 m - Galapitatenna · 148 m - Galbendidolakanda · 145 m - Kandawattagoda · 144 m - Yagala · 138 m …and 41 more. ### Forests and nature 11 forest reserves; 4 forests. - Beraliya Proposed Forest Reserve - Darakulkanda Forest Reserve - Dellawa Forest Reserve - Kandewattagoda - Kannaliya Forest Reserve - Kanneliya - Kottawa Forest Reserve - Kurupelpola - Malambure Forest Reserve - Marakanda - Olabedda Forest Reserve - Polgahakanda Forest Reserve - Polgahawila Proposed Forest Reserve - Polhunnawa Forest Reserve - Yakkatuwa Forest Reserve ### History 12 forts; 1 ancient site. - Aeolus Bastion - Arachchimulla - Aurora Bastion - Clippenberg Bastion - Moon Bastion - Neptune Bastion - Sailors Bastion - Schwarte Fort - Star Bastion - Sun Bastion - Triton Bastion - Utrecht Bastion - Zwart Bastion ### Estates 139 estates; 66 rubber estates; 15 tea estates; 9 oil-palm estates; 2 estates. - Agroc - Akuratikanda - Alikahena - Amusoda - Ananda - Anganaketiya - Apthorpe - Armitage Hill - Atahaulhena - Atakalan - Atukoralekanda - Atuwagalla - Baddegama - Bataketiya - Beau Sejour - Beryl - Bibulagoda - Blackande - Bloom Park - Bogahagoda - Borakanda - Boraluwa Estate - Cabeal - Captain Garden …and 207 more. ### Getting around 2 lighthouses; 1 airport; 1 harbour; 1 railway station. - Galle Harbour - Galle Lighthouse - Galle Lighthouse (historical) - Galle railway station - Koggala 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 Galle District and the best time to visit In Galle District, the warmest month is May (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jan (27 °C). About 2,174 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (334 mm) and the driest Feb (85 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to February and July**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 27 95 Feb 27 85 Mar 28 124 Apr 28 221 May 28 243 Jun 28 146 Jul 27 116 Aug 27 139 Sep 27 189 Oct 27 280 Nov 27 334 Dec 27 202 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Galle District Places mapped inside Galle District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals68 - Banks127 - ATMs3 - Petrol pumps36 - Hotels1,672 - Shopping malls17 - Schools219 - Colleges and universities58 - Cinemas6 - Pharmacies31 - Restaurants670 - Police stations32 - Dental clinics8 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. ## Galle in history The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Galle as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed. > GALLE, or Point de Galle, a town and port of Ceylon on the south-west coast. It was made a municipality in 1865, and divided into the five districts of the Fort, Callowelle, Galopiadde, Hirimbure and Cumbalwalla. The fort, which is more than a mile in circumference, overlooks the whole harbour, but is commanded by a range of hills. Within its enclosure are not only several government buildings, but an old church erected by the Dutch East India Company, a mosque, a Wesleyan chapel, a hospital, and a considerable number of houses occupied by Europeans. The old Dutch building known as the queen’s house, or governor’s residence, which dated from 1687, was in such a dilapidated state that it was sold by the governor, Sir William Gregory, in 1873. Elsewhere there are few buildings of individual note, but the general style of domestic architecture is pleasant and comfortable, though not pretentious. One of the most delightful features of the place is the profusion of trees, even within the town, and along the edge of the shore—suriyas, palms, coco-nut trees and bread-fruit trees. The ramparts towards the sea furnish fine promenades. In the harbour deep water is found close to the shore, and the outer roads are spacious; but the south-west monsoon renders entrance difficult, and not unfrequently drives vessels from their moorings. Source: [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911) — public domain; transcription via Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica). Boundaries in 1901 may differ from today's; sentences describing castes or communities are omitted. ## Quick answers - Where is Galle District?In Southern Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Galle District?1,139,000 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Galle District?About 32 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Galle District?About 706 people per km² - What borders Galle District?Kalutara District, Matara District and Ratnapura District - What is the largest town in Galle District?Galle - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Galle District?3 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Galle District?Dotulugala (656 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Galle District?January to February and July - How many hospitals are in Galle District?68 mapped - How many banks are in Galle District?127 mapped - How many ATMs are in Galle District?3 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Galle District?36 mapped - What is the P-code of Galle District?LK31 (OCHA common operational dataset)