Sri Lanka Population Live (2026)
The live population of Sri Lanka, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the most interesting countries on Earth.
Sri Lanka has an estimated population of about 21.8 million people in 2026 — 0.26% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 45th largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using Sri Lanka's latest birth rate (14.1 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (7.1 per 1,000).
Is the population of Sri Lanka growing?
Yes. Around 841 babies are born in Sri Lanka every day — about 35 an hour — while around 424 people die. That leaves a natural increase of roughly 418 people a day, or about 152,411 a year: a growth rate of 0.70% before migration. That is slow growth: the gap between births and deaths is narrow, and on current trends Sri Lanka is likely to see deaths overtake births within the next few decades unless birth rates recover.
A birth rate of 14.1 per 1,000 people is close to the world average of about 16.9. Family sizes have been falling, but there are still many young adults of child-bearing age. It ranks 36th of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
Migration also plays a role. Large numbers of people from Sri Lanka live and work abroad, so the real population change can be a little smaller than the natural increase shown here. Our counter shows births minus deaths only.
Births and deaths in Sri Lanka
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Per hour | 35 | 18 | 17 |
| Per day | 841 | 424 | 418 |
| Per week | 5,888 | 2,965 | 2,923 |
| Per year | 306,999 | 154,588 | 152,411 |
How crowded is Sri Lanka?
With about 21.8 million people living on 65,610 km², Sri Lanka has roughly 331.9 people per square kilometre. That is around 5.4 times the world average of about 61 per km², making it the 8th most densely populated of the 72 countries we track. High density puts pressure on housing, transport and farmland, but it also makes cities and services cheaper to run per person.
Life expectancy in Sri Lanka
A baby born in Sri Lanka today can expect to live about 77 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That is above the global average and ranks 39th of the 72 countries we track. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
With GDP of about $3,682 per person (54th of 72), Sri Lanka is a lower-income country. As incomes, education and access to healthcare rise, birth rates almost always fall — which is why the UN expects growth here to slow over the coming decades.
Sri Lanka at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 21,773,000 | 45 |
| Births per day | 841 | 47 |
| Deaths per day | 424 | 47 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 14.1 | 36 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 7.1 | 39 |
| Natural growth rate | 0.70% / year | 39 |
| Life expectancy | 77 years | 39 |
| Population density | 331.9 / km² | 8 |
| GDP per person | $3,682 | 54 |
| Area | 65,610 km² | — |
| Capital | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte | — |
| Languages | Sinhala, Tamil | — |
| Currency | Sri Lankan Rupee (₨) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate Sri Lanka's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use Sri Lanka's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sri Lanka in 2026?
The population of Sri Lanka in 2026 is estimated at about 21.8 million people, which is around 0.26% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in Sri Lanka every day?
About 841 babies are born in Sri Lanka every day — roughly 35 per hour, or 306,999 per year — based on a birth rate of 14.1 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in Sri Lanka every day?
About 424 people die in Sri Lanka every day — roughly 18 per hour, or 154,588 per year — based on a death rate of 7.1 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of Sri Lanka growing or shrinking?
Growing. Births exceed deaths by about 418 people a day, a natural growth rate of 0.70% a year before migration.
What is the life expectancy in Sri Lanka?
Life expectancy at birth in Sri Lanka is about 77 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this Sri Lanka population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply Sri Lanka's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.