Sri Lanka's Population Growth Slows, Dependency Rises

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka’s population growth rate has slowed further, according to the 2024 National Census Report released yesterday.

The report indicates that the current growth rate stands at 0.5%, a notable drop from 0.7% recorded during the 2012 census.

Despite the decline, the Department of Census and Statistics confirms that the population is still growing, albeit at a slower pace.

The country’s population has increased by 1,437,310 individuals since the last census, bringing the total to 21,781,800.

Of this figure, 51.7% are women, while men account for 48.3%. The report also highlights significant demographic shifts:

Children under 15 years now represent 20.7% of the population, marking a 4.5% decrease.

Senior citizens aged 65 and above have risen to 12.6%, an increase of 4.7%.

The working-age group (15–64 years) comprises 66.7% of the population.

The dependency ratio—which measures the proportion of dependents (under 15 and over 65) to the working-age population—has climbed to 49.8%.

Ethnic composition remains largely unchanged, with Sinhalese at 74.1%, Sri Lankan Tamils at 12.3%, Sri Lankan Muslims at 10.5%, and Indian Tamils at 2.8%. The report also notes that 2,281 individuals are currently living without permanent housing.