Contents
Country Overview
Sri Lanka is an island republic south of India in the Indian Ocean with an economy shaped by trade, manufacturing, tourism, plantation agriculture and remittances. Its elected executive president and 225-member parliament operate amid the continuing recovery from the 2022 debt and balance-of-payments crisis. The governing National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won a strong parliamentary majority in November 2024. The 2024 population census has a finalized total published after its preliminary release. This profile separates census enumerations, World Bank estimates, goods exports, services exports, and different historical names and institutional functions of Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
GDPUS$108.83 billionWorld Bank 2025 current-dollar estimate [3]
PresidentAnura Kumara DissanayakeAssumed office September 2024 [6]
Prime ministerHarini AmarasuriyaAppointed after November 2024 election [7]
World Heritage8 propertiesUNESCO: 6 cultural and 2 natural [15]
Data and status note: The final 2024 census reports 21,781,800 people at the 19 December 2024 census moment, superseding the preliminary figure of 21,763,170. The World Bank estimates 21,756,000 for 2025, a separate model series. World Bank current-dollar 2025 GDP is US$108.83 billion. Central Bank 2025 provisional goods exports were US$13.5814 billion and imports US$21.4799 billion; adding services exports produces a larger total not comparable with merchandise-only figures. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital, while Colombo remains the main commercial centre and hosts numerous state offices.
Identity & State Formation
- Official name
- Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. [1] [2]
- Common short name
- Sri Lanka. [1]
- Historical name
- Ceylon was the internationally used state name before 1972. [2]
- Legislative capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte houses the parliamentary complex. [9]
- Commercial capital
- Colombo is the principal commercial and financial centre. [2]
- UN statistical region
- Southern Asia in UN M49. [1]
- ISO codes
- LK / LKA / 144. [1]
- Form of government
- Unitary republic with an executive president and parliament. [2] [9]
- President
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake; in office since 22 September 2024. [6]
- Prime minister
- Harini Amarasuriya; reappointed in November 2024. [7]
- Official languages
- Sinhala and Tamil are official languages. [2]
- Link language
- English has recognized link-language status. [2]
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). [10]
- Currency subdivision
- One rupee equals 100 cents. [10]
- National flag
- Gold-bordered maroon lion field and green/orange vertical stripes. [2]
- National emblem
- Lion, lotus and symbols of Buddhist and national heritage. [2]
- Island antiquity
- Prehistoric and ancient populations predate written state chronicles. [15]
- Early Anuradhapura
- Anuradhapura was a major ancient capital and Buddhist center. [15]
- Polonnaruwa period
- Polonnaruwa succeeded Anuradhapura as an important capital. [15]
- Colonial sequence
- Portuguese, Dutch and British power shaped coastal and later islandwide administration. [15]
- British Crown colony
- The island became a Crown colony in the early nineteenth century. [2]
- Independence
- February 4, 1948 from British rule. [2] [18]
- Republic
- The constitutional republic replaced the dominion in 1972. [2]
- Current constitutional era
- The 1978 constitution established the executive presidency, subject to later amendments. [9]
- Civil-war period
- Armed conflict between the government and LTTE lasted from 1983 to 2009. [2]
- Postwar reconciliation
- War-memory, accountability and minority rights remain major political topics. [2]
- 2022 political crisis
- Economic emergency and protests preceded the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. [12]
- 2024 political change
- NPP secured the executive and parliamentary mandates in 2024. [6] [8]
- UN admission
- Joined the United Nations on December 14, 1955. [18]
- National holiday
- Independence Day is observed February 4. [2]
Geography & Population
- Physical setting
- Island in the northern Indian Ocean southeast of peninsular India. [1]
- Sea separation
- Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar separate Sri Lanka and India. [1]
- Neighboring region
- The country participates in South Asian regional groupings. [19] [1]
- Total surface area
- Approximately 65,610 km² in UN statistical references. [1]
- Main island
- Much of the state territory lies on a single large island. [1]
- Coastline
- Lagoons, beaches, ports and mangroves ring much of the island. [14]
- Central Highlands
- Elevated interior with the principal montane ecosystems. [15]
- Highest peak
- Pidurutalagala, approximately 2,524 m above sea level. [14]
- Major river
- Mahaweli Ganga is a major river for irrigation and power generation. [14]
- Western Province
- Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara form an urban-economic core. [5]
- Northern Province
- Jaffna and surrounding districts have distinctive Tamil-speaking communities. [5]
- Eastern Province
- Multiethnic coastal and interior settlements include Batticaloa and Trincomalee. [5]
- Central Province
- Kandy region links upland landscapes and plantation heritage. [5]
- Southern Province
- Galle, Matara and Hambantota anchor southern settlements. [5]
- Administrative provinces
- Nine provinces organize devolved regional government. [2]
- Districts
- Twenty-five districts form key statistical and administrative units. [5]
- Climate
- Tropical, with distinct monsoon seasons and regional rainfall differences. [14]
- Southwest monsoon
- Moisture affects much of the southwest and central hills. [14]
- Northeast monsoon
- Seasonal rainfall patterns are particularly important in the north and east. [14]
- Dry-zone agriculture
- Large irrigation systems support rice cultivation in drier areas. [14]
- Water hazards
- Seasonal floods, landslides and drought are recurring risks. [14]
- Coral ecosystems
- Reefs and coastal marine habitats support biodiversity and fisheries. [14]
- Forest conservation
- Sinharaja and montane protected areas shelter endemic species. [15]
- 2024 final census
- 21,781,800 persons at the December 19, 2024 census moment. [4]
- 2024 preliminary count
- 21,763,170; superseded by the final census release. [5] [4]
- 2025 population estimate
- 21,756,000 in the World Bank annual series; not a census. [3]
- 2012 census
- Earlier reference count was approximately 20.36 million. [4]
- Population change
- The final 2024 census shows about 1.42 million more residents than 2012. [4]
- Population density
- Final census reports about 350 persons per km². [4]
- Population distribution
- Western Province accounts for approximately 28.1% of the census total. [4]
- Major metro area
- Colombo metropolitan area dominates finance and urban services. [5]
- Urban/rural distinction
- Census and household-survey boundaries affect reported urbanization. [5]
- Climate vulnerability
- Heat, water variability and extreme precipitation affect livelihoods. [14]
Population estimates and census reference points
The final and preliminary census totals must not be conflated with an annual model estimate. [4] [5] [3]
| Series | Population | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Final population census | 21,781,800 | 19 Dec 2024; finalized release |
| Preliminary census | 21,763,170 | 2024 census preliminary publication; superseded |
| World Bank annual estimate | 21,756,000 | 2025 modeled estimate |
Economy & International Trade
- Economic structure
- Services, industry, agriculture and overseas earnings contribute to output. [3] [10]
- 2025 nominal GDP
- US$108.83 billion in World Bank current US dollars. [3]
- 2025 GDP per capita
- Approximately US$5,002 in the World Bank 2025 series. [3]
- 2025 real GDP growth
- 5.0% in the World Bank calendar-year series. [3]
- 2025 inflation
- Annual CPI inflation approximately -4.8% in World Bank series. [3]
- 2025 unemployment
- About 4.0% ILO modeled estimate reported by World Bank. [3]
- 2025 remittances
- About 7.6% of GDP in the World Bank series. [3]
- 2022 foreign-exchange crisis
- Debt distress, shortages and defaults reshaped economic policy. [12]
- IMF engagement
- Extended financing arrangements support adjustment and restructuring. [12]
- Public debt
- Debt restructuring and budget implementation remain policy priorities. [12] [10]
- Fiscal policy
- VAT, revenue collection and social protection are reform themes. [12]
- Monetary authority
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka. [10]
- Currency management
- Exchange-rate and monetary policy evolved after the 2022 crisis. [10]
- Apparel manufacturing
- Ready-made garments are a leading goods-export sector. [11]
- Tea exports
- Ceylon tea remains a major agricultural export. [11]
- Rubber products
- Rubber and manufactured rubber goods contribute to industrial sales. [11]
- Coconut products
- Coconut-based products are important agro-industrial exports. [11]
- Gems and jewelry
- Precious stones and jewelry occupy specialized export markets. [11]
- Ports
- Colombo port is a major Indian Ocean transshipment hub. [10]
- Tourism
- Beaches, archaeology and wildlife support a significant services sector. [10]
- Overseas work
- Labor migration and remittances support foreign-exchange supply. [20] [3]
- Rice
- Rice is a major domestic crop and food-security commodity. [10]
- Plantation history
- Tea and rubber estates influenced settlement and employment patterns. [20]
- Energy supply
- Hydropower, petroleum imports and renewable projects are important. [10] [14]
- 2025 goods exports
- US$13.5814 billion, Central Bank provisional series. [11]
- 2025 goods imports
- US$21.4799 billion, Central Bank provisional series. [11]
- 2025 goods balance
- Merchandise deficit approximately US$7.8986 billion. [11]
- 2025 industrial exports
- US$10.4608 billion in Central Bank provisional category data. [11]
- 2025 agricultural exports
- US$3.0720 billion in Central Bank provisional data. [11]
- 2025 total goods trade
- US$35.0613 billion exports plus imports. [11]
- WTO profile caution
- WTO detailed 2017 partner/product series is historical, not 2025. [13]
- Goods versus services
- Tourism and IT service receipts are not in merchandise export totals. [10]
- Development exposure
- Climate events and global demand affect fiscal and export recovery. [12] [14]
Selected World Bank macroeconomic indicators, 2025
World Bank 2025 vintage; subject to future statistical revisions. [3]
| Indicator | Value | Measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | US$108.83 billion | Current US dollars |
| GDP per capita | US$5,002.1 | Current US dollars |
| Real GDP growth | 5.0% | Annual volume growth |
| Inflation | −4.8% | Annual CPI |
| Remittances | 7.6% of GDP | Annual inbound remittances |
Central Bank merchandise trade, 2024–2025
Calendar 2025 values are provisional. Merchandise excludes service exports. [11]
| Indicator | 2024 (US$ m) | 2025 (US$ m) |
|---|---|---|
| Goods exports | 12,772.0 | 13,581.4 |
| Goods imports | 18,841.4 | 21,479.9 |
| Goods balance | −6,069.4 | −7,898.6 |
| Industrial exports | 9,946.9 | 10,460.8 |
| Agricultural exports | 2,774.5 | 3,072.0 |
People & Society
- Population composition
- Sinhala, Sri Lankan Tamil, Indian Tamil and Moor/Muslim communities are prominent. [4]
- Sinhala language
- One of the national official languages; written in Sinhala script. [2]
- Tamil language
- Official language widely used in north, east and other communities. [2]
- English
- Important in education, legal, business and interethnic communication. [2]
- Religious communities
- Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity have established communities. [4]
- Buddhist tradition
- Theravada Buddhism is influential in majority Sinhala culture. [15]
- Hindu tradition
- Hindu temples and observances are central to many Tamil communities. [2]
- Muslim communities
- Diverse Muslim communities participate in island trade and society. [2]
- Christian heritage
- Catholic and Protestant institutions reflect colonial and local history. [2]
- Language policy
- Language access remains an issue for inclusive public services. [2]
- Education
- Public school system and universities provide broad national instruction. [2]
- Literacy
- Relatively high regional literacy, though access and quality vary. [3]
- Health services
- Public-sector health care operates alongside private providers. [17]
- Life expectancy
- World Bank reports about 78 years for 2024. [3]
- Maternal and child health
- Public-health systems have historically achieved notable outcomes. [17]
- Education language
- Sinhala, Tamil and English media of instruction coexist. [2]
- Plantation communities
- Estate workers and their descendants retain distinct labor histories. [20]
- Migration
- Overseas labor and skilled migration shape family finances. [20]
- Urban housing
- Colombo region faces affordability and infrastructure pressures. [3]
- Regional inequalities
- Northern, eastern and estate areas have distinct development needs. [3]
- Postwar recovery
- Displacement and conflict legacies remain significant in some districts. [2]
- Food traditions
- Rice and curry, hoppers, string hoppers and sambols are staples. [16]
- Art traditions
- Kandyan dance, drumming and regional performance forms are prominent. [16]
- Tea culture
- Tea production and consumption are central to commercial heritage. [10]
- Cricket
- One of the country's most followed sports. [2]
- Festivals
- Vesak, Deepavali, Eid, Christmas and Sinhala/Tamil New Year are observed. [2]
- UNESCO cultural sites
- Six cultural properties represent ancient and colonial periods. [15]
- UNESCO natural sites
- Two natural properties protect biological diversity. [15]
- Sinharaja
- Rainforest reserve recognized for remarkable species endemism. [15]
- Central Highlands
- Montane property recognized for ecosystems and biodiversity. [15]
- Tentative list
- Six sites appear on UNESCO's tentative list, not inscribed property list. [15]
- World Heritage methodology
- Physical properties, tentative sites and intangible practices are distinct lists. [15] [16]
Major geographic and social reference points
Illustrative reference table; does not assign an exclusive ethnicity or religion to a location. [5] [15]
| Place or topic | Role | Reference context |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo | Commercial and administrative hub | Western Province |
| Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte | Parliamentary seat | Western Province |
| Kandy | Highland culture and heritage | Central Province |
| Jaffna | Northern Tamil-speaking cultural center | Northern Province |
| Galle | Historic maritime fortifications | Southern Province |
Government & Institutions
- State framework
- Unitary democratic republic under a written constitution. [2]
- Executive president
- President is head of state and has significant executive authority. [6]
- President in office
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office September 22, 2024. [6]
- Prime minister
- Harini Amarasuriya, appointed to lead government business after the 2024 election. [7]
- National parliament
- Unicameral 225-seat Parliament. [9]
- Parliamentary election
- Last national parliamentary election held November 14, 2024. [8]
- NPP/JJB result
- National People's Power won 159 seats. [8]
- SJB result
- Samagi Jana Balawegaya won 40 seats. [8]
- ITAK result
- Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi won eight seats. [8]
- Other parties
- Remaining seats distributed among smaller parties and alliances. [8]
- Electoral system
- District-based proportional representation plus national-list seats. [8]
- Cabinet
- Ministers direct departments within the constitutional framework. [2]
- Courts
- Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and lower courts administer justice. [2]
- Local government
- Provincial and local authorities oversee specified services. [2]
- Provincial councils
- Nine provincial units exist within a contested devolution framework. [2]
- Constitution
- The 1978 constitution has been repeatedly amended. [9]
- Presidential election
- September 2024 vote led to the current presidency. [6]
- Electoral accountability
- Elections and parliamentary scrutiny are core democratic institutions. [8] [9]
- Financial oversight
- Fiscal stabilization and debt transparency remain governance concerns. [12]
- Central-bank independence
- Monetary-policy arrangements underwent legislative reform after 2022. [10]
- Public service
- Administrative ministries operate nationally and in districts. [2]
- Law and languages
- Sinhala and Tamil have constitutionally recognized status. [2]
- Rights framework
- Fundamental-rights guarantees exist alongside ongoing implementation debates. [2]
- Postconflict accountability
- Reconciliation and accountability are enduring governance questions. [2]
- Security institutions
- Police and armed forces report through national institutions. [2]
- Political-party system
- Multiparty elections structure coalition and opposition politics. [8]
- Date convention
- All current officeholders reflect the November 2026 editorial cutoff. [6] [7]
- Statistical agency
- Department of Census and Statistics is primary national census authority. [5]
Selected 2024 parliamentary election results
Counts are from Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election results. [8]
| Party / coalition | Seats | Total assembly |
|---|---|---|
| National People’s Power (JJB/NPP) | 159 | 225 |
| Samagi Jana Balawegaya | 40 | 225 |
| Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi | 8 | 225 |
| New Democratic Front | 5 | 225 |
| Others combined | 13 | 225 |
International Profile
- United Nations
- Admitted in December 1955. [18]
- SAARC
- Member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. [19]
- Commonwealth
- Member of the Commonwealth since independence. [2]
- Indian Ocean setting
- Shipping lanes connect South Asia, East Asia, Middle East and Africa. [2]
- Relations with India
- Close geographic, cultural, security and commercial ties. [2] [19]
- Relations with China
- Trade, financing and infrastructure projects are material. [10] [12]
- Relations with United States
- Trade and diplomacy include a major garment export market. [10]
- Gulf ties
- Employment migration and remittances link Sri Lanka to Gulf countries. [20]
- Regional integration
- Participates in South Asian and Indian Ocean initiatives. [19]
- WTO participation
- Engages in multilateral trade and tariff policy. [13]
- IMF relationship
- Debt sustainability and macroeconomic reforms shape cooperation. [12]
- World Bank relationship
- Development finance addresses poverty, growth and resilience. [3]
- Climate diplomacy
- Coastal exposure and floods inform adaptation priorities. [14]
- Biodiversity
- Tropical forests and endemic species are international conservation priorities. [15]
- World Heritage total
- Eight inscribed properties. [15]
- Cultural World Heritage
- Six cultural inscriptions. [15]
- Natural World Heritage
- Two natural inscriptions. [15]
- Anuradhapura
- Sacred city inscribed in 1982. [15]
- Polonnaruwa
- Ancient city inscribed in 1982. [15]
- Sigiriya
- Ancient city inscribed in 1982. [15]
- Kandy
- Sacred city inscribed in 1988. [15]
- Galle
- Old town and fortifications inscribed in 1988. [15]
- Dambulla
- Cave temple property inscribed in 1991. [15]
- Sinharaja
- Forest reserve inscribed in 1988. [15]
- Central Highlands
- Natural property inscribed in 2010. [15]
- Tentative heritage
- Six separate candidate properties on UNESCO's tentative list. [15]
- Intangible heritage
- UNESCO's intangible registers use a different inscription system. [16]
- Cross-border transport
- Colombo port and air connections support regional flows. [10]
- Diaspora
- Migrant communities connect the island to many regions. [20]
UNESCO World Heritage properties
Eight inscribed properties as of November 2026; tentative nominations excluded. [15]
| Property | Type | Inscribed |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient City of Polonnaruwa | Cultural | 1982 |
| Ancient City of Sigiriya | Cultural | 1982 |
| Sacred City of Anuradhapura | Cultural | 1982 |
| Sacred City of Kandy | Cultural | 1988 |
| Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications | Cultural | 1988 |
| Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple | Cultural | 1991 |
| Sinharaja Forest Reserve | Natural | 1988 |
| Central Highlands of Sri Lanka | Natural | 2010 |
Sources and Methodology
MGU Quick Facts distinguishes final and provisional census data, annual model estimates, nominal GDP from purchasing-power values, and merchandise from services trade. The 2024 census final total supersedes the preliminary publication; 2025 trade figures are expressly provisional. World Heritage is a register of inscribed sites, not a count of intangible elements or tentative nominations. Current government descriptions are dated to November 2026.
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.
- UN Statistics Division — Standard country or area codes for statistical use — Southern Asia classification and country nomenclature.
- Sri Lanka government official information portal — state structure, institutions and national services.
- World Bank — Sri Lanka country data — 2025 demographic, GDP, growth, inflation and remittance indicators.
- Sri Lanka Department of Census and Statistics — 2024 final census report — final 2024 census population and demographic methods.
- Department of Census and Statistics — CPH 2024 tables — district population, census releases and comparisons.
- President of Sri Lanka — official President profile — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake since September 2024.
- Office of the Prime Minister — Harini Amarasuriya — prime minister and cabinet functions.
- Parliament of Sri Lanka — November 2024 election results — 225-seat legislature and electoral distribution.
- Parliament of Sri Lanka — official website — legislative powers, membership and procedure.
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka — Annual Economic Review 2025 — 2025 national accounts, external trade and policy context.
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka — 2025 Annual Economic Review merchandise-trade table — provisional 2025 exports, imports and sectoral category values.
- International Monetary Fund — Sri Lanka country profile — debt restructuring and macroeconomic stabilization.
- WTO Tariff & Trade Data — Sri Lanka — historical WTO product and partner comparisons; data-year caveat.
- World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — Sri Lanka — monsoon, flood, drought and changing rainfall patterns.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Sri Lanka — eight World Heritage inscriptions and six tentative properties.
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Sri Lanka — distinct intangible cultural practices.
- World Health Organization — Sri Lanka — health statistics and life expectancy.
- United Nations — Member States — UN membership and sovereignty.
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation — official site — regional diplomatic cooperation.
- International Labour Organization — Sri Lanka — labor force, migration and employment conditions.
- UNESCO World Heritage List — Sri Lanka property inventory — property categories and inscription years.