Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
9 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
2.01 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations
Communications: Internet country code
.lk
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
54.59% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1.707 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
133 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
30.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, coconuts, tea, sugarcane, plantains, milk, fiber crops, cassava, chicken, pumpkins/squash (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
27.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$17.144 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$9.387 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$2.541 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.988 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.883 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.742 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$2.309 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$2.799 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.843 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$1.187 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$3.284 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.448 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$1.559 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$1.206 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$58.719 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$42.198 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
327.507 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
129.069 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
130.565 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
135.857 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
145.582 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
152.446 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
162.465 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
178.745 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
185.593 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
198.764 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
322.633 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
327.507 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$16.927 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$17.445 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$19.085 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$20.256 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$19.423 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$13.036 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$14.974 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$16.169 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$17.327 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$19.680 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
19.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
68.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-22.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
18.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
8.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
8.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
25.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
57.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$15,633 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$98.963 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$342.604 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
39.3 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
37.7 (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
30.8% (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.1% (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$22.995 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$23.450 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$25.401 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$26.789 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$24.565 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$18.243 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$21.526 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$19.244 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$18.823 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$22.278 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.77% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
3.96% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
7.70% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.14% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.53% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
6.15% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
7.01% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
49.72% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
16.54% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
-0.43% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
8.499 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
14.30% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
68.35% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
68.59% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$243.531 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$256.404 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$277.383 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$291.985 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$307.705 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$283.652 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$317.188 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$293.878 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$287.031 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$301.407 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.21% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
5.05% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
6.46% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.31% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-0.22% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-4.62% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.21% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
-7.35% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
-2.33% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.01% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$11,721 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$12,227 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$13,079 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$13,610 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$14,113 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$12,941 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$14,316 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$14,194 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$14,456 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$6.422 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$7.036 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$7.000 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$7.140 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$6.722 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$7.302 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$6.008 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$7.959 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$6.921 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$7.648 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$5.664 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$3.137 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.896 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.405 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$6.094 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
9.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.67% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.36% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.98% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.53% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.53% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.24% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
29.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
18.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
22.3% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
2.323 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
2.238 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
49.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
40.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
5.326 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.457 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
5.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
14.003 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion; poaching; effects of urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and pollution; coral reef destruction; freshwater resources polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
48.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
34.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
16.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
24.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
52.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
11.31 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
831 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
805 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
20.30% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.632 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
24.5% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Geography: Area: land
64,630 sq km
Geography: Area: water
980 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,340 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
228 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
7 00 N, 81 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km (31-mi) bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century, when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone
Geography: Irrigated land
5,700 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
48.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
34.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
16.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Geography: Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north
Geography: Terrain
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Government: Administrative divisions
9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Government: Capital: etymology
the origin of Colombo's name is unclear; it may derive from the Sinhalese words kola (leaves) and amba (mango), referring to local mango trees, or from the name Kelantotta, referring to a ferry that crossed the Kelani River; the name was corrupted to Kolambu by Arab traders, and 16th-century Portuguese settlers then called it Colombo, possibly referring to explorer Christopher COLUMBUS; the legislative capital's name, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, is composed of the Sanskrit honorific sri, the name of Sri Lankan President J.R. JAYEWARDENE, and the Hindi word pura (town)
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
6 55 N, 79 50 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and in some cases approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Sri Lanka
Government: Country name: etymology
the name is composed of the Sanskrit words shri (happiness or holiness) and lanka (island); the former name Serendib was an Arabic derivation of the Sanskrit word simhaladvipa , or "island of the place of lions;" the former name Ceylon came from the Sanskrit simha , or "lion"
Government: Country name: former
Serendib, Ceylon
Government: Country name: local long form
Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil)
Government: Country name: local short form
Shri Lanka (Sinhala)/ Ilankai (Tamil)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Julie J. CHUNG (since 17 February 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
colomboacs@state.gov https://lk.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
210 Galle Road, Colombo 03
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[94] (11) 243-7345
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6100 Colombo Place, Washington DC 20521-6100
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[94] (11) 249-8500
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Mahinda SAMARASINGHE (since 13 January 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s)
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Los Angeles
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
slemb.washington@mfa.gov.lk https://slembassyusa.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] 202-232-2329
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 483-4025
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2024: Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE elected president; percent of vote after reallocation - Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (JVP) 55.9%, Sajith PREMADASA (SJB) 44.1%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
21 September 2024
Government: Flag
description: yellow with two panels; the smaller panel on the left has two equal vertical bands of green (left side) and orange; the larger panel has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a yellow bo leaf in each corner meaning: the sword stands for national sovereignty; the lion for Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the four bo leaves for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange stands for Tamils, green for Moors, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority; yellow represents other ethnic groups
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
November 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
11/14/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
225 (196 directly elected; 29 indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
National People's Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya, NPP) (159); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) (40); Other (26)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
9.8%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1951
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Ananda SAMARKONE (Sinhala),M. NALLATHAMBY (Tamil)/Ananda SAMARKONE
Government: National color(s)
maroon, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (c); Ancient City of Sigiriya (c); Sacred City of Anuradhapura (c); Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (c); Sacred City of Kandy (c); Sinharaja Forest Reserve (n); Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (c); Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion, water lily
Government: Political parties
Crusaders for Democracy or CFD Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi or ITAK Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU National People's Power or NPP (also known as Jathika Jana Balawegaya or JJB) People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance or SLPFA (includes SLPFP, SLPP, and several smaller parties) Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka's People's Front) or SLPP Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO Tamil National Alliance or TNA (includes ITAK, PLOTE, TELO) Tamil National People's Front or TNPF Tamil People's National Alliance or TPNA United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG (coalition includes JHU, UNP) United National Party or UNP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009. During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE -- who had already served as prime minister five times -- was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country.
Military and Security: Military - note
the military of Sri Lanka is responsible for external defense, maritime security, and maintaining internal security; it has sent small numbers of personnel on UN peacekeeping missions; from 1983 to 2009, the military fought against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a conflict that involved both guerrilla and conventional warfare, as well as acts of terrorism and human rights abuses, and cost the military nearly 30,000 killed; since the end of the war, a large portion of the Army reportedly remains deployed in the majority Tamil-populated northern and eastern provinces; the military over the past decade also has increased its role in a range of commercial sectors including agriculture, hotels, leisure, and restaurants Sri Lanka traditionally has had close security ties to India; the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries conduct exercises together, and India trains approximately 1,000 Sri Lankan soldiers per year; in recent years, Sri Lanka has increased military ties with China, including acquiring military equipment, hosting naval port calls, and sending personnel to China for training (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Sri Lanka Armed Forces: Sri Lanka Army (includes National Guard and the Volunteer Force), Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Civil Security Department (Home Guard) Ministry of Public Security: Sri Lanka Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 210,000 active Armed Forces (140,000 Army; 25,000 Air Force; 45,000 Navy) (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
120 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's armaments are mostly of Chinese, Indian, Russian/Soviet, and US origin (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
2.42% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.98% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.98% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.73% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.75% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.74% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.71% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.34% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.64% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.43% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women, although upper age limits may vary by branch of service, roles, specialties, etc; no conscription (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
22.6% (male 2,537,918/female 2,423,615)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
65% (male 6,954,869/female 7,336,897)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
12.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,149,256/female 1,580,053)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
14.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0.9% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
9.8% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
17.1% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.68% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.3% (2016 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
19.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
5.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
53.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
34.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
7.2% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
1.83% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.03 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
3.9 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
6.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
80.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
74.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
92% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
93.4% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
92.74% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
35.8 years
People and Society: Median age: male
32.2 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
25.6 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Sri Lankan
People and Society: Net migration rate
-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
21,916,000 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.22% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
11,382,033
People and Society: Population: male
10,668,528
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.95 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.73 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
36.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
18.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.95 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
20.30% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
5,549 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
500 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
229 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
18 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
4R
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 5, general cargo 15, oil tanker 11, other 65
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
96 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Batticaloa Roads, Colombo, Galle Harbor, Hambantota, Kankesanturai, Trincomalee Harbor
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
2
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
6 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Transportation: Railways: broad gauge
1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
1,562 km (2016)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.