Demographics of Sri Lanka

Demographics of Sri Lanka

Population of Sri Lanka, 1961-2003 (FAO, 2005)
Population 20,359,439 (2012 census)
Density 325/km2 (2012 census)
Growth rate 0.913% (2012 est.)
Birth rate 17.04 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Life expectancy 75.94 years (2012 est.)
 • male 72.43 years (2012 est.)
 • female 79.59 years (2012 est.)
Fertility rate 2.17 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Infant mortality rate 9.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years 25.2% (2012 census)
15–64 years 66.9% (2012 census)
65 and over 7.9% (2012 census)
Sex ratio
Total 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
At birth 1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Under 15 1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
15–64 years 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
65 and over 0.75 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Nationality
Nationality noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Major ethnic Sinhalese (74.9%) (2012 census)
Minor ethnic
Language
Official Sinhala, Tamil
Spoken English

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Sri Lanka, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean also called Ceylon and many other names. It is about the size of Ireland. It is about 28 kilometres (18 mi.) off the south-eastern coast of India with a population of about 20 million. Density is highest in the south west where Colombo, the country's main port and industrial center, is located. The net population growth is about 0.7%. Sri Lanka is ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse.

Overview

Population of Sri Lanka
YearPop.±%
1789[lower-alpha 1] 1,200,000—    
1827[lower-alpha 2] 889,584−25.9%
1871 2,400,380+169.8%
1881 2,759,738+15.0%
1891 3,007,789+9.0%
1901 3,565,954+18.6%
1911 4,106,350+15.2%
1921 4,498,605+9.6%
1931 5,306,871+18.0%
1946 6,657,339+25.4%
1953 8,097,895+21.6%
1963 10,582,064+30.7%
1971 12,689,897+19.9%
1981 14,846,750+17.0%
2012 20,359,439+37.1%
Source: [1][2][3][4][5]

According to the 2012 census the population of Sri Lanka was 20,359,439, giving a population density of 325/km2.[5] The population had grown by 5,512,689 (37.1%) since the 1981 census (the last full census), equivalent to an annual growth rate of 1.1%.[5] 3,704,470 (18.2%) lived in urban sectors - areas governed by municipal and urban councils.[6]

5,131,666 (25.2%) of the population were aged 14 or under whilst 2,525,573 (12.4%) were aged 60 or over, leaving a working age (15-59) population of 12,702,700.[7] The dependency ratio was 60.2%.[5] The mean age was 32 years and the median age was 31 years.[5] The sex ratio was 94 males per 100 females.[5] The fertility rate for married females aged 15 or over was 2.65 live births.[8] There were 5,264,282 households of which 3,986,236 (75.7%) were headed by males and 1,278,046 (24.3%) were headed by females.[5]

Of the 15,227,773 aged 15 or over, 10,322,105 (67.8%) were married, 3,927,602 (25.8%) were never married, 792,947 (5.2%) were widowed and 185,119 (1.2%) were divorced or separated.[9]

Of those aged 15 or over, 7,857,370 (51.6%) were economically active, 4,199,558 (27.6%) did housework, 1,431,105 (9.4%) were students, 914,934 (6.0%) were unable to work and 346,084 (2.3%) were pensioners.[10] 521,938 (6.6%) of the economically active were unemployed.[5] 604,540 Sri Lankans were living aboard for more than six months but were intending to return to Sri Lanka, mostly in the Gulf states (373,050 61.7%).[11]

The overall literacy rate for those aged 10 and over was 95.7% but amongst those living in the estate sector it was only 86.1%.[12] Of the 18,615,577 aged 5 or over, 499,563 (2.7%) had received a higher education qualification, 2,293,841 (12.3%) had passed G.C.E. A/L, 3,159,402 (17.0%) had passed G.C.E. O/L and 700,419 (3.8%) had no formal schooling.[13] The remaining 11,962,352 (64.3%) had left school with no qualifications or were currently at school.[13]

Ethnicity

Majority ethnicity by DS Division according 2012 census

The Sinhalese make up 74.9% of the population (according to 2012 census) and are concentrated in the densely populated south-west and central parts of the island.[14] The Sri Lanka Tamils, who live predominantly in the north and east of the island, form the largest minority group at 11.1% (according to the 2012 census) of the population.[14]

The Moors, descendants of Arab traders that settled in Sri Lanka and married local women, form the third largest ethnic group at 9.3% of the population.[14] They are mostly concentrated in urban areas in the southern parts of the island with substantial populations in the Central and Eastern provinces. During times of Portuguese colonisation, Moors were persecuted, and many forced to retreat to the central highlands and the eastern coast.

There are also Indian Tamils who form a distinct ethnic group comprising 4.1% of the population.[14] The British brought them to Sri Lanka in the 19th century as tea and rubber plantation workers, and they remain concentrated in the "tea country" of south-central Sri Lanka. The Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka were considered to be "stateless" and over 300 000 Indian Tamils were deported back to India, due to the agreement between Sri Lanka and India in 1964.[15] Under the pact, India granted citizenship to the remainder, some 200,000 of whom now live in India. Another 75,000 Indian Tamils, who themselves or whose parents once applied for Indian citizenship, now wish to remain in Sri Lanka. The government has stated these Tamils will not be forced to return to India, although they are not technically citizens of Sri Lanka. By the 1990s most Indian Tamils had received Sri Lankan citizenship, and some even were not granted Sri Lankan citizenship until 2003.[15][16]

Smaller minorities include the Malays who descent from South East Asian settlers, and the Burghers, who are descendants of European colonists, principally from Portugal, the Netherlands and the UK.

Population of Sri Lanka by ethnic group 1881 to 2012[14][17][18]
Year Sinhalese Sri Lankan Tamils[lower-alpha 3] Sri Lankan Moors[lower-alpha 4] Indian Tamils[lower-alpha 3] Sri Lankan Malays Burghers/
Eurasian		 Indian Moors[lower-alpha 4] Others Total
No.
No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
1881 Census 1,846,600 66.91% 687,200 24.90% 184,500 6.69% 8,900 0.32% 17,900 0.65% 14,500 0.53% 2,759,700
1891 Census 2,041,200 67.86% 723,900 24.07% 197,200 6.56% 10,100 0.34% 21,200 0.70% 14,200 0.47% 3,007,800
1901 Census 2,330,800 65.36% 951,700 26.69% 228,000 6.39% 11,900 0.33% 23,500 0.66% 20,000 0.56% 3,566,000
1911 Census 2,715,500 66.13% 528,000 12.86% 233,900 5.70% 531,000 12.93% 13,000 0.32% 26,700 0.65% 32,700 0.80% 25,600 0.62% 4,106,400
1921 Census 3,016,200 67.05% 517,300 11.50% 251,900 5.60% 602,700 13.40% 13,400 0.30% 29,400 0.65% 33,000 0.73% 34,600 0.77% 4,498,600
1931 Estimate 3,473,000 65.45% 598,900 11.29% 289,600 5.46% 818,500 15.43% 16,000 0.30% 32,300 0.61% 36,300 0.68% 41,800 0.79% 5,306,000
1946 Census[lower-alpha 5] 4,620,500 69.41% 733,700 11.02% 373,600 5.61% 780,600 11.73% 22,500 0.34% 41,900 0.63% 35,600 0.53% 48,900 0.73% 6,657,300
1953 Census[lower-alpha 6] 5,616,700 69.36% 884,700 10.93% 464,000 5.73% 974,100 12.03% 25,400 0.31% 46,000 0.57% 47,500 0.59% 39,500 0.49% 8,097,900
1963 Census 7,512,900 71.00% 1,164,700 11.01% 626,800 5.92% 1,123,000 10.61% 33,400 0.32% 45,900 0.43% 55,400 0.52% 19,900 0.19% 10,582,000
1971 Census 9,131,241 71.96% 1,423,981 11.22% 855,724 6.74% 1,174,606 9.26% 43,459 0.34% 45,376 0.36% 15,510 0.12% 12,689,897
1981 Census 10,979,561 73.95% 1,886,872 12.71% 1,046,926 7.05% 818,656 5.51% 46,963 0.32% 39,374 0.27% 28,398 0.19% 14,846,750
2001 Census[lower-alpha 7]
2011 Census[lower-alpha 8] 15,250,081 74.90% 2,269,266 11.15% 1,892,638 9.30% 839,504 4.12% 44,130 0.22% 38,293 0.19% 25,527 0.13% 20,359,439

Religion

Majority religion by DS Division according 2012 census
Main article: Religion in Sri Lanka

According to the 2012 census Buddhists make up 70.1% of the population, Hindus 12.6%, Muslims 9.7% and Christians 7.6%.[19] Most Sinhalese are Buddhist; most Tamils are Hindu; and the Moors and Malays are mostly Muslim. Sizeable minorities of both Sinhalese and Tamils are Christians, most of whom are Roman Catholic. The Burgher population is mostly Roman Catholic or Presbyterian. The Veddahs have Animist and Buddhist practices. The 1978 constitution, while assuring freedom of religion, gives "the foremost place" Buddhism.[20][21]

Population of Sri Lanka by religion 1881 to 2012[19][22][23]
Year Buddhist Hindu Muslim Christian Others Total
No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No.
1881 Census 1,698,100 61.53% 593,600 21.51% 197,800 7.17% 268,000 9.71% 2,300 0.08% 2,759,800
1891 Census 1,877,000 62.40% 615,900 20.48% 212,000 7.05% 302,100 10.04% 800 0.03% 3,007,800
1901 Census 2,141,400 60.06% 826,800 23.19% 246,100 6.90% 349,200 9.79% 2,500 0.07% 3,566,000
1911 Census 2,474,200 60.25% 938,300 22.85% 283,600 6.91% 409,200 9.96% 1,100 0.03% 4,106,400
1921 Census 2,769,800 61.57% 982,100 21.83% 302,500 6.72% 443,400 9.86% 800 0.02% 4,498,600
1931 Estimate 3,266,600 61.55% 1,166,900 21.99% 354,200 6.67% 518,100 9.76% 1,100 0.02% 5,306,900
1946 Census 4,294,900 64.51% 1,320,400 19.83% 436,600 6.56% 603,200 9.06% 2,200 0.03% 6,657,300
1953 Census 5,209,400 64.33% 1,610,500 19.89% 541,500 6.69% 724,400 8.95% 12,100 0.15% 8,097,900
1963 Census 7,003,300 66.18% 1,958,400 18.51% 724,000 6.84% 884,900 8.36% 11,400 0.11% 10,582,000
1971 Census 8,536,868 67.27% 2,238,666 17.64% 901,785 7.11% 1,004,326 7.91% 8,252 0.07% 12,689,897
1981 Census 10,288,325 69.30% 2,297,806 15.48% 1,121,717 7.56% 1,130,568 7.61% 8,334 0.06% 14,846,750
2001 Census[lower-alpha 7]
2012 Census[lower-alpha 8] 14,272,056 70.10% 2,561,299 12.58% 1,967,523 9.66% 1,552,161 7.62% 6,400 0.03% 20,359,439

Languages

A multi-lingual road sign

Sinhala, an Indo-European language, is the first language of the Sinhalese. Tamil, a Dravidian language, is the first language of the Tamils. Tamil is also the first language the majority of Moors and the Indian Tamils - according to the 2012 census 98% of Moors could speak Tamil but only 59% could speak Sinhala.[24]

Malays speak Sri Lanka Malay, a Creole language mixing Sinhala, Tamil and Malay. Many of the Burghers speak Sri Lankan Indo-Portuguese although its use has declined and the majority now speak Sinhala.[24] The Veddahs speak Vedda, a Creole language closely based on Sinhala. Use of English has declined since independence, but it continues to be spoken by many in the middle and upper middle classes, particularly in Colombo. According to the 2012 census 24% of the population could speak English.[24] The government is seeking to reverse the decline in the use of English, mainly for economic but also for political reasons. According to the constitution Sinhala and Tamil are official languages whilst English is the link language.[25]

Vital statistics

UN estimates:[26]

Period Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR1 CDR1 NC1 TFR1 IMR1
1950–1955 322 000 171 000 151 000 37.4 19.8 17.5 5.80 103.9
1955–1960 367 000 143 000 223 000 38.6 15.1 23.5 5.80 86.7
1960–1965 377 000 128 000 248 000 35.5 12.1 23.4 5.20 77.5
1965–1970 391 000 116 000 276 000 32.9 9.7 23.2 4.70 69.3
1970–1975 383 000 103 000 280 000 29.1 7.8 21.3 4.00 55.4
1975–1980 401 000 99 000 302 000 27.8 6.9 20.9 3.61 38.8
1980–1985 401 000 96 000 305 000 25.6 6.1 19.5 3.19 30.3
1985–1990 362 000 110 000 253 000 21.6 6.5 15.1 2.64 24.1
1990–1995 349 000 119 000 230 000 19.6 6.7 12.9 2.39 22.1
1995–2000 329 000 146 000 183 000 17.8 7.9 9.9 2.16 18.9
2000–2005 360 000 121 000 239 000 18.7 6.3 12.4 2.27 15.9
2005–2010 386 000 132 000 253 000 19.0 6.5 12.5 2.36 12.4
1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[27]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural) CBR (Estate) TFR (Estate)
1981-1983 3,1 2,4 3,2 3,4
1987 2,8 (2,4) 2,3 (1,9) 2,9 (2,4) 3,4 (3,2)
2006-2007 18,7 2,3 (2,1) 18,5 2,2 (2,0) 18,6 2,3 (2,1) 20,0 2,5 (2,1)

Births and deaths [28]

Year Population Live births Deaths Natural increase Crude birth rate Crude death rate Rate of natural increase TFR
2009 368 304 127 776 240 528 18.0 6.2 11.8
2010 364 565 128 603 235 962 17.7 6.2 11.4
2011 363 415 123 261 240 154 17.4 5.9 11.5
2012 20 277 597 355 900 122 063 233 837 17.5 6.0 11.5
2013 365 792 127 124 238 668 17.9 6.2 11.7

Population pyramid[29]

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Ethnicity in Sri Lanka (2011)

  Sinhalese (74.9%)
  Sri Lanka Tamils (11.1%)
  Moors (9.3%)
  Indian Tamils (4.1%)
  Other (0.6%)

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated:[30]

Notes

  1. ↑ Estimate.
  2. ↑ Non scientific census of the whole island.
  3. 1 2 Indian Tamils were only classified as a separate ethnic group from 1911 onwards. Prior to this they were included with Sri Lankan Tamils.
  4. 1 2 Indian Moors were only classified as a separate ethnic group from 1911 to 1971. Prior to 1911 they were included with Sri Lankan Moors. After 1971 they were included with Others.
  5. ↑ The 1941 Census was postponed due to World War II.
  6. ↑ The 1951 Census was postponed due to a shortage of paper at the time.
  7. 1 2 2001 Census was only carried out in 18 of the 25 districts. Inclusion of data would be misleading.
  8. 1 2 The official census dates for the 2011 Census was 20 March 2012.
  9. ↑ Since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2010 est.) Aside from such migrants, there is an estimated 1.7 million Sri Lankans who are employed abroad (2010 est.), through which Sri Lanka earned USD 4.1 billion in annual worker remittances in 2010. Such remittances are a key source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka.
  10. ↑ These figures are based on the 2001 census which was only carried out partially in the Northern and Eastern provinces, where the majority of Sri Lankan Tamils and Hindus live. Therefore the Sri Lankan Tamil and Hindu percentage is grossly understated. The Sri Lankan government estimates that the Tamils (Sri Lankan and Indian) account for 18% of the population.
  11. ↑ English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population as second language.

References

  1. ↑ The Population of Sri Lanka (PDF). Population Growth: C.I.C.R.E.D. Series. 1974. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Census of Population Sri Lanka 1971 - General Report. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. 1977. p. 18.
  3. ↑ "Table 2.1: Population by sex and district, census years" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2013. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  4. ↑ "Population by age group and sex". LankaSIS Sri Lanka Statistical Information Service. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A1: Population by district,sex and sector" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  7. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A2: Population by district, age and sex" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  8. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A44: Ever married female population aged 15 years and over by number of children born alive,average children per woman,age and sector" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A10: Population by marital status, age, sex and sector" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A37 Population aged 15 years and over by economic activity status,age,sex and sector" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  11. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A47: Population living abroad temporary by country of usual residence, age and sex" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  12. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A31: Population aged 10 years and over by literacy rate, age, sex and sector" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  13. 1 2 "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A30: Population aged 5 years and over, by educational attainment, age, sex and sector" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A3: Population by district, ethnic group and sex" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  15. 1 2 Kingsbury, Damien; Kingsbury, Senior Lecturer in International Development Damien (2012-03-12). Sri Lanka and the Responsibility to Protect: Politics, Ethnicity and Genocide. Routledge. ISBN 9781136639975.
  16. ↑ De Silva, C.R. A History. p. 262.
  17. ↑ "Table 2.10: Population by ethnic group and census years" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2013. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  18. ↑ "Population by ethnic group". LankaSIS Sri Lanka Statistical Information Service. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  19. 1 2 "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A4: Population by district, religion and sex" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  20. ↑ "Chapter III - Fundamental Rights". Constitution of Sri Lanka. Policy Research & Information Unit, Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka.
  21. ↑ "Chapter II - Buddhism". Constitution of Sri Lanka. Policy Research & Information Unit, Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka.
  22. ↑ "Table 2.13: Population by religion and census years" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2013. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  23. ↑ "Population by religion". LankaSIS Sri Lanka Statistical Information Service. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  24. 1 2 3 "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A32 :Population aged 10 years and over, by ability to speak, ability to read and write main languages, ethnic group, sex and sector" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  25. ↑ "Chapter IV - Language". Constitution of Sri Lanka. Policy Research & Information Unit, Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka.
  26. ↑ World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision
  27. ↑ http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/dhs#_r=&collection=&country=&dtype=&from=1890&page=14&ps=&sk=&sort_by=nation&sort_order=&to=2014&topic=&view=s&vk=
  28. ↑ http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm
  29. ↑ "Demographic Yearbook". UN Data. United Nations. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  30. ↑ "Sri Lanka". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
  31. ↑ ": Population by religion according to districts" (PDF). Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 22 June 2014.

External links

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