Sri Lanka Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Population

22,050,561 (2025 est.)

Area

65,610 sq km

Location

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area — total

65,610 sq km

Area — land

64,630 sq km

Area — water

980 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

1,340 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain

Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Elevation — highest point

Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Elevation — lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

228 m

Natural resources

Limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land

Land use — agricultural land

48.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

34.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

16.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

5,700 sq km (2012)

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

Natural hazards

Occasional cyclones and tornadoes

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

22,050,561 (2025 est.)

Population — male

10,668,528

Population — female

11,382,033

Nationality — noun

Sri Lankan(s)

Nationality — adjective

Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups

Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)

Languages

Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)

Religions

Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

22.6% (male 2,537,918/female 2,423,615)

Age structure — 15-64 years

65% (male 6,954,869/female 7,336,897)

Age structure — 65 years and over

12.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,149,256/female 1,580,053)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

53.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

34.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

19.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

5.1 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

34.2 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

32.2 years

Median age — female

35.8 years

Population growth rate

0.22% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

14.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

Urbanization — urban population

19.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.6 years (2016 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

7.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

6.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

76.8 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

73.7 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

79.9 years

Total fertility rate

2.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.03 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 99% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

2.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

18.2% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

36.3% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

17.1% (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.3% (2016 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

0.9% (2016)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

9.8% (2016)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.2% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy — total population

92.7% (2023 est.)

Literacy — male

93.4% (2023 est.)

Literacy — female

92% (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

13 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

12 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

14 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation

Climate

Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Land use — agricultural land

48.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

34.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

16.7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

19.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

5.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

14.003 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

24.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

2.632 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.5% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

805 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

831 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

11.31 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

52.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Country name — conventional short form

Sri Lanka

Country name — local long form

Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil)

Country name — local short form

Shri Lanka (Sinhala)/ Ilankai (Tamil)

Country name — former

Serendib, Ceylon

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 type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Capital — geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 79 50 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Legal system

Mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

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

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)

Executive branch — head of government

President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

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

Executive branch — most recent election date

21 September 2024

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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

2029

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

225 (196 directly elected; 29 indirectly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

11/14/2024

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

National People's Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya, NPP) (159); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) (40); Other (26)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

9.8%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

November 2029

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Mahinda SAMARASINGHE (since 13 January 2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 483-4025

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] 202-232-2329

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Slemb.washington@mfa.gov.lk https://slembassyusa.org/

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s)

New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Julie J. CHUNG (since 17 February 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

210 Galle Road, Colombo 03

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

6100 Colombo Place, Washington DC 20521-6100

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[94] (11) 249-8500

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[94] (11) 243-7345

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

Colomboacs@state.gov https://lk.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)

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

National symbol(s)

Lion, water lily

National color(s)

Maroon, yellow

National anthem(s) — title

"Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Ananda SAMARKONE (Sinhala),M. NALLATHAMBY (Tamil)/Ananda SAMARKONE

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1951

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)

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)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation; IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default; structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws; heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$301.407 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$287.031 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$293.878 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

-2.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

-7.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$13,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$13,000 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$13,200 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$98.963 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

-0.4% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

16.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

49.7% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

8.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

25.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

57.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

68.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

18.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

8.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

19.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-22.5% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Rice, coconuts, tea, sugarcane, plantains, milk, fiber crops, cassava, chicken, pumpkins/squash (2023)

Industries

Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining

Industrial production growth rate

11% (2024 est.)

Labor force

8.499 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

4.6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

22.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

18.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

29.6% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.3% (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

37.7 (2019 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

27.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

3.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3.1% (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

30.8% (2019 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$9.387 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$17.144 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2017

79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$1.559 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$1.448 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$3.284 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$17.327 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$16.169 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$14.974 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 22%, India 7%, Germany 7%, UK 7%, Italy 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$18.823 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$19.244 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$21.526 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

India 21%, China 19%, UAE 10%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$6.094 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.405 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.896 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$42.198 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

327.507 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

322.633 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

198.764 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

185.593 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2019

178.745 (2019 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

5.326 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

1.457 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

49.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

40.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

2.323 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

2.238 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

1.707 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

30.6 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

133 (2024 est.)

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

Internet country code

.lk

Internet users — percent of population

51% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

2.01 million (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

4R

Airports

18 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways — total

1,562 km (2016)

Railways — broad gauge

1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

96 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 5, general cargo 15, oil tanker 11, other 65

Ports — total ports

6 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

2

Ports — small

1

Ports — very small

1

Ports — size unknown

2

Ports — ports with oil terminals

2

Ports — key ports

Batticaloa Roads, Colombo, Galle Harbor, Hambantota, Kankesanturai, Trincomalee Harbor

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 210,000 active Armed Forces (140,000 Army; 25,000 Air Force; 45,000 Navy) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military's armaments are mostly of Chinese, Indian, Russian/Soviet, and US origin (2025)

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)

Military deployments

120 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)

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)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

500 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

5,549 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

229 (2024 est.)