Sri Lanka Population: An Overview of the Island Nation's Demographics
Sri Lanka, a small island nation off the coast of India, is home to a population of over 21 million people. The population is diverse, with a mix of ethnicities and religions. Sri Lanka is an upper-middle-income country, and its population is growing rapidly. In this article, we will explore the demographics of Sri Lanka, looking at its population size and composition, as well as its population growth.
Population Size and Composition
Sri Lanka's population was estimated at 21.2 million in 2020. The population is growing at an average annual rate of 1.2%. The population is mainly concentrated in the southwestern part of the island, which is home to the capital city of Colombo.
The population of Sri Lanka is predominantly Sinhalese, with 74.9% of the population identifying as such. The second-largest ethnic group is the Tamils, who make up 13.2% of the population. The remaining 12% of the population is made up of other ethnicities, including Burghers, Malays, and Veddas.
Religion is an important part of Sri Lankan culture, and the majority of the population is Buddhist (70.2%). Hindus make up 12.6% of the population, while Muslims account for 9.7%. Christians make up the remaining 7.5%.
Population Growth
Sri Lanka's population has grown rapidly over the past few decades. In the 1950s, the population was around 8 million. By the 1990s, it had reached 18 million. The population has continued to grow since then, and is projected to reach 23.7 million by 2030.
The main drivers of population growth in Sri Lanka are natural increase and migration. Natural increase refers to the difference between the number of births and deaths in a population. In Sri Lanka, the birth rate is higher than the death rate, resulting in a natural increase in the population. Migration is also an important factor in population growth, as people move to the island in search of economic opportunities.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka is a small island nation off the coast of India. It is home to a population of over 21 million people, with a diverse mix of ethnicities and religions. The population is growing rapidly, driven by natural increase and migration. The population is expected to reach 23.7 million by 2030.