Population ages 65 and above, total in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population ages 65 and above, total was 2.71 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.71 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
43rd
of 218 countries
All-time high
2.71 million
in 2025
All-time low
405,904
in 1962
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population ages 65 and above, total in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, population ages 65 and above, total in Sri Lanka stood at 2.71 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 44.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.71 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 405,904, in 1962.
That places Sri Lanka 43rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population ages 65 and above, total in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 408,060 | — |
| 1961 | 406,210 | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 405,904 | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 407,195 | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 410,474 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 415,851 | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 423,260 | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 432,765 | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 444,055 | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 456,541 | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 469,916 | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 483,970 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 498,608 | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 513,979 | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 530,340 | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 547,897 | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 566,882 | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 587,537 | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 609,769 | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 633,283 | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 657,913 | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 683,225 | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 708,301 | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 732,798 | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 757,230 | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 782,867 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 810,067 | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 837,742 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 865,566 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 892,976 | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 919,804 | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 948,187 | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 978,979 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 1.01 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 1.04 million | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 1.07 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 1.09 million | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 1.12 million | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 1.14 million | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 1.17 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 1.20 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.23 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.26 million | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 1.28 million | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 1.31 million | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 1.34 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.37 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.41 million | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.45 million | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 1.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1.55 million | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 1.61 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 1.69 million | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 1.71 million | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 1.79 million | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 1.89 million | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 1.98 million | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 2.08 million | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 2.17 million | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 2.26 million | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 2.35 million | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 2.45 million | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 2.52 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 2.59 million | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 2.65 million | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 2.71 million | +2.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.71 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 528,918, 5.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.71 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.34 million, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 421,032 | 405,904 | 456,541 | 10 |
| 1970s | 544,218 | 469,916 | 633,283 | 10 |
| 1980s | 772,868 | 657,913 | 892,976 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.05 million | 919,804 | 1.17 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.33 million | 1.20 million | 1.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.87 million | 1.55 million | 2.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.55 million | 2.35 million | 2.71 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, total in Sri Lanka?
- Population ages 65 and above, total in Sri Lanka was 2.71 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.71 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 405,904 in 1962.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population ages 65 and above, total?
- Sri Lanka ranks 43rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.