Sri Lanka is facing a major demographic shift marked by a shrinking workforce and a growing elderly population, according to preliminary findings from the 15th Population and Housing Census.
Data released by the Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka shows the country’s population stands at 21,763,170, with significant changes in social and economic trends.
Director General Shyamali Karunaratne noted that the census provides a blueprint for national development over the next decade, including insights into migration, education, and economic patterns.
Sri Lanka has achieved a high literacy rate of 97.4%, with near gender parity in education. Digital literacy has also risen to 67.6%, alongside a sharp increase in laptop ownership.
However, these gains are offset by declining fertility, with the rate falling to 1.3—well below the replacement level of 2.1. As a result, the median age has risen to 35, and the elderly population is expected to outnumber children for the first time.
The data also highlights challenges in the labour market, with 52.7% of the working-age population economically inactive, largely due to a significant gender gap. Many women remain outside the workforce due to domestic responsibilities.
Additionally, a “widowhood gap” has emerged, with 44.2% of women over 65 widowed compared to a much lower percentage among men, contributing to a rise in single-person households.
Officials warn that Sri Lanka’s current social protection systems may be insufficient to handle the growing demands of elderly care, signaling urgent policy challenges ahead.
