Country Profile: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island nation located in Southern Asia, strategically positioned in the Indian Ocean, south of India. With a population of over 22 million, the country is characterized by rich cultural diversity, primarily influenced by its Sinhalese and Tamil heritage. The economy relies heavily on tourism and remittances, and is currently experiencing a period of economic recovery following significant contractions due to political and social challenges. Governed as a presidential republic, Sri Lanka continues to navigate its post-conflict landscape while addressing human rights and reform.

Geography

Sri Lanka's geographic coordinates place it at 7°N latitude and 81°E longitude, with a total area of approximately 65,610 square kilometers. The island features a tropical monsoon climate, experiencing two distinct monsoon seasons. Its terrain consists mostly of low, flat to rolling plains with mountain regions located in the south-central interior.

Coastline: 1,340 km
Highest Point: 2,524 m (Pidurutalagala)
Lowest Point: 0 m (Indian Ocean)
Natural Resources: limestone, graphite, gems, hydropower
Land Use: 34.4% forest cover (2023)

People and Society

Sri Lanka's population is estimated to be 22,050,561 by 2025, with a gender distribution of 10,668,528 males and 11,382,033 females. The society is ethnically diverse, with 74.9% Sinhalese, 11.2% Sri Lankan Tamil, and 9.2% Sri Lankan Moors. The official languages are Sinhala and Tamil, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage.

Population Growth Rate: 0.22% (2025 est.)
Urban Population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
Literacy Rate: 92.7% (2023 est.)
Life Expectancy: 76.8 years (2024 est.)
Birth Rate: 14.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Economy

The Sri Lankan economy faced a significant contraction during 2022-2023, highlighting the challenges of an economy heavily reliant on tourism and remittances. As part of an ongoing recovery, the nation has entered into a two-year debt relief program with the IMF to address its financial issues. Agriculture, services, and industry sectors form the backbone of its economic structure.

GDP Growth Rate: 5% (2024 est.)
GDP per Capita: $13,800 (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 5% (2024 est.)
Inflation Rate: -0.4% (2024 est.)
Public Debt: 79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

Government

Sri Lanka operates as a presidential republic with Colombo as the commercial capital and Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte as the legislative capital. The country’s government structure includes an executive branch led by a president, a unicameral parliament, and an independent judiciary.

Current President: Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 2024)
Legislative Seats: 225
Suffrage: Universal voting at 18 years and older
Latest Constitution Adopted: August 31, 1978
Independence: February 4, 1948

Military and Security

The Sri Lankan Armed Forces consist of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and are responsible for both external defense and maintaining internal security. The military has engaged in peacekeeping missions abroad and continues to evolve in response to the country's security needs.

Active Personnel: 210,000 (2025 est.)
Military Expenditure: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Equipment Sources: Primarily from China, India, Russia, and the US.
Personnel in Peacekeeping Missions: 120 in Central African Republic; 130 in Lebanon (2025)

Energy

Sri Lanka has achieved 100% electrification of its population. The primary energy generation comes from a mix of fossil fuels, hydroelectricity, and a small portion from renewable sources like solar and wind.

Installed Generating Capacity: 5.326 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity Consumption: 15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita: 12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Fossil Fuels Contribution: 49.4% of total capacity (2023 est.)

Environment

Sri Lanka faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, pollution, and the effects of urbanization. The government participates in various international environmental agreements to address these issues and protect its natural resources.

Total Water Withdrawal: 12.633 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 19.153 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Annually: 2.632 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of Waste Recycled: 24.5% (2022 est.)

Transportation

Sri Lanka's transportation infrastructure includes a mix of railways, roads, and air travel. It features several ports that facilitate maritime trade, reflecting its strategic geographical position.

Total Railways: 1,562 km (2016)
Total Airports: 18 (2025)
Merchant Marine Fleet: 96 vessels (2023)
Key Ports: Colombo, Galle, Hambantota

Communications

The communications sector in Sri Lanka includes a robust mobile cellular network, a mixture of government and private broadcast media, and a growing internet user base.

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 30.6 million (2024 est.)
Internet Users: 51% of the population (2023 est.)
Fixed-Line Subscriptions: 1.707 million (2023 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions: 2.01 million (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	22,050,561 (2025 est.)	Total estimated population
Area	65,610 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$301.407 billion (2024 est.)	Purchasing power parity
Unemployment Rate	5% (2024 est.)	Percentage of labor force seeking employment
Birth Rate	14.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)	Annual birth rate
Life Expectancy at Birth	76.8 years (2024 est.)	Average life expectancy
Literacy Rate	92.7% (2023 est.)	Total population literacy rate
Electricity Access	100% (2022 est.)	Total population with electricity
Military Expenditure	1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)	Military spending as a percentage of GDP
Total Water Withdrawal	12.633 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)	Total water withdrawal