Country Profile: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, an island nation located in Southern Asia, is known for its tropical monsoon climate and diverse geography, which includes coastal plains and mountainous regions. The estimated population of 21.98 million is primarily composed of ethnic Sinhalese, with significant Tamil and Moor communities. The economy has faced considerable challenges, including severe inflation and dependence on tourism and remittances, particularly after the economic crisis that started around 2022. Governance is structured as a presidential republic with recent political transitions amid civil unrest and calls for reform.

Geography

Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean, south of India, and covers an area of 65,610 square kilometers. It has a tropical monsoon climate, with distinct wet and dry seasons, and a predominantly flat terrain with central mountains. The country has no land boundaries, featuring a coastline of 1,340 kilometers.

Highest Point: Pidurutalagala at 2,524 m
Population Concentration: Mainly in the southwest and urban coastal centers
Natural Resources: Includes limestone, graphite, and arable land
Ecosystem: Lush forests cover approximately 34.1% of the land
Hazards: Occasionally affected by cyclones and tornadoes

People and Society

Sri Lanka's population is approximately 21.98 million as of 2024, primarily consisting of 74.9% Sinhalese, along with Tamil and Moor communities. The country has a literacy rate of 93% and a median age of 34.1 years. While Buddhism is the predominant religion, there are also significant Hindu, Muslim, and Christian populations.

Urban Population: 19.2% of the total population live in urban areas (2023)
Birth Rate: 14.5 births/1,000 residents (2024)
Life Expectancy: 76.8 years (2024)
Infant Mortality Rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024)
Maternal Mortality Ratio: 18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023)

Economy

Sri Lanka's economy is recovering from a contraction marked by substantial inflation and rising poverty levels. The economy is heavily reliant on tourism and remittances, accounting for a significant portion of GDP. The IMF has initiated a two-year debt relief program following a sovereign default in 2022.

GDP (PPP): $301.4 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Growth Rate: 5% projected for 2024
Unemployment Rate: 5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural Contribution: 8.3% of GDP (2024)
Public Debt: Estimated at 79.1% of GDP (2017)

Government

Sri Lanka operates as a presidential republic with a unicameral legislature. The latest constitution was adopted in 1978, and the President is both the head of state and government. Recent elections were held in 2024, bringing new leadership amid ongoing political reforms.

Capital: Colombo serves as the commercial capital while Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital.
Administrative Divisions: The country is partitioned into 9 provinces.
Suffrage Age: Citizens can vote from the age of 18.
Military Expenditure: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and Security

Sri Lanka's military is comprised of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with a combined strength of approximately 210,000 personnel as of 2025. The country has a history of conflict with the LTTE and is engaged in various peacekeeping missions globally.

Active Personnel: Roughly 210,000 in the Armed Forces (2025)
Military Spending: Represented 1.5% of GDP (2024)
Peacekeeping Missions: Contributions to missions in Lebanon and Mali
Procurement: Military equipment primarily sourced from China and Russia

Energy

The country achieved 100% electrification by 2022. Energy generation is dominated by fossil fuels and hydropower, with ongoing efforts to improve sustainable energy solutions.

Installed Capacity: 5.326 million kW (2023)
Electricity Consumption: 15.763 billion kWh (2023)
Carbon Emissions: 19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023)

Environment

Sri Lanka faces environmental challenges such as deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution. The country is a party to several international environmental agreements focused on conservation and sustainable development.

Forest Coverage: 34.1% of the land (2022)
Water Resources: Total renewable water resources estimated at 52.8 billion cubic meters (2020)
Waste Management: Roughly 12.8% of municipal solid waste is recycled

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure includes railways, airports, and a merchant marine fleet that facilitates trade and connectivity.

Railways: 1,562 km of broad gauge track
Airports: 18 operational airports as of 2025
Merchant Marine: A fleet of 96 ships (2023)

Communications

Sri Lanka has made significant strides in telecommunications, with a substantial number of mobile subscriptions and internet users.

Internet Users: 51% of the population (2023)
Mobile Cellular Subscribers: 30 million (2023)
Fixed-line Telephones: Approximately 1.707 million subscriptions (2023)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	21,982,608 (2024 est.)
Area	65,610 sq km
GDP	$301.4 billion (PPP, 2024 est.)
Energy Consumption	15.763 billion kWh (2023)
Birth Rate	14.5 births/1,000 population (2024)
Unemployment Rate	5% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	76.8 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	93% (2023 est.)
Urban Population	19.2% of total population (2023)
Military Expenditure	1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)