Rural population, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Rural population, annual growth rate was -0.9172 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.9172 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 23.8%
World rank
165th
of 208 countries
All-time high
2.38 % change on previous year
in 1996
All-time low
-2.96 % change on previous year
in 2013
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Rural population, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded -0.9172 % change on previous year for rural population, annual growth rate in 2025.
The figure is down 23.8% on the previous year and down 231.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.38 % change on previous year in 1996 and was at its lowest, -2.96 % change on previous year, in 2013.
Sri Lanka ranks 165th of 208 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.89 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 1.91 % change on previous year | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 1.96 % change on previous year | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 1.93 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 1.81 % change on previous year | -6.3% |
| 1966 | 1.72 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 1967 | 1.71 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 1.75 % change on previous year | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 1.78 % change on previous year | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 1.85 % change on previous year | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 1.95 % change on previous year | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 2.05 % change on previous year | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 2.01 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 1.96 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 1.94 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 1.97 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 1.99 % change on previous year | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 2.03 % change on previous year | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 2.07 % change on previous year | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 2.03 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 1.89 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 1982 | 1.49 % change on previous year | -21.1% |
| 1983 | 1 % change on previous year | -32.7% |
| 1984 | 0.7444 % change on previous year | -25.8% |
| 1985 | 1.12 % change on previous year | +50.6% |
| 1986 | 1.71 % change on previous year | +52.8% |
| 1987 | 1.72 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 1.59 % change on previous year | -7.8% |
| 1989 | 1.64 % change on previous year | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 1.23 % change on previous year | -25.1% |
| 1991 | 1.34 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 2.18 % change on previous year | +62.9% |
| 1993 | 2.27 % change on previous year | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 1.99 % change on previous year | -12.3% |
| 1995 | 2.15 % change on previous year | +8.1% |
| 1996 | 2.38 % change on previous year | +10.4% |
| 1997 | 2.29 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 2.21 % change on previous year | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 2.11 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 1.99 % change on previous year | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 1.65 % change on previous year | -17.1% |
| 2002 | 1 % change on previous year | -39.0% |
| 2003 | 0.6002 % change on previous year | -40.3% |
| 2004 | 0.4608 % change on previous year | -23.2% |
| 2005 | 0.3411 % change on previous year | -26.0% |
| 2006 | 0.298 % change on previous year | -12.6% |
| 2007 | 0.2459 % change on previous year | -17.5% |
| 2008 | 0.163 % change on previous year | -33.7% |
| 2009 | 0.055 % change on previous year | -66.2% |
| 2010 | -0.0203 % change on previous year | -136.8% |
| 2011 | -0.0336 % change on previous year | +65.7% |
| 2012 | 0.183 % change on previous year | -645.0% |
| 2013 | -2.96 % change on previous year | -1719.8% |
| 2014 | 0.7111 % change on previous year | -124.0% |
| 2015 | 0.6996 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 0.9173 % change on previous year | +31.1% |
| 2017 | 0.9311 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 0.7951 % change on previous year | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 0.401 % change on previous year | -49.6% |
| 2020 | 0.3225 % change on previous year | -19.6% |
| 2021 | 0.8745 % change on previous year | +171.2% |
| 2022 | -0.0884 % change on previous year | -110.1% |
| 2023 | -0.8452 % change on previous year | +856.3% |
| 2024 | -0.741 % change on previous year | -12.3% |
| 2025 | -0.9172 % change on previous year | +23.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's -0.9172 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -0.5998 % change on previous year, 1.5× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's -0.9172 % change on previous year is below the median for South Asia, which is -0.6585 % change on previous year, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural population, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | -1719.8% | 0.183 % change on previous year | -2.96 % change on previous year |
| 2023 | -856.3% | -0.0884 % change on previous year | -0.8452 % change on previous year |
| 2012 | +645.0% | -0.0336 % change on previous year | 0.183 % change on previous year |
| 2021 | +171.2% | 0.3225 % change on previous year | 0.8745 % change on previous year |
| 2010 | -136.8% | 0.055 % change on previous year | -0.0203 % change on previous year |
| 2014 | +124.0% | -2.96 % change on previous year | 0.7111 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.83 % change on previous year | 1.71 % change on previous year | 1.96 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.98 % change on previous year | 1.85 % change on previous year | 2.07 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.49 % change on previous year | 0.7444 % change on previous year | 2.03 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.01 % change on previous year | 1.23 % change on previous year | 2.38 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6802 % change on previous year | 0.055 % change on previous year | 1.99 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1621 % change on previous year | -2.96 % change on previous year | 0.9311 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.2325 % change on previous year | -0.9172 % change on previous year | 0.8745 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 162 Switzerland -0.8806 % change on previous year compare
- 163 Algeria -0.884 % change on previous year compare
- 164 Malaysia -0.913 % change on previous year compare
- 166 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -0.9414 % change on previous year compare
- 167 Bulgaria -0.9803 % change on previous year compare
- 168 Turkey -0.9904 % change on previous year compare
More agriculture & rural data for Sri Lanka
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0836 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 418.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7955 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 8.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.9% (2024)
- Rural population 79.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka?
- Rural population, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka was -0.9172 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.38 % change on previous year in 1996.
- What is the lowest rural population, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.96 % change on previous year in 2013.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for rural population, annual growth rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 165th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population, annual growth rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 231.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Rural population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Rural population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Rural population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.