Country Profile: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, situated in Southern Asia, is an island in the Indian Ocean located south of India. The country has a population of approximately 22 million, with a rich cultural heritage influenced by its history of various kingdoms, colonial rule, and ethnic diversity. Economically, Sri Lanka is in a period of recovery following significant contraction and inflation, heavily reliant on tourism and remittances. The political landscape has been shaped by recent upheavals, with ongoing challenges in governance and civil rights.

Geography

Sri Lanka has a total area of 65,610 sq km, slightly larger than West Virginia, characterized by mostly low, flat to rolling plains and mountainous regions in the south-central interior. Its climate is tropical monsoon, with a coastline of 1,340 km and strategic maritime claims in the Indian Ocean.

Highest Point: Pidurutalagala at 2,524 m
Natural Resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, and gems
Land Use: 48.6% of land is agricultural (2023)
Mean Elevation: 228 m

People and Society

As of 2025, Sri Lanka's population is estimated at 22,050,561, comprising predominantly Sinhalese (74.9%) and Tamils (11.2%). The official languages are Sinhala and Tamil, with a literacy rate of 92.7% among the population.

Urban Population: 19.2% (2023)
Life Expectancy: 76.8 years (2024)
Birth Rate: 14.38 births/1,000 population (2025)
Infant Mortality Rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025)

Economy

Sri Lanka's economy is in recovery after experiencing significant contraction in 2022 and 2023, with an estimated GDP of $301.407 billion (2024). The nation relies heavily on tourism, remittances, and agriculture.

Real GDP Growth Rate: 5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 5% (2024 est.)
Poverty Rate: 14.3% below the national poverty line (2019)
Exports: $17.327 billion (2023)

Government

Sri Lanka is a presidential republic with a multi-party system. The capital is Colombo, while Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte serves as the legislative capital. The latest constitution was adopted in 1978.

Current President: Anura Kumara Dissanayake (since September 2024)
Parliament: Unicameral with 225 seats
Voting Age: Universal suffrage at 18 years
Independence: Achieved on February 4, 1948

Military and Security

The Sri Lankan Armed Forces comprise the Army, Navy, and Air Force, supported by a police force. The military budget is 1.5% of GDP (2024).

Active Personnel: Approximately 210,000 (2025)
Military Expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2024)
Military Equipment: Sourced mostly from China, India, and the US
Peacekeeping Deployments: Personnel in Central African Republic and Lebanon

Energy

Sri Lanka has achieved 100% electricity access as of 2022, with a significant portion of its energy generated from hydroelectricity.

Total Installed Capacity: 5.326 million kW (2023)
Electricity Consumption: 15.763 billion kWh (2023)
Fossil Fuels Contribution: 49.4% of total capacity (2023)

Environment

Environmental issues in Sri Lanka include deforestation, soil erosion, and coastal degradation. The country participates in several international environmental agreements.

Carbon Emissions: 19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023)
Total Renewable Resources: 52.8 billion cubic meters (2022)

Transportation

Sri Lanka has a modest transportation infrastructure including air, sea, and rail transport.

Total Railways: 1,562 km
Airports: 18 (2025)
Merchant Marine: 96 vessels (2023)

Communications

Communications in Sri Lanka feature a growing number of mobile and internet users, with significant expansions in media outlets.

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 30.6 million (2024)
Internet Users: 51% of the population (2023)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	22,050,561 (2025 est.)
Area	65,610 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$301.407 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	5% (2024 est.)
Birth Rate	14.38 births/1,000	(2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	76.8 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	92.7% (2023 est.)
Total Energy Consumption	12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Access	100% (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures	1.5% of GDP (2024)