Air passengers in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Air passengers was 3.87 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Sri Lanka is 3.87 million, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.9% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Sri Lanka peaked at 5.88 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 100,000, in 1978.
That places Sri Lanka 69th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 104,600 | — |
| 1971 | 116,000 | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 116,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 108,500 | -6.5% |
| 1974 | 107,700 | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 117,300 | +8.9% |
| 1976 | 127,700 | +8.9% |
| 1977 | 181,000 | +41.7% |
| 1978 | 100,000 | -44.8% |
| 1979 | 105,300 | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 235,000 | +123.2% |
| 1981 | 405,200 | +72.4% |
| 1982 | 572,700 | +41.3% |
| 1983 | 616,500 | +7.6% |
| 1984 | 681,300 | +10.5% |
| 1985 | 698,600 | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 611,400 | -12.5% |
| 1987 | 586,900 | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 694,300 | +18.3% |
| 1989 | 744,500 | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 891,800 | +19.8% |
| 1991 | 892,700 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.05 million | +17.1% |
| 1993 | 993,800 | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 1.07 million | +7.3% |
| 1995 | 1.16 million | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 1.17 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 1.23 million | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 1.21 million | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 1.42 million | +17.2% |
| 2000 | 1.76 million | +23.5% |
| 2001 | 1.72 million | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 1.74 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 1.96 million | +12.5% |
| 2004 | 2.41 million | +23.3% |
| 2005 | 2.82 million | +16.8% |
| 2006 | 3.10 million | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 3.21 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 2.95 million | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 2.42 million | -18.1% |
| 2010 | 3.01 million | +24.4% |
| 2011 | 3.67 million | +21.8% |
| 2012 | 4.62 million | +25.9% |
| 2013 | 4.79 million | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 4.76 million | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 4.91 million | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 5.28 million | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 5.40 million | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 5.88 million | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 5.58 million | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 1.24 million | -77.8% |
| 2021 | 871,685 | -29.7% |
| 2022 | 3.25 million | +273.1% |
| 2023 | 3.87 million | +18.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 3.87 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.37 million, 2.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 3.87 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.08 million, 95% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +273.1% | 871,685 | 3.25 million |
| 1980 | +123.2% | 105,300 | 235,000 |
| 2020 | -77.8% | 5.58 million | 1.24 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 118,410 | 100,000 | 181,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 584,640 | 235,000 | 744,500 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.11 million | 891,800 | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.41 million | 1.72 million | 3.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.79 million | 3.01 million | 5.88 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.31 million | 871,685 | 3.87 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Sri Lanka?
- Air passengers in Sri Lanka was 3.87 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 5.88 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 100,000 in 1978.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for air passengers?
- Sri Lanka ranks 69th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.