Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Urban area long term, annual growth rate was 2.4 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.4 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
61st
of 202 countries
All-time high
3.99 % change on previous year
in 1967
All-time low
-1.04 % change on previous year
in 1995
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area long term, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka stood at 2.4 % change on previous year.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area long term, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.99 % change on previous year in 1967 and was at its lowest, -1.04 % change on previous year, in 1995.
That places Sri Lanka 61st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 0.9684 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 1.08 % change on previous year | +12.0% |
| 1953 | 1.52 % change on previous year | +39.9% |
| 1954 | 2.41 % change on previous year | +58.7% |
| 1955 | 2.54 % change on previous year | +5.6% |
| 1956 | 2.64 % change on previous year | +3.9% |
| 1957 | 2.72 % change on previous year | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 2.78 % change on previous year | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 2.81 % change on previous year | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 2.81 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 2.78 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 2.77 % change on previous year | -0.5% |
| 1963 | 2.77 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 3.91 % change on previous year | +41.4% |
| 1965 | 3.95 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 3.98 % change on previous year | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 3.99 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 3.97 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 3.89 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 3.8 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 3.71 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 1972 | 1.58 % change on previous year | -57.4% |
| 1973 | 0.7695 % change on previous year | -51.3% |
| 1974 | 0.7327 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 0.713 % change on previous year | -2.7% |
| 1976 | 0.711 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 0.6872 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 0.6521 % change on previous year | -5.1% |
| 1979 | 0.5762 % change on previous year | -11.6% |
| 1980 | 0.4834 % change on previous year | -16.1% |
| 1981 | 0.3501 % change on previous year | -27.6% |
| 1982 | 0.1644 % change on previous year | -53.0% |
| 1983 | 0.1133 % change on previous year | -31.1% |
| 1984 | 0.0887 % change on previous year | -21.6% |
| 1985 | 0.0992 % change on previous year | +11.8% |
| 1986 | 0.1085 % change on previous year | +9.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0984 % change on previous year | -9.3% |
| 1988 | 0.0863 % change on previous year | -12.3% |
| 1989 | 0.0477 % change on previous year | -44.8% |
| 1990 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1991 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1992 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1993 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1994 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1995 | -1.04 % change on previous year | — |
| 1996 | -0.5683 % change on previous year | -45.3% |
| 1997 | -0.6915 % change on previous year | +21.7% |
| 1998 | -0.7616 % change on previous year | +10.1% |
| 1999 | -0.7394 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 2000 | -0.6659 % change on previous year | -9.9% |
| 2001 | 0.8208 % change on previous year | -223.3% |
| 2002 | 0.8102 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 0.7998 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 0.7898 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 0.7801 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 0.6903 % change on previous year | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 0.683 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 0.6754 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 0.6686 % change on previous year | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 0.6619 % change on previous year | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 2.02 % change on previous year | +205.0% |
| 2012 | 1.99 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 1.97 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.94 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 1.92 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.89 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 1.87 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 1.85 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 1.82 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 1.8 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 2.62 % change on previous year | +45.3% |
| 2022 | 2.56 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 2.51 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 2.45 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 2.4 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.4 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.66 % change on previous year, 1.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.4 % change on previous year is below the median for South Asia, which is 3.16 % change on previous year, 76% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area long term, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +223.3% | -0.6659 % change on previous year | 0.8208 % change on previous year |
| 2011 | +205.0% | 0.6619 % change on previous year | 2.02 % change on previous year |
| 1990 | -100.0% | 0.0477 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year |
| 1954 | +58.7% | 1.52 % change on previous year | 2.41 % change on previous year |
| 1972 | -57.4% | 3.71 % change on previous year | 1.58 % change on previous year |
| 1982 | -53.0% | 0.3501 % change on previous year | 0.1644 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.16 % change on previous year | 0.9684 % change on previous year | 2.81 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 3.48 % change on previous year | 2.77 % change on previous year | 3.99 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.39 % change on previous year | 0.5762 % change on previous year | 3.8 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.164 % change on previous year | 0.0477 % change on previous year | 0.4834 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.38 % change on previous year | -1.04 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6052 % change on previous year | -0.6659 % change on previous year | 0.8208 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.79 % change on previous year | 0.6619 % change on previous year | 2.02 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.39 % change on previous year | 1.8 % change on previous year | 2.62 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 58 Trinidad and Tobago 2.6 % change on previous year compare
- 59 Syria 2.58 % change on previous year compare
- 60 Guatemala 2.43 % change on previous year compare
- 62 Tonga 2.37 % change on previous year compare
- 63 French Guiana 2.34 % change on previous year compare
- 64 Saint Lucia 2.34 % change on previous year compare
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 urban area long term, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka?
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka was 2.4 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban area long term, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3.99 % change on previous year in 1967.
- What is the lowest urban area long term, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.04 % change on previous year in 1995.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for urban area long term, annual growth rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 61st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area long term, annual growth rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. 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 Urban area long term, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 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 Urban area long term. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Urban area over the long-term HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
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 Urban area long term. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.