Provinces of Sri Lanka: population and official figures
Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces. The largest by population is Western Province with 6,117,341 people (28.1% of the total); the smallest is Northern Province with 1,150,148. Population figures are from the 2024 Census of Population and Housing, the first since 2012. Each province page adds provincial GDP for 2024 from the Central Bank, unemployment from the 2025 Labour Force Survey, income and poverty from the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (the latest with provincial results), health staff, schools and exam results from the ministries, and provincial council budgets for 2025.
Who governs Sri Lanka's provinces?
Provinces (9): provincial councils: Councils normally elected for five years; governor appointed by the President. No council elections since 2014, so governors run them.. Devolved subjects such as provincial roads, agriculture, some schools and health; supervise local authorities through a provincial commissioner of local government.
How local power works in Sri Lanka · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 9 provinces, largest first
| # | Province | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Province | 6,117,341 | 2024 | +0.3% |
| 2 | Central Province | 2,714,045 | 2024 | +0.4% |
| 3 | Southern Province | 2,606,679 | 2024 | +0.4% |
| 4 | North Western Province | 2,586,972 | 2024 | +0.7% |
| 5 | Sabaragamuwa Province | 2,015,899 | 2024 | +0.3% |
| 6 | Eastern Province | 1,783,214 | 2024 | +1.1% |
| 7 | North Central Province | 1,407,610 | 2024 | +0.8% |
| 8 | Uva Province | 1,399,892 | 2024 | +0.8% |
| 9 | Northern Province | 1,150,148 | 2024 | +0.6% |
More on Sri Lanka: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Department of Census and Statistics: Census of Population and Housing 2024, final report: Tables 3.2 (population by province and district), 3.3 (district population 2012 and 2024) and 3.6 (population by sector), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a6dea9388d05…)
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (from Department of Census and Statistics national accounts): Provincial Gross Domestic Product (PGDP) 2024, press release of 22 December 2025: Tables 1-3, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bfe27596d2d7…)
- Department of Census and Statistics: Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey Annual Bulletin 2025: Table 2.2 (employment by industry) and Table 3.3 (unemployment by province), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 48a8863a4643…)
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources): Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2026, chapter 2: Tables 2.4 (vehicles, Provincial Departments of Motor Traffic), 2.13, 2.16 and 2.18 (HIES 2019, Department of Census and Statistics), 2.20 (Ministry of Education), 2.26 (Department of Examinations), 2.30 (University Grants Commission) and 2.39 (Ministry of Health), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 babb9cbb27c5…)
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources): Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2026, chapter 3: Tables 3.21 (mid-year population, Registrar General's Department) and 3.32 (departures for foreign employment, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fcfc004b2129…)
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources): Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2026, chapter 5: Table 5.8 (revenue and expenditure of provincial councils, Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 88c29bbd48a1…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.