Rural population as a share of total population fell 0.254% to 80.6% in Sri Lanka in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rural population as a share of total population in Sri Lanka reached an all time high of 83.6% in 1960 and an all time low of 80.6% in 2024. When compared to Sri Lanka's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in India amounted to 63.1%, 20.8% in Malaysia, 57.6% in Maldives and 67.5% in Myanmar in 2024.
Sri Lanka has been ranked 7th within the group of 171 countries we follow in terms of rural population as a share of total population, 1 place above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Rural Population (As % of Total) | Unit | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Bangladesh | % | 63.4% | 62.6% | 61.8% | 61.1% | 60.3% | ||||||||||||||||
| Cambodia | % | 76.6% | 76.2% | 75.8% | 75.3% | 74.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| China | % | 40.8% | 39.7% | 38.6% | 37.5% | 36.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| India | % | 66.0% | 65.5% | 65.1% | 64.6% | 64.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Indonesia | % | 44.7% | 44.0% | 43.4% | 42.7% | 42.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Laos | % | 65.0% | 64.4% | 63.7% | 63.1% | 62.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| Malaysia | % | 24.0% | 23.4% | 22.8% | 22.3% | 21.8% | ||||||||||||||||
| Maldives | % | 60.2% | 59.8% | 59.3% | 58.9% | 58.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Myanmar | % | 69.4% | 69.1% | 68.9% | 68.6% | 68.2% | ||||||||||||||||
| Pakistan | % | 63.3% | 63.1% | 62.8% | 62.6% | 62.3% | ||||||||||||||||
| Singapore | % | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Sri Lanka | % | 81.5% | 81.4% | 81.3% | 81.1% | 81.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| Thailand | % | 50.1% | 49.3% | 48.6% | 47.8% | 47.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Vietnam | % | 64.1% | 63.4% | 62.7% | 61.9% | 61.2% |
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