What population did Sri Lanka's 2012 census record?

Sri Lanka’s 2012 census recorded a population of 20,359,439.

The census counted 20.36 million people and reported a population density of 325 people per square kilometre. Compared with the last full census in 1981, the total increased by 5,512,689 people, or 37.1%. About 18.2% of the population lived in urban sectors governed by municipal and urban councils.

The 2012 count followed a difficult census history. Sri Lanka’s 2001 census covered only 18 of the country’s 25 districts because of the civil war, making the 2012 enumeration especially important as a more complete post-war nationwide count. The census also recorded 5,131,666 people aged 14 or younger and 2,525,573 aged 60 or older.

A frequent source of confusion is the date: the operation is commonly called the 2012 census, but the official census date was 20 March 2012. Later population estimates and the 2024 census naturally produce different totals; those figures should not replace the historical 2012 result.