Map of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a country in Asia with its capital at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, home to about 21.76 million people across 65,610 km². The interactive map below plots 14 cities and towns, 1 rivers, 1 lakes, 1 mountain summits and 3 ports recorded for Sri Lanka in YearMaps.
- Population
- 21.76 million
- Area
- 65,610 km²
- Capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Continent
- Asia
Interactive Map of Sri Lanka
Centred on Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte at 6.9320° N, 79.8577° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka shares a maritime border with the Maldives to the southwest and India to the northwest, and lies across the Bay of Bengal from Bangladesh and Myanmar to the northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India to the east. Its executive and judicial capital is Colombo, which is also its largest city and the political, financial and cultural centre of the country; neighboring Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. Sri Lanka's population is 22 million. About 74% of the population are Sinhalese, who speak the Sinhala language, and about 15% are Tamils who speak the Tamil language. Other long-established ethnic groups include the Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and Vedda.
The island has a documented history of over 3,000 years, with evidence of prehistoric human settlement dating back 125,000 years. Sri Lanka has been given various names throughout its long history, with Ceylon most notably being used prior to its independence in 1948. The earliest known Buddhist writings in the island, known collectively as the Pali Canon, date back to 29 BCE. Sri Lanka, owing to its strategic geographical location, played a role as a major trading hub, and was well known to explorers across the world as early as the Anuradhapura period. The Portuguese Empire established a colony in the sixteenth century, during a period of political upheaval in the Kingdom of Kotte where it also faced attacks from neighbouring kingdoms of Kandy and Sitawaka. Following the Sinhalese–Portuguese War, the Dutch colonial empire controlled the coastal areas. By the early 19th century, the British Empire established a colony on the island, which lasted until 1948. The early 20th century saw the rise of nationalist movements and increasing calls for independence. In 1948, Sri Lanka gained independence as the Dominion of Ceylon, eventually becoming a republic in 1972. Sri Lanka's recent history has been marred by a prolonged civil war between the Tamil separatist militant organisation of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, and ended with the defeat of the separatists.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Sri Lanka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Sri Lanka
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009. During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE -- who had already served as prime minister five times -- was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country.
- Location
- Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India.
- Climate
- Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
- Terrain
- Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior.
- Highest point
- Pidurutalagala 2,524 m.
- Lowest point
- Indian Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 1,340 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 0 km.
- Natural resources
- Limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 48.6% (2023 est.); arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.); forest: 34.4% (2023 est.); other: 16.7% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Occasional cyclones and tornadoes.
- Geographic note
- Strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km (31-mi) bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century, when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone.
- Languages
- Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)
- Religions
- Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)
- Economy
- Economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation; IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default; structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws; heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Sri Lanka in Numbers
- Population
- 21.76 million
- GDP
- US$108.8 billion
- GDP per person
- US$5,002
- Life expectancy
- 77.7 years
- Population growth
- -0.73% a year
- Population density
- 354 per km²
- Urban population
- 20.4%
- Surface area
- 65,610 km²
- Forest cover
- 34.4%
- Arable land
- 22.2%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 54.6%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Sri Lanka in Depth
History
The pre-history of Sri Lanka goes back 125,000 years and possibly even as far back as 500,000 years. The era spans the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and early Iron Ages. Among the Palaeolithic human settlements discovered in Sri Lanka, Pahiyangala (37,000 BP), named after the Chinese traveller monk Faxian; Batadombalena (28,500 BP); and Belilena (12,000 BP) are the most important. In these caves, archaeologists have found the remains of anatomically modern humans which they have named Balangoda Man, and other evidence suggesting that they may have engaged in agriculture and kept domestic dogs for driving game.
The earliest inhabitants of Sri Lanka were likely ancestors of the Vedda people, an indigenous people numbering approximately 2,500 living in modern-day Sri Lanka.
Geography
Sri Lanka, an island in South Asia, lies on the Indian Plate, a major tectonic plate that was formerly part of the Indo-Australian Plate. It is in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal, between latitudes 5° and 10° N, and longitudes 79° and 82° E. Sri Lanka is separated from the mainland portion of the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait. According to Hindu mythology, a land bridge existed between the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka. It now amounts to only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level. Legends claim that it was passable on foot up to 1480 CE, until cyclones deepened the channel. Portions are still as shallow as 1 metre (3 ft), hindering navigation.
Economy
According to the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka's GDP in terms of purchasing power parity is the second highest in the South Asian region in terms of per capita income. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Sri Lanka became a plantation economy famous for its production and export of cinnamon, rubber, and Ceylon tea, which remains a trademark national export. The development of modern ports under British rule raised the strategic importance of the island as a centre of trade. From 1948 to 1977, socialism strongly influenced the government's economic policies. Colonial plantations were dismantled, industries were nationalised, and a welfare state established.
Demographics
Sri Lanka had a population of 21,781,800 at the 2024 census. The average annual population growth rate between the 2012 and 2024 censuses was 0.5%. Population density was highest in Colombo District, at 3,551 people per square kilometre, while the Western Province accounted for 28.1% of the country's population. Provisional figures for 2024 put the crude birth rate at 10.1 births per 1,000 people and the crude death rate at 7.8 deaths per 1,000 people.
Sinhalese constituted the largest ethnic group in the 2024 census, accounting for 74.12% of the population.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sri Lanka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sri Lanka: Key Facts
| Currency | Sri Lankan rupee |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Sinhala, Tamil |
| Head of state | Anura Kurankan Dissanayake |
| Head of government | Harini Amarasuriya |
| Form of government | republic |
| Calling code | +94 |
| Internet domain | .lk |
| Highest point | Pidurutalagala |
| Lowest point | Indian Ocean |
| Established | 22 May 1972 |
Facts from Wikidata Q854 (CC0).
History of Sri Lanka: Empires and States
The atlas records 16 polities whose mapped territory included part of Sri Lanka, from Anurādhapura in 291 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Anurādhapura | 291 BCE – 1017 CE | Nearly all |
| The Imperial Chola Empire | 1018–1093 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Polonnaruwa | 1072–1259 CE | Nearly all |
| Ceylon | 1236–1506 CE | Nearly all |
| Jaffna kingdom | 1314–1594 CE | A large part |
| Vassalage of Jaffna kingdom to Vijayanagara Empire | 1385–1501 CE | A small part |
| Portuguese Ceylon | 1507–1686 CE | A large part |
| The Portuguese Empire | 1507–1686 CE | Most |
| Portuguese Colonies | 1564–1661 CE | Most |
| The Spanish Empire | 1582–1639 CE | Most |
| Dutch Republic | 1659–1795 CE | Nearly all |
| Dutch Ceylon | 1687–1795 CE | A large part |
| British Ceylon | 1796–1814 CE | A small part |
| The British Empire | 1796–1947 CE | Nearly all |
| British Raj | 1859–1947 CE | Nearly all |
| Sri Lanka | 1948–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා Śrī Laṃkā; Tamil: இலங்கை Ilaṅkai), formerly known as Ceylon, is an island in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. It is known for its natural beauty, with stunning beaches all along its coastline, great wildlife and biodiversity, tea plantations, orchards, temples, monuments, and a cultural heritage dating back several millennia. Sri Lanka's cultural landscape includes the (mostly Buddhist) Sinhalese and the (mostly Hindu) Tamil ethnic groups, with substantial Muslim and Christian communities.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Sri Lanka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Sri Lanka
14 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaffna | 250,000 | Jaffna | Populated place |
| 2 | Colombo | 217,000 | Colombo | National capital |
| 3 | Moratuwa | 200,000 | Colombo | Populated place |
| 4 | Batticaloa | 129,222 | Batticaloa | Populated place |
| 5 | Anuradhapura | 118,302 | Anuradhapura | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Sri Jawewardenepura Kotte | 115,826 | Colombo | Admin-0 capital alt |
| 7 | Kandy | 111,701 | Kandy | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Trincomalee | 108,420 | Trincomalee | Admin-1 capital |
| 9 | Kilinochchi | 103,717 | Kilinochchi | Populated place |
| 10 | Galle | 99,478 | Galle | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Matara | 68,244 | Matara | Populated place |
| 12 | Ratnapura | 47,832 | Ratnapura | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Badulla | 47,587 | Badulla | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Puttalan | 45,661 | Puttalam | Admin-1 capital |
Highest Mountains in Sri Lanka
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pidurutalagala | 2,524 m | 8,281 ft | Asia |
Pidurutalagala
Mountain · 2,524 m
Pidurutalagala is a mountain rising to 2,524 metres (8,281 ft) in Sri Lanka, in the Asia region.
Pidurutalagala (Sinhala: පිදුරුතලාගල, pronounced [ˌpidurutaˈlaːɡələ], Straw Plateau Rock), or previously Mount Pedro in English, is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka, at 2,524 m (8,281 ft). It is situated North-North-East from the town of Nuwara Eliya and is easily visible from most areas of the Central Province.
Its summit is home to the central communications array of the Government of Sri Lanka and armed forces and serves as an important point in the country's radar system. The peak is currently designated as an "ultra-high security zone", and protected by a large military base; the peak is strictly off-limits to the general public.
On 1 March 2010, a small wildfire broke out over the mountain's forest cover. The fire destroyed 1.2 hectares (3 acres) of forest, before being doused by the Sri Lanka Air Force and nearly 300 local residents.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Pidurutalagala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,524 m (8,281 ft)
- Global rank
- #332 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Asia (#130)
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Coordinates
- 7.0007°, 80.7740°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Pidurutalagala ranks #332 by elevation, below Moldoveanu (2,543 m) and above Mount Igikpak, (2,523 m).
- Ranges:
- Eastern Ghats (Asia), Satpura Range (Asia)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Anai Mudi (2,695 m), Doda Betta (2,636 m), Kodachadri (1,343 m)
More about Pidurutalagala
Pidurutalagala: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,524 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Central Massif |
Facts from Wikidata Q1146327 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Sri Lanka
1 lake recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senanayake Samudra | 96 km² | Reservoir |
Rivers in Sri Lanka
1 river recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Mahaweli | River | — |
Ports in Sri Lanka
3 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kankesanturai | 38.4 m | Very Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | medium vessels |
| 2 | Galle Harbor | 38.4 m | Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | medium vessels |
| 3 | Colombo | 31.1 m | Minor | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka
8 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anuradhapura | 1982 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (vi) |
| 2 | Polonnaruwa | 1982 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (vi) |
| 3 | Sigiriya | 1982 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (iv) |
| 4 | Kandy | 1988 | Cultural | (iv) (vi) |
| 5 | Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications | 1988 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 6 | Sinharaja Forest Reserve | 1988 | Natural | (ix) (x) |
| 7 | Dambulla cave temple | 1991 | Cultural | (i) (vi) |
| 8 | Central Highlands of Sri Lanka | 2010 | Natural | (ix) (x) |
Largest Islands of Sri Lanka
1 island recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sri Lanka | 85,048 km² | Island |
Sri Lanka
Island · 85,048 km²
Sri Lanka is an island in Asia, covering an estimated 85,048 km².
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka shares a maritime border with the Maldives to the southwest and India to the northwest, and lies across the Bay of Bengal from Bangladesh and Myanmar to the northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India to the east. Its executive and judicial capital is Colombo, which is also its largest city and the political, financial and cultural centre of the country; neighboring Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. Sri Lanka's population is 22 million. About 74% of the population are Sinhalese, who speak the Sinhala language, and about 15% are Tamils who speak the Tamil language. Other long-established ethnic groups include the Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and Vedda.
The island has a documented history of over 3,000 years, with evidence of prehistoric human settlement dating back 125,000 years.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Sri Lanka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Island
- Mapped extent
- 85,048 km²
- Size rank
- #62 of 445 islands
- Region
- Asia
- Coordinates
- 7.4261°, 80.8314°
- Summits:
- Pidurutalagala (2,524 m), Anai Mudi (2,695 m), Doda Betta (2,636 m)
- Ranges:
- Eastern Ghats (Asia), Satpura Range (Asia)
More about Sri Lanka
Geography
Sri Lanka, an island in South Asia, lies on the Indian Plate, a major tectonic plate that was formerly part of the Indo-Australian Plate. It is in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal, between latitudes 5° and 10° N, and longitudes 79° and 82° E. Sri Lanka is separated from the mainland portion of the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait. According to Hindu mythology, a land bridge existed between the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka. It now amounts to only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level. Legends claim that it was passable on foot up to 1480 CE, until cyclones deepened the channel. Portions are still as shallow as 1 metre (3 ft), hindering navigation.
History
The pre-history of Sri Lanka goes back 125,000 years and possibly even as far back as 500,000 years. The era spans the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and early Iron Ages. Among the Palaeolithic human settlements discovered in Sri Lanka, Pahiyangala (37,000 BP), named after the Chinese traveller monk Faxian; Batadombalena (28,500 BP); and Belilena (12,000 BP) are the most important. In these caves, archaeologists have found the remains of anatomically modern humans which they have named Balangoda Man, and other evidence suggesting that they may have engaged in agriculture and kept domestic dogs for driving game.
The earliest inhabitants of Sri Lanka were likely ancestors of the Vedda people, an indigenous people numbering approximately 2,500 living in modern-day Sri Lanka.
Demographics
Sri Lanka had a population of 21,781,800 at the 2024 census. The average annual population growth rate between the 2012 and 2024 censuses was 0.5%. Population density was highest in Colombo District, at 3,551 people per square kilometre, while the Western Province accounted for 28.1% of the country's population. Provisional figures for 2024 put the crude birth rate at 10.1 births per 1,000 people and the crude death rate at 7.8 deaths per 1,000 people.
Sinhalese constituted the largest ethnic group in the 2024 census, accounting for 74.12% of the population. Sri Lankan Tamils accounted for 12.31%, Sri Lankan Moors—recorded in the census as Sri Lanka Moor/Muslim—for 10.47%, and Indian Tamils/Malayaga Thamilar for 2.76%.
Economy
According to the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka's GDP in terms of purchasing power parity is the second highest in the South Asian region in terms of per capita income. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Sri Lanka became a plantation economy famous for its production and export of cinnamon, rubber, and Ceylon tea, which remains a trademark national export. The development of modern ports under British rule raised the strategic importance of the island as a centre of trade. From 1948 to 1977, socialism strongly influenced the government's economic policies.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sri Lanka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sri Lanka: Key Facts
| Area | 65,610 km² |
|---|---|
| Population | 21,444,000 (2017) |
| Highest point | Pidurutalagala |
| Surrounded by | Indian Ocean |
Facts from Wikidata Q854 (CC0).
Visiting Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා Śrī Laṃkā; Tamil: இலங்கை Ilaṅkai), formerly known as Ceylon, is an island in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. It is known for its natural beauty, with stunning beaches all along its coastline, great wildlife and biodiversity, tea plantations, orchards, temples, monuments, and a cultural heritage dating back several millennia. Sri Lanka's cultural landscape includes the (mostly Buddhist) Sinhalese and the (mostly Hindu) Tamil ethnic groups, with substantial Muslim and Christian communities.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Sri Lanka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Countries Bordering Sri Lanka
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Asia
Sri Lanka: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
- The capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
- What is the population of Sri Lanka?
- Sri Lanka has a population of about 21.76 million, the #63 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Sri Lanka?
- Sri Lanka covers 65,610 km², ranking #124 by area, with about 332 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Sri Lanka in?
- Sri Lanka is in Asia.
- Which countries border Sri Lanka?
- Sri Lanka shares a land or maritime border with India.
- What is the largest city in Sri Lanka?
- Jaffna is the largest city in Sri Lanka, with a metropolitan population of about 250,000.
- What is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka?
- The highest summit recorded for Sri Lanka in YearMaps is Pidurutalagala at 2,524 m (8,281 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Sri Lanka?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Sri Lanka is Senanayake Samudra, at roughly 96 km².