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Table  1 (Pop., Population)
Population (Total, Growth) 1871-2002
Pop01e
Year Population Growth Rate Annual Average
(x 1000) for the Period (%) Growth Rate (%)
1871 2,400 n.a n.a
1881 2,760 15.0 1.4
1891 3,008 9.0 0.8
1901 3,566 18.6 1.7
1911 4,106 15.1 1.4
1921 4,498 9.5 0.9
1931 5,307 18.0 1.6
1932 5,386 1.5 1.5
1933 5,415 0.5 0.5
1934 5,551 2.5 2.5
1935 5,598 0.8 0.8
1936 5,631 0.6 0.6
1937 5,712 1.4 1.4
1938 5,810 1.7 1.7
1939 5,897 1.5 1.5
1940 5,951 0.9 0.9
1941 6,020 1.2 1.2
1942 6,021 0.0 0.0
1943 6,134 1.9 1.9
1944 6,276 2.3 2.3
1945 6,496 3.5 3.5
1946 6,695 3.1 3.1
1947 6,879 2.7 2.7
1948 7,086 3.0 3.0
1949 7,297 3.0 3.0
1950 7,544 3.4 3.4
1951 7,742 2.6 2.6
1952 7,940 2.6 2.6
1953 8,098 2.0 2.0
1954 8,385 3.5 3.5
1955 8,589 2.4 2.4
1956 8,929 4.0 4.0
1957 9,165 2.6 2.6
1958 9,388 2.4 2.4
1959 9,625 2.5 2.5
1960 9,896 2.8 2.8
1961 10,168 2.7 2.7
1962 10,443 2.7 2.7
1963 10,582 1.3 1.3
1964 10,903 3.0 3.0
1965 11,164 2.4 2.4
1966 11,439 2.5 2.5
1967 11,703 2.3 2.3
1968 11,992 2.5 2.5
1969 12,252 2.2 2.2
1970 12,514 2.1 2.1
1971 12,690 1.4 1.4
1972 12,861 1.3 1.3
1973 13,091 1.8 1.8
1974 13,284 1.5 1.5
1975 13,496 1.6 1.6
1976 13,717 1.6 1.6
1977 13,942 1.6 1.6
1978 14,190 1.8 1.8
1979 14,472 2.0 2.0
1980 14,747 1.9 1.9
1981 14,847 0.7 0.7
1982 15,196 2.4 2.4
1983 15,417 1.5 1.5
1984 15,603 1.2 1.2
1985 15,842 1.5 1.5
1986 16,127 1.8 1.8
1987 16,373 1.5 1.5
1988 16,599 1.4 1.4
1989 16,825 1.4 1.4
1990 16,997 1.0 1.0
1991 17,252 1.5 1.5
1992 17,409 0.9 0.9
1993 17,623 1.2 1.2
1994 17,869 1.4 1.4
1995 18,116 1.4 1.4
1996 18,316 1.1 1.1
1997 18,552 1.3 1.3
1998 18,774 1.2 1.2
1999* 19,043 1.4 1.4
2000* 19,359 1.7 1.7
2001** 18,732 1.4 1.4
2002* 19,007 1.5 1.5
© 2008, KRI (Kusaka Research Institute) 
Source:
Compiled from Statistical Abstract (various volumes), 
Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka.
* Compiled from Anual Report 2002, Central Bank of Sri Lanka 
**Census Data
Key:
Growth Rate = Percentage change of the total population 
   between years.
Annual data are available from 1931. Before 1931, growth rate 
  has to be divided by the number of years in each period.
Revised:  2008(y)/07(m)/31(d)
Chief Editor:
   Dr. Milton Rajaratne (B.Com., M.Sc., Ph.D.)
     The Head, Department of Management Studies
     University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka