# Sri Lanka — key facts

Source: GeoReality (https://geo-reality.com) — verified country data, regenerated 2026-09-01.
When citing a figure, attribute both GeoReality and the primary source in the third column.

- Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Region: Asia · Southern Asia
- Full profile: https://geo-reality.com/country/lk
- Methodology and source URLs: https://geo-reality.com/data-sources

| Fact | Value | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,756,000 | World Bank SP.POP.TOTL |
| Area | 61,860 km² | World Bank AG.LND.TOTL.K2 |
| GDP per capita (nominal) | 5,002 USD | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.CD |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | 17,065 intl $ | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD |
| GDP (total) | 108.8 bn USD | World Bank NY.GDP.MKTP.CD |
| Human Development Index | 0.78 | UNDP Human Development Report (2022) |
| Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful) | 1.91 | IEP Global Peace Index (2024) |
| Life satisfaction (Cantril ladder, 0-10) | 4.01 | World Happiness Report — Data for Figure 2.1, life evaluation (Cantril ladder) (2026) |
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.7 years | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Fertility rate | 1.95 births/woman | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Unemployment | 4% | World Bank SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS |
| Inflation (CPI, annual) | -4.8% | World Bank FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG |
| Cost of living index (NYC = 100) | 33.9 | Numbeo (2026) |
| Safety index (Numbeo) | 57.6 | Numbeo (2026) |
| Median fixed broadband | 36.83 Mbps | Ookla Speedtest Global Index (2025) |
| Internet users | 54.6% of population | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 20.5% | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Renewable share of energy | 48.8% | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Forest area | 34% of land | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |
| CO2 emissions per capita | 1.06 t/yr | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Corporate tax rate | 30% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (corporate column, headline statutory rate) (2024) |
| VAT / GST standard rate | 12% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (VAT/GST/Sales column, standard-rate preferred) (2024) |
| Top personal income tax | 36% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (Individual income / Highest column) (2024) |

## Two decades of change

| Indicator | First → last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.07 (2005) → 77.67 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Internet users | 2.54 (2006) → 54.59 (2024) | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 15.48 (2006) → 20.45 (2025) | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Births per woman | 2.26 (2005) → 1.95 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Renewable share of energy | 61.6 (2004) → 48.8 (2021) | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Access to electricity | 78.1 (2005) → 100 (2024) | World Bank EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS |
| Infant mortality | 11.2 (2005) → 5.2 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.IMRT.IN |
| CO2 emissions per person | 0.71 (2005) → 1.06 (2024) | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Forest area | 34.15 (2004) → 34 (2023) | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |

Context across all countries: https://geo-reality.com/changed

## Human Development Index, 1990–2022

Source: UNDP Human Development Report, composite indices complete time series (2023-24). Annual values as published, none interpolated.

| Year | HDI |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.641 |
| 1991 | 0.645 |
| 1992 | 0.654 |
| 1993 | 0.662 |
| 1994 | 0.667 |
| 1995 | 0.669 |
| 1996 | 0.674 |
| 1997 | 0.680 |
| 1998 | 0.685 |
| 1999 | 0.693 |
| 2000 | 0.689 |
| 2001 | 0.691 |
| 2002 | 0.695 |
| 2003 | 0.700 |
| 2004 | 0.683 |
| 2005 | 0.710 |
| 2006 | 0.713 |
| 2007 | 0.718 |
| 2008 | 0.719 |
| 2009 | 0.711 |
| 2010 | 0.735 |
| 2011 | 0.741 |
| 2012 | 0.747 |
| 2013 | 0.752 |
| 2014 | 0.757 |
| 2015 | 0.760 |
| 2016 | 0.765 |
| 2017 | 0.770 |
| 2018 | 0.774 |
| 2019 | 0.775 |
| 2020 | 0.777 |
| 2021 | 0.783 |
| 2022 | 0.780 |

Chart: https://geo-reality.com/country/lk#hdi-history

Vintages marked "varies" are the most recent value the source publishes per country; the profile page states the exact year per figure.