Anuradhapura Population 2026
Anuradhapura has a population of 60,943, making it the #23 biggest city in 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, located in North Central Province. Roughly 0.3% of Sri Lanka's population lives here. It is about 11× smaller than Colombo, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
60,943
Rank in Sri Lanka
#23
Coordinates
8.31°N, 80.41°E
~100 m elevation · Asia/Colombo
Distance to capital (Colombo)
165 km
102 miles, straight line
Cities near Anuradhapura
- Vavuniya60,176 people · ~50 km away
- Dambulla66,716 people · ~57 km away
- Puttalam45,661 people · ~71 km away
- Kurunegala28,571 people · ~92 km away
- Trincomalee108,420 people · ~94 km away
- Mannar35,817 people · ~96 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Anuradhapura?
Anuradhapura has a population of 60,943 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #23 biggest city in Sri Lanka.
What region is Anuradhapura in?
Anuradhapura is located in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Is Anuradhapura the capital of Sri Lanka?
No, the capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo, about 165 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
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