Matara Population 2026
Matara has a population of 76,254, making it the #18 biggest city in 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, located in Southern Province. Roughly 0.3% of Sri Lanka's population lives here. It is about 8.5× smaller than Colombo, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
76,254
Rank in Sri Lanka
#18
Coordinates
5.95°N, 80.54°E
~9 m elevation · Asia/Colombo
Distance to capital (Colombo)
133 km
83 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Southern Province
| City | Population | Rank in Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Galle | 93,118 | #12 |
| Ambalantota | 80,506 | #16 |
| Beliatta | 58,675 | #25 |
| Ambalangoda | 56,783 | #27 |
| Devinuwara | 45,000 | #32 |
| Bentota | 37,000 | #36 |
| Weligama | 22,179 | #55 |
| Hambantota | 19,999 | #58 |
Cities near Matara
- Devinuwara45,000 people · ~6 km away
- Weligama22,179 people · ~12 km away
- Beliatta58,675 people · ~25 km away
- Galle93,118 people · ~38 km away
- Ambalantota80,506 people · ~57 km away
- Ambalangoda56,783 people · ~62 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Matara?
Matara has a population of 76,254 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #18 biggest city in Sri Lanka.
What region is Matara in?
Matara is located in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Is Matara the capital of Sri Lanka?
No, the capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo, about 133 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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