2012 Census and Statistics

Census of Population and Housing 2012

Provisional information based on 5% sample

Department of Census and Statistics

Ministry of Finance and Planning

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Composting solid waste by occupants Out of total households

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PrefaceGenerally,theCensusesofPopulationandHousing,isthemostextensivestatisticalundertakingin any country. Sri Lanka has a statistical history of conducting Population and HousingCensusessince1871andincidentallythis1871CensushadbeenthefirstCensusconductedinacountry of the South Asian Region. Thereafter, a series of Census, has been conducted in SriLanka.TheDepartmentofCensusandStatisticswasable to conduct the14th consecutivePopulationandHousingCensusinSriLankainyear2012.Thisisauniqueeventsinceitisafteraperiodof3decadesthattheDepartmentwasabletoconductanislandwideCensusinacountryliberatedfromterrorism.Thus,itiswithasenseofaccomplishmentthatwepresentthisreport,fillinga30yeardatagap for thoseaffecteddistrictsaswellas thecountrywhen taken in itsentirety.ThusthepresentCensusfulfillsanimperativethecountrysplanningandresearchactivityhasbeenmadetodowithoutduringthepast31years.Further, the Department, in keeping with its role as the primary source of providingcomprehensive socioeconomic information needed in the country, has deployed newtechnology,suchasscanningandcomputerassistedcoding,toexpeditetheprocessingofdata.Since population Census is the largest data collection activity in a country, releasing Censusinformation takeconsiderable timedue to the seriesof activities involved inprocessingdata.Therefore,inkeepingwithinternationalrecommendations,informationbasedona5%sampleis initially released to meet the urgent needs of data users, pending more comprehensivereports.Thus,thecurrentreportisbasedonthedataobtainedfromascientificallychosen5%sampleofthepopulation,projectedtorepresentthecountrysentirepopulation.The report provides introduction to Population Census at the beginning and arranged otherinformationundertwoparts:PartAisonPopulationandPartBisonHousing.TopicscoveredunderPartA includes,Populationdistributionandgrowth,demographiccharacteristicsof thepopulation, fertility, migration, characteristics of population with functional difficulties,education attainments and economic activities. Under Part B, the report discusses theintroductiontoHousingCensus,housingstockandrelatedinformation,housingcharacteristicssuchastypeofstructures,constructionmaterial,householdfacilitiessuchassourcesofdrinkingwater,typesofcookingfuel,sanitation,lighting,disposalofwaste,communicationfacilitiesandaccesstointernet.Thereportpresentsdataintermsofnumbers,percentagedistributionsorproportionsandalsouses maps, graphs and tables to facilitate their interpretation. However, the informationpresented in this volume, though provisional, has been finalized after vigorous checks onquality,consistencyandvalidation.Similarly,finalizationofthefulldatafilewillprovidemoredetailedinformationatnationalanddistrictlevelandsuchinformationwillbedisseminated,induecourse,tothelowestpossibleadministrativelevel,theGramaNiladhariDivision.Untilthatis accomplished we expect this 5% sample report to meet immediate informationrequirements.

D.C.A.GunawardenaDirectorGeneralDepartmentofCensusandStatistics2014.03.21

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- Mr. H.R. Dias, Director, Mrs. U.V. Jayakody, Deputy Director and Mr. G.T.K.S. Perera, Senior Statistician made valuable contributions. - Additional Director Generals Dr. A.J. Satharasinghe and Mr. W.W.M.A.S Premakumara also made valuable contributions throughout the process. - Mr. S.A.S. Bandulasena, Director of the Information Communication and Technology Division of the Department of Census and Statistics rendered leadership and guidance in processing Census data. Valuable contributions were made by Mr. P.M.R. Fernando, Mrs. I.A.M. Fernando and Mr. W.H.P.W. Weerasiri, Deputy Directors of ICT division. - Worthy contributions were also made by Mr. E.M.D. Ekanayake, Mr. K.M.R. Wickramasinghe, Mr. P.D.D. Peries, Mrs M.S.S. Sumanapala, Mr. G.V.D. Priyantha, Mr. B.W. Wickramasinghe, Assistant Directors and Mr. S.G.V. Palitha, Mr. A.M. Pathirana System Operation Officers of ICT Division. Again all the staff of the ICT division assisted in many ways in data preparation. - Sample selection and the error calculations were done by Mr. P.A.S. Wickrama, Statistician attached to the Sample Survey division under the guidance of Mr. G.Y.L. Fernando, Additional Director General who was the president of the Sample Selection Committee during that time. - Last but not least, the contribution made by the citizenry of the country needs to be acknowledged in provision of authentic and intelligent information. - This report was prepared by the guidance and the leadership of Mrs. I.R. Bandara, Director of the Population, Census and Demography Division of the Department of Census and Statistics.

Special vote of thanks should be given for her dedicated contributions to make this report a

reality. Mrs. S.T.C. Gaveshika, Statistician of the division should be acknowledged with

appreciation and enthusiasm during the preparation of this report. Mr. S.U.B. Jayamaha ,

Statistician rendered his fullest support for making this report a success. Data checking was

done by Statistical Officers/Statistical Assistants attached to the Population Census and

Demography Division. Special thanks should be given to Statistical Officers Mrs. K.M.S.

Wimalarathne, Mrs. K.A.S.P. Kodikara and Mrs. L.A.D.D.P. Jayasekara for proof reading the

report. Mr. R.D.M. Padmakumara, Data Entry Operator/Coding Clerk designed the cover page

and other art work for publication. Generally, the co-operation received from all the staff

members of the division needs to be acknowledged.

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Executive Summary Census on Population & Housing mirrors the countrys population and housing characteristics in terms of total quantity, delineating that totality in appropriate socio economic variables, required for extensive study of prevalent characteristics and trends. This report present information on scientifically selected 5 % sample out of 65,012 total Census blocks. Succinctly it lays bare what the population and housing stock of the country is identifying the trends of what it aspires to be. This information is primarily required in the administration and in planning the way forward of the countrys population and housing but in addition would be of use to social organizations, industrialist and other investors who could identify opportunities in mutual accommodation. The report is of two parts with Part A dealing with the population characteristics and Part B devoted to the housing characteristics. Under Part A- total population of the country is reported as 20.3 million while the sex ratio reported as 94 percent. The annual growth rate of the population is 1.0 percent over the past 31 years. Majority of the population (28.7%) is concentrated in the Western province making its population density 1,621 persons per km2 as against the national average of 323 persons per km2. The percentage of urban sector population is reported as 18.3 percent followed by 77.3 percent in rural sector and the balance of 4.4 percent in the estate sector. The marital status indicates that for 15 years and above population and nearly 67.8 percent of them was married at the time of Census while 25.5 percent were never married and the balance 6.7 percent were widowed/ divorced or separated. The most popular age group for marriage is recorded as between the ages of 40 to 44 years. Average number of children ever born alive to ever married females aged 15 years or more is reported as 2.6. Three types of independent migratory movements analyzed in the report. They are (1) migration from the district of birth, (2) those who have returned to the usual place of residence from abroad at the time of Census and (3) people living abroad who intend to return back to Sri Lanka. The results showed that 3,861,787 people have changed their district of birth, 155,726 people who have returned from abroad and another 573,208 were living abroad and intend to return back to Sri Lanka. In education the population (5 years and above) is analyzed in to six different levels of education attainments including the no schooling status which is reported as 3.8 percent of the population. The education level of degree and above is also low at 2.7 percent of the population and that should mean that a greater part of the population have average education. Literacy rate population aged 10 and above is 95.6 percent and in the area of computer literacy the younger population has shown a remarkable progress with the age group from 15 to 19 years recording the highest rate of 48.9 percent in computer literacy against the national average of 24.2 percent for people aged 10 years or more. Functional difficulties of the population (above 5 years of age) have also been enumerated and accordingly 8.6 percent of the population has reported a functional difficulty at least in one or more domains namely as vision, acoustics, mobility, cognition, self- care and communication. Economically active population, being a vital cog in population activity is reported as 51.9 percent of the total population with male members being more engaged at 75.8 percent than females at 30 percent. Economically active persons have been sieved according to their sector

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and status of employment and this revealed that the majority, 40.5 percent of those engaged, work for the private sector while 33 percent are engaged as own account workers pushing the employment in government and semi- government sectors to 18.8 percent of the population. Part B of the report covers the dwelling housing stock of the population and the basic facilities enjoyed by the households. There are 5,905,574 housing units in the country and of this 86.5 percent are occupied housing units which would be the subject of this Census. Similarly there are 5,251,126 households in the country and this means that there are more than one household in some housing units. The average occupants per household are 3.8 persons for the whole country. Majority, 85.7 percent, of the houses are single storied while annexes and condominiums represent 1 percent and 0.1 percent of the total housing units respectively. Bricks are used for wall construction in 53.2 percent of the housing units while cement blocks account for 33.8 percent. Mud has been used as the material for paving in only 7.6 percent of the housing units while cement remains the popular material for paving used in 72.4 percent of the occupied housing units. For the roof, 47.5 percent of the housing units have used tiles while asbestos is placed second with 35.1 percent. On the age of the housing stock, only 52.5 percent of houses in the present housing stock have been constructed before 1999 while the balance is 12 years or less old. In the area of basic facilities available to the households only 31 percent of the households have piped born water whereas 46.0 percent of the households use a protected well as the source of water. Fire wood, being used in 78 percent of the households, remains the popular source of cooking fuel. National grid accounts for 87 percent of the lighting in the countrys households. 79 percent of the housing stock has exclusive water sealed toilets while another 10 percent share a water sealed toilet. Housing units with no toilet facilities what so ever account for 1.7 percent of the occupied housing stock. In household solid waste disposal 78 percent of the households manage their own waste either by burning, disposing within premises or composting. Only 20 percent of the household waste is collected by the local authorities. On the right to occupy the housing unit, 83 percent of the households occupy houses owned by a member of the household while 1.1 percent of the housing units have been encroached upon. Social access and communication facilities available to the households are vital areas in modern day living and hence 79 percent of the households are enumerated to be in contact through mobile phones while 42.4 percent have direct line telephones. The percentage of television and radio availability is 78.7 percent and 69 percent respectively. 15.1 percent of the households possess desktop computers. The overall average of households having internet connections on their own is reported as 11.4 percent while households having outside access to internet are reported as 9.2 percent.

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Introduction to Census of Population and Housing 2012

Census history in brief The first Census conducted under the legal provision called The Census Ordinance of Ceylon had been accomplished on 26th March 1871. Since then the Ordinance had been amended over the years in keeping with the requirements of the Census Operation and accordingly Censuses have been conducted decennially in 1881, 1901, 1911, 1921 and 1931. The decennial Census due in 1941, interrupted due to the Second World War, had been conducted in 1946 and this breach in the pattern has caused two subsequent Censuses to be conducted in the years 1953, 1963. However, in order to restore the established practice of performing decennial Censuses in the years ending with 1, the next Census was taken in 1971 and the Census that followed was taken in 1981. However, the Census scheduled for 1991 could not be conducted due to unsettled conditions in the Northern and Eastern provinces of the country and since this situation persisted. Therefore, 2000 round Census was taken in 2001 with terrorism reining in parts of the country and hence its performance was again confined to 18 of the 25 districts. The latest Census, which was conducted in 2012, was the 14th in the Census series in Sri Lanka and it encompasses the entire country after a period of 31 years, counting from 1981.

Census organization Department of Census and Statistics is the sole authority responsible for providing technical guidance in a Census taking. As and when the Census is due, His Excellency the President appoints the Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics as the Census Superintendent empowering him to carry out the Census in keeping with the Census Ordinance. Upon this directive the Director General, with the assistance of his technically skilled staff plans and carry out the Census operation. In each district, the data collecting field work of the Census is performed by the District Secretarys office. During the Census period the District Secretaries function as Commissioners of Census for their respective districts while the Divisional Secretaries function as Deputy Commissioners of Census for their respective Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs). Census data collection at the grass root level is done by trained enumerators appointed for the purpose. Thus during the current Census, about 80,000 enumerators were deployed temporarily for data collection and the Grama Niladharis and other field staff attached to the DSDs supervised the data collection activities in their respective areas.

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ChangesinthemethodofenumerationDefacto(orcountingpersonsataplacewherephysicallytheyarefoundduringtheCensusenumeration)isthemethodusedforallthepreviousCensusesconductedinSriLanka. However, due to several justifiable reasons Census 2012 adopted the de juremethod using the usual residence concept. Further in order to compare the currentCensuseswithpreviousCensusesrecallde facto informationwas collectedbasedontheCensusMoment.Theplaceofusualresidenceofaperson,fortheCensuspurposes,hasbeendefinedasAplacewhereapersonhasbeenlivingcontinuouslyformorethansixmonths,orexpects tostay formore than6monthscontinuously,at thetimeofCensus.

InclusionofnewquestionsInadditiontotheusualquestions,newquestionswereintroducedinCensus2012underpopulation information such as,Reasons for internal migration,population goneaboardtemporary,Professional/vocationalqualifications,AbilitytousecomputersandPhysicalandmentaldifficulties.Further,underhousinginformation,questiononaccesstointernetandexistingcommunicationequipmentswasincluded.

ImprovementstothedatacapturingtechnologyManualdataentry is themethodused fordata capturing inpreviousCensuses,but inCensus2012scanningtechnologywasusedfordatacapturing.Thistechnologyenabledthe data to be captured in 7 months, registering a remarkable improvement in timewhencomparedwiththeperiodof3yearstakenfordatacapturingin2001,underthemanualdataentrymethod.Inaddition,ecensustechnologywasintroducedinCensus2012tocollectinformationfromselectedhouseholdsinColomboMunicipalCouncilonan experimental basis. Based on the findings of this experiment, the possibility ofchanging over to ecensus will be explored during the next round of Census onpopulationandhousing.

DisseminationofCensusresultsTaking a Census in a country entails extensive data collection and processing activityand hence releasing Census information takes time due to the series of activitiesinvolved in the process. Therefore releasing of Census results are done in stages. For

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instance, the first report on preliminary results was released in April 2012, immediately after the completion of Census enumeration stage. Another two reports on characteristics of Population and Housing by Divisional Secretary Division level were released in October 2012 based on the enumerators summaries, prepared manually. This report contains more important selected indicators based on the 5 percent sample. In this instance it should be noted that the statistics provided in this report may be in variance, though not considerably, from the previously published statistics as the statistics given here are based on a sample (5%) and the previous information are based on enumerator summaries. However, until the final results are released, statistics given here could be used to fulfill the urgent data needs. The current report consists of two parts as described below. Part A Population Information There are seven chapters in this part; i.e. Population distribution and growth, Demographic and social characteristics of the population, Fertility, Migration, Characteristics of persons with functional difficulties, Educational attainments and Economic activities. Part B Housing Information There are five chapters in this part; i.e. Introduction to housing Census, Housing stock & related information, Housing characteristics, Household facilities and Communication facilities & access to internet. Census information will be provided at different stages as explained earlier by way of a series of publications given below.

Report at national and provincial level General report with historical trends Thematic reports on population: Aging, Gender, Youth, Migration, Education, Employment, Physical and mental difficulties etc. Thematic reports on housing: Trends of housing stock, Housing Index, Poverty Index using housing characteristics etc.

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Contents Salient features................................. i Preface.... v Acknowledgement..vii Executive Summary... ix

INTRODUCTION TO CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING 2011 Census history in brief....xi Census organization...xi Data collection process...xii Counting homeless people...xii Changes in the method of enumeration...xiii Inclusion of new questions..xiii Improvements to the data capturing technology...xiii Dissemination of Census results .xiiii Part A Population Information . xiv Part B Housing Information... xiv Link between administrative boundaries and Census blocksxv

Part A List of Tables in the text- Part A.....3 List of Figures in the text- Part A......4

CHAPTER 1 .................................................................................................................................................5 - 13 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND GROWTH .................................................................................5 - 13 1.1 Population size ................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Distribution of population by province .............................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Population density by province ..................................................................................................................... 6 - 7 1.4 Population distribution by district ................................................................................................................ 7 - 8 1.5 Population density by district ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.6 Distribution of population by sector ........................................................................................................... 9 - 10 1.7 Municipal Council population ................................................................................................................... 10 - 11 1.8 Average annual growth in population by province .......................................................................................... 12 1.9 Average annual growth in population by district ...................................................................................... 12 - 13

CHAPTER 2 .............................................................................................................................................. 15 - 20 DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION ........................... 15 - 20 2.1 Age-sex structure of the population ................................................................................................................ 15 2.2 Sex ratio .................................................................................................................................................... 15 - 17 2.3 Dependency ratio ............................................................................................................................................. 18 2.4 Marital status ............................................................................................................................................ 19 - 20 2.4.1 Marital status by sex ..................................................................................................................................... 19 2.4.2 Marital status by age .............................................................................................................................. 19 - 20

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Contents Salient features................................. i Preface.... v Acknowledgement..vii Executive Summary... ix

INTRODUCTION TO CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING 2011 Census history in brief....xi Census organization...xi Data collection process...xii Counting homeless people...xii Changes in the method of enumeration...xiii Inclusion of new questions..xiii Improvements to the data capturing technology...xiii Dissemination of Census results .xiiii Part A Population Information . xiv Part B Housing Information... xiv Link between administrative boundaries and Census blocksxv

Part A List of Tables in the text- Part A.....3 List of Figures in the text- Part A......4

CHAPTER 1 .................................................................................................................................................5 - 13 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND GROWTH .................................................................................5 - 13 1.1 Population size ................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Distribution of population by province .............................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Population density by province ..................................................................................................................... 6 - 7 1.4 Population distribution by district ................................................................................................................ 7 - 8 1.5 Population density by district ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.6 Distribution of population by sector ........................................................................................................... 9 - 10 1.7 Municipal Council population ................................................................................................................... 10 - 11 1.8 Average annual growth in population by province .......................................................................................... 12 1.9 Average annual growth in population by district ...................................................................................... 12 - 13

CHAPTER 2 .............................................................................................................................................. 15 - 20 DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION ........................... 15 - 20 2.1 Age-sex structure of the population ................................................................................................................ 15 2.2 Sex ratio .................................................................................................................................................... 15 - 17 2.3 Dependency ratio ............................................................................................................................................. 18 2.4 Marital status ............................................................................................................................................ 19 - 20 2.4.1 Marital status by sex ..................................................................................................................................... 19 2.4.2 Marital status by age .............................................................................................................................. 19 - 20

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CHAPTER 3 .............................................................................................................................................. 21 - 26 FERTILITY ................................................................................................................................................ 21 - 26 3.1 Children ever born alive by residential sector .......................................................................................... 21 - 22 3.2 Average number of chilren ever born alive by age of woman .................................................................. 22 - 23 3.3 Average number of chilren ever born alive by ethnicity ........................................................................... 24 - 25 3.4 Average number of chilren ever born alive by education ............................................................................... 25 3.5 Average number of chilren ever born alive by level of education and ethnicity ............................................. 26

CHAPTER 4 ............................................................................................................................................................. 27 - 34 MIGRATION ............................................................................................................................................................ 27 - 34 4.1 Characteristics of population by duration of usual residence .................................................................. 27 - 28 4.2 In-migrant population by district .............................................................................................................. 28 - 30 4.3 In-migrant population by sex .................................................................................................................... 30 - 31 4.4 Reasons for in - migration by district ....................................................................................................... 31 - 33 4.5 Characteristics of the migrant population returned from aboard ................................................................... 33 4.6 Reasons for living abroad ................................................................................................................................. 34

CHAPTER 5 ............................................................................................................................................................. 35 - 38 CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONS WITH FUNCTIONAL DIFFICULTIES .................................... 35 - 38 5.1 Types of functional difficulties covered in Census 2012 .................................................................................. 35 5.2 Functional difficulty status by domains ........................................................................................................... 36 5.3 Functional difficulty status by geographic location .................................................................................. 36 - 37 5.4 Functional difficulty status by age ................................................................................................................... 37 5.5 Functional difficulty status by economic status ............................................................................................... 38

CHAPTER 6 ............................................................................................................................................................. 39 - 44 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS .................................................................................................................... 39 - 44 6.1 Educational attainment by sex .................................................................................................................. 39 - 40 6.2 Language Competency ..................................................................................................................................... 40 6.3 Literacy ...................................................................................................................................................... 41 - 42 6.4 Computer literacy of the population by sex and by residential sector ............................................................ 42 6.5 Computer literacy by age .......................................................................................................................... 42 - 44

CHAPTER 7 ............................................................................................................................................................. 45 - 51 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES & STATUS ............................................................................................................. 45 - 51 7.1 Economic characteristics .................................................................................................................................. 45 7.2 Economically active population by district ...................................................................................................... 46 7.3 Economically active population by age group.................................................................................................. 47 7.4 Employed Population according to the status and sector of employment...............................47 - 49 7.5 Employed population by sector and age .......................................................................................................... 50 7.6 Labour force participation rate and age specific labour force participation rate ..................................... 50 - 51 7.7 Unemployed population .................................................................................................................................. 51

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ANNEXURE A ......................................................................................................................................... 83 124List of detailed population tables ................................................................................................................ 83Detailed population tables ........................................................................................................................... 85 124

ANNEXURE B ......................................................................................................................................... 125 150 List of detailed housing tables ...................................................................................................................... 125Detailed housing tables ................................................................................................................................ 127 150

ANNEXURE C ......................................................................................................................................... 151 153 Sampling methodology ................................................................................................................................. 151 153

ANNEXURE D ......................................................................................................................................... 155 159 Population and Housing Census 2012 questionnaire.................................................................................... 155 159