Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the Asian countries with the fastest-growing elderly populations, according to health authorities.
Consultant Community Physician Dr. Nishani Ubeysekara revealed that the proportion of elderly citizens in Sri Lanka has risen sharply over the past decade — from 12% in 2012 to 18% in 2024.
Speaking at a media briefing organised by the Health Promotion Bureau, Dr. Ubeysekara noted that the trend is expected to continue, with one in every four Sri Lankans projected to be aged 60 or above by 2040.
“According to the 2012 census, 12% of Sri Lanka’s population were aged 60 years and above. In the 2024 census, this has risen to 18%. By 2040, we expect around 25% of the population, one in four people, to be elderly,” she said.
She attributed this demographic shift to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates, adding that compared to other Asian countries, Sri Lanka’s ageing rate is among the highest.
Meanwhile, Consultant Geriatrician Dr. Sithira Seneviratne of the National Hospital, Colombo, highlighted the growing medical concern of falls among older adults, which are now being recognised as a disease condition linked to frailty.
“Falls are often considered a normal part of ageing, but they’re not,” Dr. Seneviratne explained. “We now recognise falls as a medical condition. Treatment usually focuses on injuries, but we must also address the underlying cause — often frailty, which can be prevented or managed.”
She cautioned that falls can result in serious injuries and even fatalities, stressing the importance of early diagnosis and management of frailty to prevent complications.
Health experts emphasize that the rapid growth of Sri Lanka’s elderly population will demand stronger community health systems, improved elder care services, and greater public awareness to ensure healthy and active ageing in the years ahead.
