‘Fastest ageing population in Lanka’

Ishara Mudugamuwa

World population will reach seven billion by today. Sri Lanka has one of the fastest ageing populations in the developing world.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has taken measures to support the government to response to ageing related issues, said UNFPA Country Representative Lene K. Christiansen.

He was participating in a media workshop held at the Health Education Bureau recently.

Health Ministry additional secretary Palitha Maheepala said Sri Lanka’s population was 2.4 million in 1871 and it was 20 million now.

“Population density has increased by 10 percent compared with 1871 and 2011. Population density was 37 in 1871 and it is 370 now. The government never thinks that population growth as a burden to the country,” he said.

UNFPA statistics reveal that 10 percent of the population is over 60.

The elderly will account for 20 percent of the population with women outnumbering men.

UNFPA statistics show that Hambantota records the highest life expectancy at birth with 79.6 years, while the lowest life expectancy rate was recorded from the Colombo district and the Northern Province at 66.9 years.