… one in every four Sri Lankans expected to be aged 60 or above by 2040

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 said the proportion of elderly citizens in Sri Lanka had 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 projections indicated a further increase, with one in every four Sri Lankans expected 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 the demographic shift to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates, adding that compared to other Asian nations, Sri Lanka was among those with the fastest rate of population ageing.

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 considered part of the process of ageing, but it’s not,” she said. “We now recognise falls as a medical condition. Treatment usually focuses on the injury, but we must also identify the underlying cause, often frailty which can be prevented or managed.”

She warned that falls could lead to severe injuries and even death, urging early diagnosis and management of frailty to reduce related complications.

Health experts say the rapid growth of Sri Lanka’s elderly population will require stronger community health systems, elder care services, and public awareness to ensure healthy ageing in the years ahead.