The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Asia
Languages Sri Lanka, in 36 editions.
The entry for Sri Lanka published Languages in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 13 editions. Each is shown as published. Languages in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 13
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Language” (1990 to 1991) and “Languages” (1992 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Same as 2024The same text in 1990 and 1991.
Published as “Language”
- Sinhala (official);
- Sinhala and Tamil listed as national languages;
- Sinhala spoken by about 74% of population, Tamil spoken by about 18%;
- English commonly used in government and spoken by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official); Sinhala and Tamil listed as national languages; Sinhala spoken by about 74% of population, Tamil spoken by about 18%; English commonly used in government and spoken by about 10% of the population
- Sinhala (official);
- Sinhala and Tamil listed as national languages;
- Sinhala spoken by about 74% of population, Tamil spoken by about 18%;
- English commonly used in government and spoken by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official); Sinhala and Tamil listed as national languages; Sinhala
spoken by about 74% of population, Tamil spoken by about 18%; English
commonly used in government and spoken by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official); Sinhala (official and Tamil listed as national languages; Sinhala language) 74%, Tamil
spoken by about 74% of population,spoken by about 18%; English (national language) 18%
note:
English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the
population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national
language) 18%
note:
English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the
population
The same text in 5 editions, 1995 to 1999.
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national
(national language) 18%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about
10% of the population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
The same text in 7 editions, 2002 to 2008.
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
The same text in 3 editions, 2009 to 2011.
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
note:
English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
The same text in 3 editions, 2012 to 2014.
note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
note:English English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of referred to as the population link language in the constitution
note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
note:
The same text in 2016 and 2017.
note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national (official and national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution
The same text in 6 editions, 2018 to 2023.
note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, 87%, Tamil (official and national language) 18%, other 8% 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)
note: English, data represent main languages spoken competently by about 10% of the population, population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language "link language" in the constitution
The same text in 2024 and 2025.
note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution
Sinhala (official and national language) (official) 87%, Tamil (official and national language) (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)
note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution
No edition has those words. Try a shorter word.
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Sri Lanka: Languages.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sri-lanka/languages.