Density is highest in the south west where Colombo, the country's main port and industrial center, is located.

[17][18] Sri Lanka's rapidly growing older population has ignited concerns of the socio-economic challenges that the country will face because of this.

[27] The Sri Lanka Tamils, who live predominantly in the north and east of the island, form the largest minority group at 11.1% (according to the 2012 census) of the population.

[27] The Moors, descendants of Arab + Indian traders and native Sri Lankan Tamils, form the third largest ethnic group at 9.3% of the population.

[27] These Tamil-speaking Muslims are mostly concentrated in urban areas in the southern parts of the island with substantial populations in the Central and Eastern provinces.

During times of Portuguese colonization, Moors were persecuted, and many forced to retreat to the central highlands and the eastern coast.

[citation needed] There are also Indian Tamils who form a distinct ethnic group comprising 4.1% of the population.

The government has stated these Tamils will not be forced to return to India, although they are not technically citizens of Sri Lanka.

[32] English is fluently spoken by approximately 23.8%[33] of the Sri Lanka's population, and widely used for official and commercial purposes.

[32] The government is seeking to reverse the decline in the use of English, mainly for economic but also for political reasons.

[34] Religion in Sri Lanka (2012)[35] According to the 2012 census Buddhists make up 70.2% of the population, Hindus 12.6%, Muslims 9.7% and Christians 7.6%.

[37][38] As of 2017, 40,018 foreign-born people lived in Sri Lanka per United Nations' population division.