New census data reveals a surprising truth: marriage, not jobs, is the single biggest force reshaping Sri Lanka’s population map, with over 1.2 million people moving for matrimony.
In a revealing insight into the social fabric of Sri Lanka, the latest report from the Department of Census and Statistics shows that 40.6 percent of the country’s internal migrant population moved primarily due to marriage. This figure translates to a staggering 1,285,909 individuals out of a total internal migrant population of 3,167,263, as recorded in the 2024 census. This dominant trend of marriage-based migration overshadows other traditional drivers like employment, highlighting a crucial aspect of the nation’s demographic dynamics.
The data provides a detailed breakdown of the complex factors behind internal migration patterns across Sri Lanka’s districts. Following marriage, which accounts for 40.6% of moves, other significant reasons include employment or seeking employment at 17.1%, family needs at 16.2%, and returning to a permanent residence at 11.3%. Less prominent but still notable factors were education, which motivated 6.5% of migrants, and resettlement after displacement, which accounted for 3.3%. Smaller percentages of population movement were driven by disasters (1.6%), development projects (1.3%), and religious purposes (2.1%).
A key finding of the census report is the magnetic pull of the Western Province. The data indicates that a significant portion of the over three million internal migrants moved to the Colombo and Gampaha districts. Specifically, 16.7% migrated to Colombo and 16.8% to Gampaha, with marriage being the leading cause for this movement into the country’s economic hub. This trend underscores the interconnected nature of social and economic migration flows within the country.
The regional analysis offers a more granular view of Sri Lanka’s demographic landscape. Marriage emerged as the principal reason for migration not only in the Western Province but also in the Mullaitivu district of the Northern Province and in eight other provinces, where over 25% of migrants cited it. Unsurprisingly, employment-based migration was most concentrated in the commercial capital of Colombo (37.5%) and the neighboring Gampaha district (26.1%), pointing to a clear pattern of labour migration toward economic opportunities.
Different districts exhibited unique migration drivers. The Trincomalee district recorded the largest proportion of migration for family reasons at 22.6%, with Vavuniya and Mullaitivu also showing significant numbers in this category at 19.6%. Jaffna District stood out for having the highest percentage of people returning to their permanent residence (25.4%), a possible indicator of post-conflict normalisation. Education-related migration was most prominent in Batticaloa (25.3%), Colombo (11.8%), and Kandy (10.6%), reflecting the movement of students to educational hubs.
The legacy of the nation’s past is still visible in current migration patterns, particularly in the Northern Province. Resettlement following displacement was the main factor driving internal migration in Kilinochchi (49.0%), Mannar (45.5%), and Jaffna (40.8%). Furthermore, natural disasters were the primary drivers of relocation in Vavuniya (16.5%) and Mullaitivu (11.7%), while government-led development projects were a key influence on movement in Ampara (13.3%) and Polonnaruwa (11.8%). This comprehensive data paints a vivid picture of a nation on the move, where personal choices like marriage are as influential in shaping population distribution as economic and historical factors.
