Demographics
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1891 | 4,745 | — |
| 1901 | 6,483 | +36.6% |
| 1911 | 8,163 | +25.9% |
| 1921 | 10,187 | +24.8% |
| 1931 | 10,467 | +2.7% |
| 1946 | 13,372 | +27.8% |
| 1953 | 17,505 | +30.9% |
| 1963 | 21,179 | +21.0% |
| 1971 | 24,357 | +15.0% |
| 1981 | 26,198 | +7.6% |
| 2001 | 28,401 | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 30,315 | +6.7% |
According to the census data, the estimated population of Kurunegala in the year 2001 was 28,401. The male population was 14626 and the female population was 13775. Most of Kurunegala's residents belong to the Sinhalese majority. Other ethnic minorities include the Sri Lankan Moors, Sri Lankan Tamils, Burghers and Malays. Residents from ethnic minorities live in all parts of the city, however, sizeable communities of Moors and Tamils also live in the areas of Teliyagonna and Wilgoda.
The following Table summarizes the population of Kurunegala according to different ethnicities.
| Ethnicity | Population | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | 20,874 | 73.66 |
| Sri Lankan Moor | 4,452 | 15.71 |
| Sri Lankan Tamil | 2,221 | 7.84 |
| Malay | 349 | 1.23 |
| Indian Tamil | 249 | 0.88 |
| Burgher | 1651 | 9.56 |
| Others including (Sri Lanka Chetty and Bharatha) | 27 | 0.09 |
Source: 2001 Census Data
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