Sri Lanka, Central state people groups

South Asia Peoples website

Country:	Sri Lanka
State:	Central
District:	All

Number of People Groups

150

Unreached People Groups

Total Population

2,689,000

Buddhist

64.1 %

Christian

3.7 %

Hindu

22.0 %

Muslim

10.2 %

Sikh

0.0 %

Other Religions

0.0 %

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼

Progress Scale: ●●●●●
People Group ▲	Population	Primary Language	Progress Scale	Hindu	Muslim	Buddhist	Christian	Sikh	Other
Adi Andhra	300	Telugu	1 ●	300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Agamudaiyan Nattaman	4,700	Tamil	2 ●	4,100	-1 -	-1 -	600	-1 -	-1 -
Agamudaiyan unspecified	9,300	Tamil	2 ●	8,100	-1 -	-1 -	1,200	-1 -	-1 -
Ahinkuntaya	7,400	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	7,300	80	-1 -	-1 -
Ambalavasi	5,100	Tamil	2 ●	4,500	-1 -	-1 -	600	-1 -	-1 -
Ambattan	1,100	Tamil	2 ●	1,100	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Ansari	300	Urdu	1 ●	-1 -	300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Arab	800	Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken	1 ●	-1 -	800	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Arain (Muslim traditions)	50	Punjabi, Western	1 ●	-1 -	50	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Badahala	14,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	13,000	200	-1 -	-1 -
Baloch	80	Urdu	1 ●	-1 -	80	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Bania Chetti	200	Tamil	1 ●	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Bania unspecified	4,600	Tamil	1 ●	4,600	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Banjara (Hindu traditions)	300	Hindi	1 ●	300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Batgama	93,000	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	92,000	800	-1 -	-1 -
Berava	45,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	44,000	800	-1 -	-1 -
Bharathar (Christian traditions)	40	Tamil	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	40	-1 -	-1 -
Bharathar (Hindu traditions)	-1 Unknown	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Bintanna	800	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	800	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Bodhivansha	1,800	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	1,800	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Bohra	200	Gujarati	1 ●	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Boya	9,500	Tamil	2 ●	8,400	-1 -	-1 -	1,200	-1 -	-1 -
Brahmin Indian Tamil	18,000	Tamil	1 ●	18,000	-1 -	-1 -	60	-1 -	-1 -
Brahmin unspecified	23,000	Tamil	1 ●	23,000	-1 -	-1 -	60	-1 -	-1 -
Burgher	3,600	Sinhala	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	300	3,200	-1 -	60
Chakkiliyan (Christian traditions)	2,400	Tamil	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	2,400	-1 -	-1 -
Chakkiliyan (Hindu traditions)	16,000	Tamil	1 ●	16,000	-1 -	-1 -	30	-1 -	-1 -
Christian	900	Language unknown	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	900	-1 -	-1 -
Couratto	2,300	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	2,300	40	-1 -	-1 -
Dhobi (Hindu traditions)	6,400	Tamil	1 ●	6,400	-1 -	-1 -	50	-1 -	-1 -
Dodda-Weddah	7,500	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	7,400	100	-1 -	-1 -
Gahala	2,300	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	2,300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Gattara	92,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	91,000	1,700	-1 -	-1 -
Gauraykwallu	2,900	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	2,900	30	-1 -	-1 -
Goanese	40	Konkani	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	40	-1 -	-1 -
Govigama	64,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	63,000	1,000	-1 -	-1 -
Govigama Patti	3,400	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	3,300	30	-1 -	-1 -
Govigama Radala	3,400	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	3,300	30	-1 -	-1 -
Hajam	1,100	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	1,100	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Hakki Pikki	800	Telugu	1 ●	800	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Handi	900	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	900	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Hannali	40,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	39,000	800	-1 -	-1 -
Hanomoreyo	900	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	900	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Heeri	6,900	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	6,800	100	-1 -	-1 -
Henawalayo	3,000	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	2,900	20	-1 -	-1 -
Hinna	30,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	30,000	600	-1 -	-1 -
Hunna	11,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	11,000	200	-1 -	-1 -
Idayan	4,100	Tamil	2 ●	3,600	-1 -	-1 -	500	-1 -	-1 -
Ilavan	36,000	Tamil	1 ●	36,000	-1 -	-1 -	40	-1 -	-1 -
Ilavan Christian	5,700	Tamil	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	5,700	-1 -	-1 -
Indian Tamil	4,800	Tamil	2 ●	3,500	-1 -	-1 -	1,400	-1 -	-1 -
Japanese	400	Japanese	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	300	-1 -	-1 -	50
Jat (Hindu traditions)	400	Punjabi, Eastern	1 ●	400	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Jat (Muslim traditions)	200	Punjabi, Western	1 ●	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Javanese	100	Javanese	1 ●	-1 -	100	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Kaikolan	43,000	Tamil	2 ●	37,000	-1 -	-1 -	5,700	-1 -	-1 -
Kallan	9,600	Tamil	2 ●	9,100	-1 -	-1 -	500	-1 -	-1 -
Kapu	1,100	Telugu	1 ●	1,100	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Karaiyar	15,000	Tamil	2 ●	15,000	-1 -	-1 -	400	-1 -	-1 -
Karava	126,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	124,000	2,800	-1 -	-1 -
Kasar (Hindu traditions)	1,900	Tamil	2 ●	1,800	-1 -	-1 -	100	-1 -	-1 -
Kiddea	1,900	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	1,800	20	-1 -	-1 -
Kinnara	7,200	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	7,100	20	-1 -	-1 -
Koviar	2,000	Tamil	2 ●	2,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Kumhar (Hindu traditions)	3,700	Tamil	2 ●	3,400	-1 -	-1 -	400	-1 -	-1 -
Kuravan (Hindu traditions)	2,300	Tamil	1 ●	2,300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Kustarogiyo	1,900	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	1,800	20	-1 -	-1 -
Lohar (Hindu traditions)	300	Hindi	1 ●	300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Madari (Muslim traditions)	40	Urdu	1 ●	-1 -	40	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Mahishya	200	Bengali	1 ●	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Malay, Javar	3,000	Sri Lankan Malay Creole	1 ●	-1 -	3,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Malayali	80	Malayalam	2 ●	80	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Malayan, caste	100	Malayalam	2 ●	100	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Mangala	300	Telugu	1 ●	300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Mappila	1,000	Malayalam	1 ●	-1 -	1,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Maravan	55,000	Tamil	2 ●	47,000	-1 -	-1 -	7,100	-1 -	-1 -
Maravar	6,600	Tamil	2 ●	6,600	-1 -	-1 -	20	-1 -	-1 -
Mauritian	100	Morisyen	2 ●	70	-1 -	-1 -	40	-1 -	-1 -
Memon	300	Gujarati	1 ●	-1 -	300	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Moghal	200	Urdu	1 ●	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Mukkuvan (Hindu traditions)	600	Tamil	1 ●	600	-1 -	-1 -	30	-1 -	-1 -
Nadar (Christian traditions)	5,100	Tamil	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	5,100	-1 -	-1 -
Nadar (Hindu traditions)	17,000	Tamil	1 ●	17,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Nair	2,200	Tamil	1 ●	2,200	-1 -	-1 -	20	-1 -	-1 -
Nalavar	3,400	Tamil	2 ●	3,400	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Namassej (Hindu traditions)	200	Bengali	1 ●	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Navait	2,900	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	2,900	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Navandanna	137,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	134,000	2,600	-1 -	-1 -
Navithan	12,000	Tamil	2 ●	11,000	-1 -	-1 -	1,600	-1 -	-1 -
Oli	3,700	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	3,600	50	-1 -	-1 -
Osta (Nasuva)	500	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	500	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Palla	1,400	Tamil	2 ●	1,400	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Pallan (Christian traditions)	4,100	Tamil	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	4,100	-1 -	-1 -
Pallan (Hindu traditions)	28,000	Tamil	1 ●	28,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Pallar	4,400	Tamil	2 ●	4,400	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Palliwilli	1,100	Tamil	2 ●	800	-1 -	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -
Pamunu	3,700	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	3,600	30	-1 -	-1 -
Panan	3,000	Tamil	2 ●	2,700	-1 -	-1 -	400	-1 -	-1 -
Panna	700	Tamil	2 ●	700	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Pannikki	29,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	29,000	500	-1 -	-1 -
Paraiyan (Christian traditions)	9,600	Tamil	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	9,600	-1 -	-1 -
Paraiyan (Hindu traditions)	61,000	Tamil	1 ●	61,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Paraiyar	5,400	Tamil	2 ●	4,800	-1 -	600	20	-1 -	-1 -
Paravan (Hindu traditions)	700	Tamil	1 ●	700	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Parsee	100	Gujarati	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	100
Pashtun, Pathan	7,000	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	7,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Pidayne Danno	1,100	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	1,100	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Porowakara	400	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	400	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Primanar	4,400	Tamil	1 ●	4,400	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Pulayan	2,500	Tamil	2 ●	2,200	-1 -	-1 -	300	-1 -	-1 -
Radava	22,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	21,000	900	-1 -	-1 -
Radayo	900	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	900	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Rajaka	19,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	18,000	400	-1 -	-1 -
Rajput (Hindu traditions)	600	Hindi	1 ●	600	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Rajput (Muslim traditions)	200	Punjabi, Western	1 ●	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Rodiya	3,000	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	3,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Sali, Seriyar	1,900	Tamil	2 ●	1,700	-1 -	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -
Samban	900	Tamil	2 ●	800	-1 -	-1 -	90	-1 -	-1 -
Sayyid	9,200	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	9,200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Semman	700	Tamil	2 ●	600	-1 -	-1 -	50	-1 -	-1 -
Shaikh	35,000	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	35,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Silpi	2,000	Tamil	2 ●	1,800	-1 -	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -
Sindhi (Muslim traditions)	60	Sindhi	1 ●	-1 -	60	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Sinhalese	11,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	9,400	1,300	-1 -	-1 -
Sonar (Hindu traditions)	4,100	Tamil	1 ●	4,000	-1 -	-1 -	60	-1 -	-1 -
Sri Lanka Chetti	200	Tamil	1 ●	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Sri Lanka Moor	41,000	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	41,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Sri Lankan Tamil	1,000	Tamil	2 ●	900	-1 -	-1 -	30	-1 -	-1 -
Syrian Christian	20	Malayalam	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	20	-1 -	-1 -
Tamil (Muslim traditions)	172,000	Tamil	1 ●	-1 -	172,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Tattar	60	Tamil	2 ●	60	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Teli (Hindu traditions)	3,200	Tamil	2 ●	3,100	-1 -	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -
Thacher	200	Tamil	2 ●	200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Thanakavar	1,400	Tamil	2 ●	1,200	-1 -	-1 -	100	-1 -	-1 -
Thimilar	1,700	Tamil	2 ●	1,700	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Valluvan	1,600	Tamil	2 ●	1,400	-1 -	-1 -	200	-1 -	-1 -
Vaniyan	9,800	Tamil	2 ●	8,600	-1 -	-1 -	1,200	-1 -	-1 -
Vannan (Christian traditions)	2,200	Tamil	3 ●	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	2,200	-1 -	-1 -
Vannan (Hindu traditions)	15,000	Tamil	1 ●	15,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Vannar	400	Tamil	2 ●	400	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Vanniyan	22,000	Tamil	2 ●	19,000	-1 -	-1 -	2,700	-1 -	-1 -
Vanniyar	2,800	Tamil	2 ●	2,800	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Vellalan	17,000	Tamil	2 ●	15,000	-1 -	-1 -	2,400	-1 -	-1 -
Vellalar	93,000	Tamil	2 ●	93,000	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Vellidura	1,200	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	1,200	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Vettar	100	Tamil	2 ●	100	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -	-1 -
Viswakarma	4,200	Tamil	1 ●	4,100	-1 -	-1 -	100	-1 -	-1 -
Wahumpura	941,000	Sinhala	2 ●	-1 -	-1 -	921,000	20,000	-1 -	-1 -
Yadav (Hindu traditions)	5,200	Tamil	1 ●	5,100	-1 -	-1 -	30	-1 -	-1 -
Yamannu	19,000	Sinhala	1 ●	-1 -	-1 -	18,000	300	-1 -	-1 -
Totals: 150	2,689,000		69 ●	591,000	275,000	1,725,000	99,000	0	200

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Joshua Project data is drawn from many sources and of varying accuracy depending on source and editorial decisions. Populations are scaled to the current year. Other data may have varying ages. We welcome updates.
Joshua Project occasionally adjusts profile text from third party sources. This is done to avoid confusion regarding the current reality of a people group, to fix grammar and spelling and to avoid potentially offensive wording.
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The data is sometimes not as precise as it appears. Values for %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical (which determine unreached status) are often informed estimates, some more accurate than others. We recommend against using %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical to calculate absolute numbers.
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