Sri Lanka’s digital landscape is expanding, with internet users hitting 13.9 million in 2025 an increase of 1.5 million compared to the previous year. Yet, despite this growth, around 40 per cent of the population still remain offline, highlighting a significant digital divide, according to the latest Digital Sri Lanka 2026 report by Datareportal.
The report notes that 9.37 million Sri Lankans did not use the internet by the end of last year. Among adults, social media continues to gain traction, with 9 million users aged 18 and above, accounting for 52.5 per cent of the adult population up 870,000 from 2024. Women make up 43.4 per cent of these social media accounts, reflecting a growing female presence online.
Video and visual platforms are also on the rise. Datareportal reveals that YouTube’s potential ad reach in Sri Lanka grew by 690,000 users (+8.5%) between 2024 and 2025, with 380,000 more users (+4.5%) accessible to marketers in the last quarter of 2025 alone.
Meanwhile, Instagram is seeing a surge in engagement, with its potential ad audience growing by 400,000 (+21.6%) year-on-year and a quarterly increase of 100,000 (+4.7%) between July and October 2025.
The report paints a picture of a nation increasingly connected, yet still facing challenges in bringing digital access to all corners of society. As Sri Lanka embraces its digital future, bridging this gap remains a critical step.
(Source - Lankanews)
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