Tamil Eelam Territory & Population During Civil War

The de facto state of Tamil Eelam existed from 1984 until 2009, when it ceased to exist following the end of the Sri Lankan civil war. The territory it controlled changed significantly during this period.

In 2004, Tamil Eelam controlled approximately 44% of the land area within Sri Lanka's Northern and Eastern provinces. This area, which included inland waters, consisted primarily of jungle and rural areas governed by town and village councils. Tamil Eelam exercised full control over two of the eight administrative districts within these provinces. The estimated area under its control was slightly over 8,000 square kilometers, compared to nearly 19,000 square kilometers for the combined provinces. The estimated population within Tamil Eelam in 2004 was 538,000, representing about 3% of Sri Lanka's total population.

By July 2006, the area under Tamil Eelam's control had expanded to 15,000 square kilometers.