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Population density: Myanmar vs Sri Lanka compared

Updated on by Georank team

Myanmar has a population density of 219.1 people per square mile compared to 928 people in Sri Lanka. Myanmar has 133,626 sq ft of land per person vs 32,224 sq ft in Sri Lanka. Myanmar and Sri Lanka rank 105th and 25th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Myanmar has 0.67% of the world's population and 0.44% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.27% of the population and 0.04% of the land area for Sri Lanka, making the population density in Myanmar 76.4% lower than in Sri Lanka.

Population density by year

Myanmar
Sri Lanka

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Myanmar Sri Lanka
2026 219.1 928
2025 217.7 923
2024 216.3 918
2023 214.8 923
2022 213.3 929
2021 211.9 928
2020 210.4 918
2019 208.9 913
2018 207.4 907
2017 205.9 898
2016 204.3 888
2015 202.6 878
2014 201 858
2013 199.3 850
2012 197.6 874
2011 195.9 868
2010 194.4 862
2009 192.9 857
2008 191.8 852
2007 190.7 846
2006 189.4 841
2005 188.1 835
2004 186.6 830
2003 184.9 824
2002 183.2 818
2001 181.4 810
2000 179.5 797
1999 177.5 782
1998 175.4 768
1997 173.2 754
1996 171 739
1995 168.8 725
1994 166.7 714
1993 164.5 703
1992 162.3 691
1991 160.1 680
1990 157.8 675
1989 155.4 671
1988 153 664
1987 150.5 657
1986 147.9 650
1985 145.1 642
1984 142.3 638
1983 139.4 636
1982 136.7 631
1981 134.2 624
1980 131.7 613
1979 129.2 602
1978 126.7 591
1977 124.3 580
1976 121.9 570
1975 119.6 560
1974 117.3 550
1973 115 539
1972 112.7 529
1971 110.2 518
1970 107.8 507
1969 105.4 496
1968 103 485
1967 100.7 473
1966 98.4 462
1965 96.2 451
1964 94.1 440
1963 92 429
1962 90 419
1961 88 409

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/myanmar/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Myanmar increased by 15.7%, compared to a 10.4% growth in Sri Lanka.

In 2006, Myanmar ranked 99th by population density and is 105th now. Sri Lanka was 25th in 2006 and still ranks 25th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Myanmar
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Urban population
Myanmar Sri Lanka
2024 30.4% 20.3%
2023 30.4% 20.1%
2022 30.3% 20%
2021 30.2% 19.8%
2020 30.2% 19.7%
2019 30.1% 19.5%
2018 30% 19.3%
2017 29.9% 19.2%
2016 29.8% 19%
2015 29.7% 18.8%
2014 29.6% 18.6%
2013 29.5% 18.4%
2012 29.4% 18.3%
2011 29.3% 17.8%
2010 29.1% 17.2%
2009 29% 16.7%
2008 28.9% 16.3%
2007 28.7% 15.9%
2006 28.6% 15.5%
2005 28.4% 15.2%
2004 28.2% 14.9%
2003 28.1% 14.7%
2002 27.9% 14.6%
2001 27.7% 14.6%
2000 27.5% 14.6%
1999 27.4% 14.7%
1998 27.2% 14.9%
1997 27% 15.2%
1996 26.8% 15.5%
1995 26.6% 15.9%
1994 26.5% 16.3%
1993 26.3% 16.7%
1992 26.1% 17.1%
1991 26% 17.6%
1990 25.8% 18.1%
1989 25.6% 18.6%
1988 25.5% 19%
1987 25.3% 19.5%
1986 25.2% 19.9%
1985 25.1% 20.3%
1984 25% 20.7%
1983 24.8% 21%
1982 24.7% 21.3%
1981 24.6% 21.5%
1980 24.6% 21.6%
1979 24.5% 21.8%
1978 24.4% 21.9%
1977 24.3% 22%
1976 24.3% 22.1%
1975 24.2% 22.2%
1974 24.1% 22.3%
1973 23.9% 22.4%
1972 23.8% 22.4%
1971 23.6% 22.4%
1970 23.3% 22.3%
1969 23% 22%
1968 22.6% 21.5%
1967 22.3% 21%
1966 21.8% 20.4%
1965 21.4% 19.8%
1964 20.9% 19.3%
1963 20.5% 18.9%
1962 20% 18.5%
1961 19.5% 18%
1960 19% 17.6%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/myanmar/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.2% to 30.4% in Myanmar and from 14.9% to 20.3% in Sri Lanka.

Densely populated cities

Myanmar
City Population
Yangon 6.87M
Mandalay 1.23M
Naypyidaw 1.16M
Hpa-an 422K
Mawlamyine 289K
Pathein 287K
Bago 284K
Taunggyi 265K
Myitkyina 243K
Myeik 222K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/myanmar/sri-lanka | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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