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Population density: Sri Lanka vs Turkmenistan compared

Updated on by Georank team

Sri Lanka has a population density of 928 people per square mile compared to 42.7 people in Turkmenistan. Sri Lanka has 32,224 sq ft of land per person vs 705,496 sq ft in Turkmenistan. Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan rank 25th and 181st by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Sri Lanka has 0.27% of the world's population and 0.04% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.09% of the population and 0.32% of the land area for Turkmenistan, making the population density in Sri Lanka 2,073% higher than in Turkmenistan.

Population density by year

Sri Lanka
Turkmenistan

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Sri Lanka Turkmenistan
2026 928 42.7
2025 923 42
2024 918 41.3
2023 923 40.6
2022 929 39.8
2021 928 39.1
2020 918 38.3
2019 913 37.5
2018 907 36.7
2017 898 35.9
2016 888 35.1
2015 878 34.3
2014 858 33.5
2013 850 32.7
2012 874 32
2011 868 31.3
2010 862 30.7
2009 857 30
2008 852 29.5
2007 846 28.9
2006 841 28.4
2005 835 27.8
2004 830 27.3
2003 824 26.8
2002 818 26.3
2001 810 25.8
2000 797 25.3
1999 782 24.8
1998 768 24.3
1997 754 23.9
1996 739 23.5
1995 725 23.1
1994 714 22.7
1993 703 22.2
1992 691 21.7
1991 680 -
1990 675 -
1989 671 -
1988 664 -
1987 657 -
1986 650 -
1985 642 -
1984 638 -
1983 636 -
1982 631 -
1981 624 -
1980 613 -
1979 602 -
1978 591 -
1977 580 -
1976 570 -
1975 560 -
1974 550 -
1973 539 -
1972 529 -
1971 518 -
1970 507 -
1969 496 -
1968 485 -
1967 473 -
1966 462 -
1965 451 -
1964 440 -
1963 429 -
1962 419 -
1961 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/sri-lanka/turkmenistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Sri Lanka increased by 10.4%, compared to a 50.5% growth in Turkmenistan.

In 2006, Sri Lanka ranked 25th by population density and is 25th still. Turkmenistan was 176th in 2006 and ranks 181st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Sri Lanka
Turkmenistan
1x
Year Urban population
Sri Lanka Turkmenistan
2024 20.3% 47.1%
2023 20.1% 47.1%
2022 20% 47.1%
2021 19.8% 47.1%
2020 19.7% 47.1%
2019 19.5% 47%
2018 19.3% 47%
2017 19.2% 47%
2016 19% 47%
2015 18.8% 47%
2014 18.6% 47%
2013 18.4% 47%
2012 18.3% 47%
2011 17.8% 46.9%
2010 17.2% 46.9%
2009 16.7% 46.9%
2008 16.3% 46.9%
2007 15.9% 46.8%
2006 15.5% 46.8%
2005 15.2% 46.8%
2004 14.9% 46.7%
2003 14.7% 46.7%
2002 14.6% 46.6%
2001 14.6% 46.4%
2000 14.6% 46.1%
1999 14.7% 45.7%
1998 14.9% 45.4%
1997 15.2% 45.1%
1996 15.5% 44.8%
1995 15.9% 44.7%
1994 16.3% 44.7%
1993 16.7% 44.7%
1992 17.1% 44.8%
1991 17.6% 44.9%
1990 18.1% 45%
1989 18.6% 45.1%
1988 19% 45.2%
1987 19.5% 45.4%
1986 19.9% 45.6%
1985 20.3% 45.9%
1984 20.7% 46.2%
1983 21% 46.4%
1982 21.3% 46.7%
1981 21.5% 47%
1980 21.6% 47.2%
1979 21.8% 47.3%
1978 21.9% 47.4%
1977 22% 47.5%
1976 22.1% 47.6%
1975 22.2% 47.7%
1974 22.3% 47.7%
1973 22.4% 47.8%
1972 22.4% 47.9%
1971 22.4% 47.9%
1970 22.3% 47.9%
1969 22% 47.9%
1968 21.5% 47.9%
1967 21% 47.8%
1966 20.4% 47.7%
1965 19.8% 47.5%
1964 19.3% 47.4%
1963 18.9% 47.2%
1962 18.5% 47%
1961 18% 46.8%
1960 17.6% 46.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 14.9% to 20.3% in Sri Lanka and from 46.7% to 47.1% in Turkmenistan.

Densely populated cities

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
Turkmenistan
City Population
Ashgabat 1.03M
Turkmenabat 231K
Dasoguz 227K
Mary 126K

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/sri-lanka/turkmenistan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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