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Population in Australia compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Australia was 27,614,411 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Australia's population is 28,010,980 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Australia's population is 1.28 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Australia is ranked the 55th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.6% of the world: 0.34% for Australia vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Australia has had an average growth rate of +1.49% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Australia has increased from 20.5M people to 28M (37% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Australia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Australia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Australia Sri Lanka
2100 44,268,623 20,009,380
2099 44,045,424 20,121,095
2098 43,816,219 20,234,513
2097 43,573,042 20,345,619
2096 43,335,272 20,456,607
2095 43,106,279 20,566,246
2094 42,884,039 20,674,019
2093 42,648,686 20,780,946
2092 42,410,825 20,886,274
2091 42,168,735 20,990,047
2090 41,927,939 21,095,968
2089 41,695,112 21,198,788
2088 41,454,360 21,299,229
2087 41,226,316 21,398,269
2086 41,005,658 21,496,892
2085 40,792,190 21,594,661
2084 40,580,657 21,687,323
2083 40,356,871 21,778,597
2082 40,140,558 21,866,395
2081 39,916,925 21,954,337
2080 39,703,296 22,038,953
2079 39,489,029 22,122,744
2078 39,273,623 22,200,069
2077 39,056,566 22,274,355
2076 38,845,418 22,345,857
2075 38,632,596 22,414,609
2074 38,418,045 22,485,066
2073 38,207,153 22,550,427
2072 37,999,068 22,610,645
2071 37,792,119 22,669,042
2070 37,578,242 22,725,948
2069 37,359,215 22,779,050
2068 37,138,635 22,831,596
2067 36,919,449 22,885,941
2066 36,701,629 22,935,123
2065 36,492,733 22,985,942
2064 36,290,454 23,030,844
2063 36,076,918 23,071,114
2062 35,866,124 23,107,970
2061 35,656,154 23,139,924
2060 35,450,525 23,171,649
2059 35,244,589 23,199,387
2058 35,027,089 23,224,997
2057 34,817,156 23,247,211
2056 34,607,988 23,267,292
2055 34,393,278 23,278,653
2054 34,179,940 23,287,520
2053 33,970,136 23,297,347
2052 33,760,935 23,301,287
2051 33,546,695 23,302,108
2050 33,330,712 23,299,282
2049 33,115,090 23,293,630
2048 32,887,237 23,283,465
2047 32,671,939 23,267,251
2046 32,443,408 23,244,081
2045 32,220,633 23,212,221
2044 32,001,023 23,181,041
2043 31,780,612 23,144,217
2042 31,556,888 23,103,489
2041 31,336,104 23,056,478
2040 31,119,045 23,005,928
2039 30,906,074 22,948,866
2038 30,686,214 22,888,821
2037 30,471,145 22,822,943
2036 30,247,954 22,756,462
2035 30,023,790 22,685,766
2034 29,801,152 22,611,514
2033 29,576,548 22,532,374
2032 29,349,199 22,449,310
2031 29,115,445 22,364,063
2030 28,877,548 22,273,377
2029 28,638,212 22,181,300
2028 28,388,452 22,082,826
2027 28,135,058 21,979,196
2026 27,879,933 21,870,145
2025 27,614,411 21,756,000
2024 27,194,286 21,916,000
2023 26,659,922 22,037,000
2022 26,018,721 22,181,000
2021 25,685,412 22,156,000
2020 25,649,248 21,919,000
2019 25,334,826 21,803,000
2018 24,963,258 21,670,000
2017 24,592,588 21,453,000
2016 24,190,907 21,209,000
2015 23,815,995 20,970,000
2014 23,475,686 20,778,000
2013 23,128,129 20,585,000
2012 22,733,465 21,169,458
2011 22,340,024 21,009,048
2010 22,031,750 20,879,089
2009 21,691,653 20,756,435
2008 21,249,199 20,629,378
2007 20,827,622 20,492,545
2006 20,450,966 20,352,411
2005 20,176,844 20,216,524
2004 19,932,722 20,087,605
2003 19,720,737 19,951,521
2002 19,495,210 19,805,752
2001 19,274,701 19,600,362
2000 19,028,802 19,293,054
1999 18,812,264 18,944,731
1998 18,607,584 18,596,003
1997 18,423,037 18,248,200
1996 18,224,767 17,905,018
1995 18,004,882 17,564,068
1994 17,805,468 17,275,773
1993 17,634,808 17,025,918
1992 17,478,635 16,739,284
1991 17,284,036 16,475,354
1990 17,065,128 16,352,458
1989 16,814,416 16,248,557
1988 16,532,164 16,078,621
1987 16,263,874 15,916,576
1986 16,018,350 15,731,256
1985 15,788,312 15,544,154
1984 15,579,391 15,441,860
1983 15,393,472 15,388,794
1982 15,184,247 15,286,567
1981 14,923,260 15,099,414
1980 14,692,000 14,847,974
1979 14,514,000 14,579,614
1978 14,358,000 14,310,128
1977 14,192,000 14,049,371
1976 14,033,000 13,796,770
1975 13,893,000 13,548,984
1974 13,723,000 13,305,693
1973 13,380,000 13,060,916
1972 13,177,000 12,809,205
1971 12,937,000 12,551,910
1970 12,507,000 12,287,110
1969 12,263,000 12,013,858
1968 12,009,000 11,736,088
1967 11,799,000 11,457,328
1966 11,651,000 11,183,928
1965 11,388,000 10,916,965
1964 11,167,000 10,653,397
1963 10,950,000 10,395,040
1962 10,742,000 10,143,754
1961 10,483,000 9,899,372
1960 10,276,477 9,661,389

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Australia increased by 3,739,941 people (a 18.3% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Australia gained 3,820,073 people (a 15.8% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Australia was ranked 54th most populous country in 2006 and is 55th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Australia's population will grow by 19% to 33,330,712 people with a rank change from 55th to 59th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Australia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 44.3M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Australia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Australia Sri Lanka
2100 0.51% -0.56%
2099 0.52% -0.56%
2098 0.56% -0.55%
2097 0.55% -0.54%
2096 0.53% -0.53%
2095 0.52% -0.52%
2094 0.55% -0.51%
2093 0.56% -0.5%
2092 0.57% -0.49%
2091 0.57% -0.5%
2090 0.56% -0.49%
2089 0.58% -0.47%
2088 0.55% -0.46%
2087 0.54% -0.46%
2086 0.52% -0.45%
2085 0.52% -0.43%
2084 0.55% -0.42%
2083 0.54% -0.4%
2082 0.56% -0.4%
2081 0.54% -0.38%
2080 0.54% -0.38%
2079 0.55% -0.35%
2078 0.56% -0.33%
2077 0.54% -0.32%
2076 0.55% -0.31%
2075 0.56% -0.31%
2074 0.55% -0.29%
2073 0.55% -0.27%
2072 0.55% -0.26%
2071 0.57% -0.25%
2070 0.59% -0.23%
2069 0.59% -0.23%
2068 0.59% -0.24%
2067 0.59% -0.21%
2066 0.57% -0.22%
2065 0.56% -0.19%
2064 0.59% -0.17%
2063 0.59% -0.16%
2062 0.59% -0.14%
2061 0.58% -0.14%
2060 0.58% -0.12%
2059 0.62% -0.11%
2058 0.6% -0.1%
2057 0.6% -0.09%
2056 0.62% -0.05%
2055 0.62% -0.04%
2054 0.62% -0.04%
2053 0.62% -0.02%
2052 0.64% -0.004%
2051 0.65% 0.01%
2050 0.65% 0.02%
2049 0.69% 0.04%
2048 0.66% 0.07%
2047 0.7% 0.1%
2046 0.69% 0.14%
2045 0.69% 0.13%
2044 0.69% 0.16%
2043 0.71% 0.18%
2042 0.7% 0.2%
2041 0.7% 0.22%
2040 0.69% 0.25%
2039 0.72% 0.26%
2038 0.71% 0.29%
2037 0.74% 0.29%
2036 0.75% 0.31%
2035 0.75% 0.33%
2034 0.76% 0.35%
2033 0.77% 0.37%
2032 0.8% 0.38%
2031 0.82% 0.41%
2030 0.84% 0.42%
2029 0.88% 0.45%
2028 0.9% 0.47%
2027 0.92% 0.5%
2026 0.96% 0.52%
2025 1.54% -0.73%
2024 2% -0.55%
2023 2.46% -0.65%
2022 1.3% 0.11%
2021 0.14% 1.08%
2020 1.24% 0.53%
2019 1.49% 0.61%
2018 1.51% 1.01%
2017 1.66% 1.15%
2016 1.57% 1.14%
2015 1.45% 0.92%
2014 1.5% 0.94%
2013 1.74% -2.76%
2012 1.76% 0.76%
2011 1.4% 0.62%
2010 1.57% 0.59%
2009 2.08% 0.62%
2008 2.02% 0.67%
2007 1.84% 0.69%
2006 1.36% 0.67%
2005 1.22% 0.64%
2004 1.07% 0.68%
2003 1.16% 0.74%
2002 1.14% 1.05%
2001 1.29% 1.59%
2000 1.15% 1.84%
1999 1.1% 1.88%
1998 1% 1.91%
1997 1.09% 1.92%
1996 1.22% 1.94%
1995 1.12% 1.67%
1994 0.97% 1.47%
1993 0.89% 1.71%
1992 1.13% 1.6%
1991 1.28% 0.75%
1990 1.49% 0.64%
1989 1.71% 1.06%
1988 1.65% 1.02%
1987 1.53% 1.18%
1986 1.46% 1.2%
1985 1.34% 0.66%
1984 1.21% 0.34%
1983 1.38% 0.67%
1982 1.75% 1.24%
1981 1.57% 1.69%
1980 1.23% 1.84%
1979 1.09% 1.88%
1978 1.17% 1.86%
1977 1.13% 1.83%
1976 1.01% 1.83%
1975 1.24% 1.83%
1974 2.56% 1.87%
1973 1.54% 1.97%
1972 1.86% 2.05%
1971 3.44% 2.16%
1970 1.99% 2.27%
1969 2.12% 2.37%
1968 1.78% 2.43%
1967 1.27% 2.44%
1966 2.31% 2.45%
1965 1.98% 2.47%
1964 1.98% 2.49%
1963 1.94% 2.48%
1962 2.47% 2.47%
1961 2.01% 2.46%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Australia grew by 1.54%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Australia Sri Lanka
Current population
28010980
21926160
Population rank 55/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.34% 0.26%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
1.81 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
2.81 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 -438
Annual growth/decline +420,125 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.54% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 190/197
One migration net change every
3.84 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +137,109 -30,724
Net migration rank 11/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 8,111,404 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 9/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 30.4% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 18/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Australia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Australia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 137,109 - -30,724
2024 103,773 138,510 50,407 -27,245
2023 104,641 140,232 66,111 -28,011
2022 111,881 140,972 95,378 -27,435
2021 138,701 116,768 121,858 -29,586
2020 133,376 44,447 170,968 -29,875
2019 136,808 207,142 172,243 -28,426
2018 157,269 226,412 183,610 -28,607
2017 150,015 255,023 187,993 -22,324
2016 152,403 254,648 194,232 -18,388
2015 150,041 212,350 201,815 -29,797
2014 154,940 200,177 211,541 -33,672
2013 159,584 215,823 221,021 -37,754
2012 161,408 235,776 229,138 -41,955
2011 156,380 197,657 224,461 -90,839
2010 158,628 166,752 224,325 -98,060
2009 160,518 235,628 200,175 -81,130
2008 155,119 275,773 232,225 -97,144
2007 154,124 249,873 248,287 -109,695
2006 132,931 191,985 248,706 -107,045
2005 129,132 131,371 248,683 -118,594
2004 115,610 110,072 212,527 -84,795
2003 118,325 104,437 252,008 -107,573
2002 116,971 108,852 252,840 -105,718
2001 117,575 117,552 244,377 19,273
2000 119,882 111,186 227,060 123,894
1999 118,517 92,900 206,876 138,799
1998 120,949 81,310 201,059 150,724
1997 121,592 67,661 208,193 135,636
1996 125,751 82,965 215,290 127,236
1995 131,436 80,456 221,957 117,416
1994 131,761 51,941 228,904 8,323
1993 137,551 23,833 226,257 36,232
1992 139,829 40,767 222,230 88,542
1991 138,273 68,847 218,117 -1,047
1990 143,347 100,093 224,454 -195,736
1989 127,789 144,042 212,401 -33,305
1988 127,298 153,330 219,184 -58,415
1987 128,484 136,421 226,414 -63,105
1986 123,342 113,061 233,782 -26,460
1985 143,674 98,327 247,836 -80,950
1984 123,077 79,617 263,175 -225,450
1983 130,844 73,251 277,768 -209,362
1982 126,030 111,722 300,030 -163,987
1981 125,356 121,921 328,096 -89,824
1980 117,536 89,189 328,155 -63,541
1979 116,112 52,137 329,791 -57,683
1978 116,299 45,832 317,055 -50,189
1977 117,793 44,946 300,038 -45,383
1976 115,070 32,792 291,816 -41,258
1975 123,648 25,336 282,496 -37,475
1974 128,996 56,167 275,521 -33,979
1973 136,476 62,928 278,577 -30,582
1972 155,488 54,895 282,494 -27,071
1971 165,593 223,991 281,200 -22,021
1970 145,081 256,295 286,719 -16,299
1969 143,477 108,770 286,218 -10,152
1968 132,099 100,963 286,642 -7,163
1967 126,249 80,904 284,738 -6,696
1966 126,996 110,864 275,549 -6,794
1965 122,990 118,891 272,422 -7,249
1964 128,420 91,588 269,584 -7,614
1963 140,161 73,237 262,880 -8,118
1962 143,943 58,315 256,719 -8,909
1961 150,955 64,495 251,087 -10,144
1960 141,816 85,707 247,631 -12,610

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 43.5% of the population change in Australia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,338,908 people) and 56.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,736,504 people). In Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 8,111,404 residents or 30.4% of the population were not native-born in Australia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Australia
City Population
Sydney 5.45M
Melbourne 5.35M
Brisbane 2.71M
Perth 2.14M
Adelaide 1.39M
Gold Coast 608K
Canberra 381K
Sunshine Coast 284K
Wollongong 262K
Ipswich 233K
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 map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/sri-lanka | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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