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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 27.6 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Bhutan vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Sri Lanka
2100 695,106 20,270,496
2099 699,983 20,383,669
2098 704,455 20,498,567
2097 709,230 20,611,123
2096 713,930 20,723,560
2095 719,152 20,834,629
2094 724,401 20,943,809
2093 729,500 21,052,131
2092 735,075 21,158,833
2091 741,074 21,263,961
2090 746,937 21,371,263
2089 753,010 21,475,426
2088 758,937 21,577,177
2087 765,235 21,677,510
2086 770,883 21,777,420
2085 776,435 21,876,464
2084 781,892 21,970,336
2083 787,929 22,062,801
2082 793,543 22,151,745
2081 799,530 22,240,834
2080 805,275 22,326,555
2079 811,060 22,411,438
2078 816,530 22,489,772
2077 821,247 22,565,028
2076 825,978 22,637,463
2075 830,808 22,707,112
2074 836,017 22,778,489
2073 841,208 22,844,703
2072 845,861 22,905,707
2071 850,262 22,964,866
2070 853,930 23,022,515
2069 857,808 23,076,310
2068 861,327 23,129,541
2067 864,753 23,184,596
2066 868,260 23,234,419
2065 871,517 23,285,901
2064 873,735 23,331,390
2063 875,674 23,372,184
2062 877,938 23,409,522
2061 880,023 23,441,893
2060 881,913 23,474,032
2059 883,191 23,502,132
2058 884,515 23,528,076
2057 884,612 23,550,580
2056 885,822 23,570,923
2055 886,403 23,582,432
2054 885,903 23,591,414
2053 886,520 23,601,371
2052 886,640 23,605,361
2051 885,551 23,606,194
2050 884,535 23,603,330
2049 883,736 23,597,604
2048 882,640 23,587,307
2047 881,660 23,570,881
2046 880,037 23,547,409
2045 877,677 23,515,133
2044 875,155 23,483,546
2043 872,383 23,446,242
2042 869,248 23,404,983
2041 866,366 23,357,358
2040 863,173 23,306,148
2039 859,926 23,248,341
2038 856,429 23,187,512
2037 852,475 23,120,775
2036 848,122 23,053,427
2035 843,447 22,981,808
2034 839,780 22,906,587
2033 835,308 22,826,414
2032 830,472 22,742,267
2031 825,528 22,655,907
2030 820,888 22,564,038
2029 816,655 22,470,759
2028 812,002 22,370,999
2027 807,474 22,266,017
2026 801,869 22,155,543
2025 796,375 22,039,908
2024 791,524 21,916,000
2023 786,385 22,037,000
2022 780,914 22,181,000
2021 775,442 22,156,000
2020 770,006 21,919,000
2019 764,824 21,803,000
2018 759,759 21,670,000
2017 754,335 21,453,000
2016 747,866 21,209,000
2015 740,618 20,970,000
2014 733,139 20,778,000
2013 725,273 20,585,000
2012 717,279 21,169,458
2011 709,377 21,009,048
2010 701,632 20,879,089
2009 693,988 20,756,435
2008 686,351 20,629,378
2007 678,641 20,492,545
2006 670,799 20,352,411
2005 661,865 20,216,524
2004 650,544 20,087,605
2003 637,663 19,951,521
2002 624,409 19,805,752
2001 610,794 19,600,362
2000 596,863 19,293,054
1999 582,579 18,944,731
1998 569,435 18,596,003
1997 558,697 18,248,200
1996 548,784 17,905,018
1995 547,989 17,564,068
1994 554,497 17,275,773
1993 554,673 17,025,918
1992 577,774 16,739,284
1991 599,784 16,475,354
1990 589,287 16,352,458
1989 573,586 16,248,557
1988 556,986 16,078,621
1987 540,557 15,916,576
1986 524,324 15,731,256
1985 508,392 15,544,154
1984 492,784 15,441,860
1983 477,460 15,388,794
1982 462,485 15,286,567
1981 447,836 15,099,414
1980 433,404 14,847,974
1979 419,200 14,579,614
1978 405,243 14,310,128
1977 391,639 14,049,371
1976 378,490 13,796,770
1975 365,791 13,548,984
1974 353,538 13,305,693
1973 341,705 13,060,916
1972 330,264 12,809,205
1971 319,211 12,551,910
1970 308,528 12,287,110
1969 298,214 12,013,858
1968 288,311 11,736,088
1967 278,852 11,457,328
1966 269,820 11,183,928
1965 261,200 10,916,965
1964 252,987 10,653,397
1963 245,156 10,395,040
1962 237,636 10,143,754
1961 230,602 9,899,372
1960 224,084 9,661,389

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd 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) Bhutan's population will grow by 10.1% to 884,535 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Sri Lanka
2100 -0.7% -0.56%
2099 -0.63% -0.56%
2098 -0.67% -0.55%
2097 -0.66% -0.54%
2096 -0.73% -0.53%
2095 -0.72% -0.52%
2094 -0.7% -0.51%
2093 -0.76% -0.5%
2092 -0.81% -0.49%
2091 -0.78% -0.5%
2090 -0.81% -0.49%
2089 -0.78% -0.47%
2088 -0.82% -0.46%
2087 -0.73% -0.46%
2086 -0.72% -0.45%
2085 -0.7% -0.43%
2084 -0.77% -0.42%
2083 -0.71% -0.4%
2082 -0.75% -0.4%
2081 -0.71% -0.38%
2080 -0.71% -0.38%
2079 -0.67% -0.35%
2078 -0.57% -0.33%
2077 -0.57% -0.32%
2076 -0.58% -0.31%
2075 -0.62% -0.31%
2074 -0.62% -0.29%
2073 -0.55% -0.27%
2072 -0.52% -0.26%
2071 -0.43% -0.25%
2070 -0.45% -0.23%
2069 -0.41% -0.23%
2068 -0.4% -0.24%
2067 -0.4% -0.21%
2066 -0.37% -0.22%
2065 -0.25% -0.19%
2064 -0.22% -0.17%
2063 -0.26% -0.16%
2062 -0.24% -0.14%
2061 -0.21% -0.14%
2060 -0.14% -0.12%
2059 -0.15% -0.11%
2058 -0.01% -0.1%
2057 -0.14% -0.09%
2056 -0.07% -0.05%
2055 0.06% -0.04%
2054 -0.07% -0.04%
2053 -0.01% -0.02%
2052 0.12% -0.004%
2051 0.11% 0.01%
2050 0.09% 0.02%
2049 0.12% 0.04%
2048 0.11% 0.07%
2047 0.18% 0.1%
2046 0.27% 0.14%
2045 0.29% 0.13%
2044 0.32% 0.16%
2043 0.36% 0.18%
2042 0.33% 0.2%
2041 0.37% 0.22%
2040 0.38% 0.25%
2039 0.41% 0.26%
2038 0.46% 0.29%
2037 0.51% 0.29%
2036 0.55% 0.31%
2035 0.44% 0.33%
2034 0.54% 0.35%
2033 0.58% 0.37%
2032 0.6% 0.38%
2031 0.57% 0.41%
2030 0.52% 0.42%
2029 0.57% 0.45%
2028 0.56% 0.47%
2027 0.7% 0.5%
2026 0.69% 0.52%
2025 0.61% 0.57%
2024 0.65% -0.55%
2023 0.7% -0.65%
2022 0.71% 0.11%
2021 0.71% 1.08%
2020 0.68% 0.53%
2019 0.67% 0.61%
2018 0.72% 1.01%
2017 0.86% 1.15%
2016 0.98% 1.14%
2015 1.02% 0.92%
2014 1.08% 0.94%
2013 1.11% -2.76%
2012 1.11% 0.76%
2011 1.1% 0.62%
2010 1.1% 0.59%
2009 1.11% 0.62%
2008 1.14% 0.67%
2007 1.17% 0.69%
2006 1.35% 0.67%
2005 1.74% 0.64%
2004 2.02% 0.68%
2003 2.12% 0.74%
2002 2.23% 1.05%
2001 2.33% 1.59%
2000 2.45% 1.84%
1999 2.31% 1.88%
1998 1.92% 1.91%
1997 1.81% 1.92%
1996 0.15% 1.94%
1995 -1.17% 1.67%
1994 -0.03% 1.47%
1993 -4% 1.71%
1992 -3.67% 1.6%
1991 1.78% 0.75%
1990 2.74% 0.64%
1989 2.98% 1.06%
1988 3.04% 1.02%
1987 3.1% 1.18%
1986 3.13% 1.2%
1985 3.17% 0.66%
1984 3.21% 0.34%
1983 3.24% 0.67%
1982 3.27% 1.24%
1981 3.33% 1.69%
1980 3.39% 1.84%
1979 3.44% 1.88%
1978 3.47% 1.86%
1977 3.47% 1.83%
1976 3.47% 1.83%
1975 3.47% 1.83%
1974 3.46% 1.87%
1973 3.46% 1.97%
1972 3.46% 2.05%
1971 3.46% 2.16%
1970 3.46% 2.27%
1969 3.43% 2.37%
1968 3.39% 2.43%
1967 3.35% 2.44%
1966 3.3% 2.45%
1965 3.25% 2.47%
1964 3.19% 2.49%
1963 3.16% 2.48%
1962 3.05% 2.47%
1961 2.91% 2.46%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Sri Lanka
Current population
803385
22185425
Population rank 163/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.27%
One net population change
1.7 hours
4.34 minutes
One birth every
52.8 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
1.82 hours
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 -332
Annual growth/decline +5,139 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 188/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +455 -30,724
Net migration rank 69/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - -30,724
2024 - -277 - -27,245
2023 5,153 291 66,111 -28,011
2022 5,204 291 95,378 -27,435
2021 5,162 287 121,858 -29,586
2020 5,142 287 170,968 -29,875
2019 4,643 287 172,243 -28,426
2018 4,909 287 183,610 -28,607
2017 5,367 287 187,993 -22,324
2016 6,164 1,116 194,232 -18,388
2015 6,762 450 201,815 -29,797
2014 7,290 452 211,541 -33,672
2013 7,689 309 221,021 -37,754
2012 7,967 20 229,138 -41,955
2011 8,282 -464 224,461 -90,839
2010 8,598 -922 224,325 -98,060
2009 8,913 -1,305 200,175 -81,130
2008 9,200 -1,538 232,225 -97,144
2007 9,322 -1,553 248,287 -109,695
2006 9,197 -1,283 248,706 -107,045
2005 9,102 848 248,683 -118,594
2004 9,056 3,642 212,527 -84,795
2003 9,132 3,921 252,008 -107,573
2002 9,464 3,996 252,840 -105,718
2001 9,904 3,874 244,377 19,273
2000 10,142 3,940 227,060 123,894
1999 10,940 3,542 206,876 138,799
1998 11,320 486 201,059 150,724
1997 11,668 -1,994 208,193 135,636
1996 12,153 -1,998 215,290 127,236
1995 12,938 -21,501 221,957 117,416
1994 13,536 -17,997 228,904 8,323
1993 13,915 -9,800 226,257 36,232
1992 15,594 -65,900 222,230 88,542
1991 15,801 -9,522 218,117 -1,047
1990 15,704 -1,000 224,454 -195,736
1989 15,516 1,180 212,401 -33,305
1988 15,212 1,286 219,184 -58,415
1987 14,887 1,481 226,414 -63,105
1986 14,516 1,586 233,782 -26,460
1985 14,061 1,694 247,836 -80,950
1984 13,688 1,779 263,175 -225,450
1983 13,284 1,897 277,768 -209,362
1982 12,872 1,897 300,030 -163,987
1981 12,444 2,096 328,096 -89,824
1980 12,016 2,307 328,155 -63,541
1979 11,583 2,493 329,791 -57,683
1978 11,133 2,700 317,055 -50,189
1977 10,679 2,700 300,038 -45,383
1976 10,228 2,700 291,816 -41,258
1975 9,775 2,700 282,496 -37,475
1974 9,324 2,700 275,521 -33,979
1973 8,939 2,700 278,577 -30,582
1972 8,549 2,700 282,494 -27,071
1971 8,161 2,700 281,200 -22,021
1970 7,791 2,700 286,719 -16,299
1969 7,435 2,700 286,218 -10,152
1968 7,085 2,593 286,642 -7,163
1967 6,744 2,493 284,738 -6,696
1966 6,418 2,407 275,549 -6,794
1965 6,109 2,307 272,422 -7,249
1964 5,818 2,196 269,584 -7,614
1963 5,551 2,096 262,880 -8,118
1962 5,297 2,096 256,719 -8,909
1961 5,081 1,586 251,087 -10,144
1960 4,888 1,481 247,631 -12,610

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.3% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 55,796 people) and 6.74% is from migration (a gain of 4,035 people). In Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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