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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 63.2 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 17.2% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

China vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Sri Lanka
2100 633,320,628 20,270,496
2099 643,959,697 20,383,669
2098 654,691,595 20,498,567
2097 665,517,335 20,611,123
2096 676,438,150 20,723,560
2095 687,457,915 20,834,629
2094 698,589,897 20,943,809
2093 709,852,629 21,052,131
2092 721,251,520 21,158,833
2091 732,791,748 21,263,961
2090 744,501,355 21,371,263
2089 756,404,299 21,475,426
2088 768,478,316 21,577,177
2087 780,707,622 21,677,510
2086 793,081,006 21,777,420
2085 805,608,315 21,876,464
2084 818,268,277 21,970,336
2083 830,972,107 22,062,801
2082 843,721,746 22,151,745
2081 856,534,631 22,240,834
2080 869,351,919 22,326,555
2079 882,146,959 22,411,438
2078 894,889,246 22,489,772
2077 907,592,919 22,565,028
2076 920,280,380 22,637,463
2075 932,956,157 22,707,112
2074 945,631,173 22,778,489
2073 958,352,980 22,844,703
2072 971,115,895 22,905,707
2071 983,938,054 22,964,866
2070 996,853,418 23,022,515
2069 1,009,905,851 23,076,310
2068 1,023,081,790 23,129,541
2067 1,036,420,010 23,184,596
2066 1,049,887,382 23,234,419
2065 1,063,477,623 23,285,901
2064 1,077,206,695 23,331,390
2063 1,090,982,303 23,372,184
2062 1,104,833,556 23,409,522
2061 1,118,682,849 23,441,893
2060 1,132,504,136 23,474,032
2059 1,146,199,736 23,502,132
2058 1,159,714,746 23,528,076
2057 1,172,963,523 23,550,580
2056 1,185,938,083 23,570,923
2055 1,198,550,408 23,582,432
2054 1,210,749,681 23,591,414
2053 1,222,500,569 23,601,371
2052 1,233,808,926 23,605,361
2051 1,244,584,333 23,606,194
2050 1,254,824,040 23,603,330
2049 1,264,598,914 23,597,604
2048 1,273,885,471 23,587,307
2047 1,282,701,271 23,570,881
2046 1,291,133,690 23,547,409
2045 1,299,154,327 23,515,133
2044 1,306,805,350 23,483,546
2043 1,314,176,710 23,446,242
2042 1,321,319,298 23,404,983
2041 1,328,219,755 23,357,358
2040 1,334,857,481 23,306,148
2039 1,341,265,381 23,248,341
2038 1,347,407,165 23,187,512
2037 1,353,377,505 23,120,775
2036 1,359,133,287 23,053,427
2035 1,364,651,508 22,981,808
2034 1,369,940,557 22,906,587
2033 1,375,003,005 22,826,414
2032 1,379,784,204 22,742,267
2031 1,384,301,522 22,655,907
2030 1,388,520,533 22,564,038
2029 1,392,490,007 22,470,759
2028 1,396,163,778 22,370,999
2027 1,399,515,824 22,266,017
2026 1,402,578,808 22,155,543
2025 1,405,826,385 22,039,908
2024 1,408,975,000 21,916,000
2023 1,410,710,000 22,037,000
2022 1,412,175,000 22,181,000
2021 1,412,360,000 22,156,000
2020 1,411,100,000 21,919,000
2019 1,407,745,000 21,803,000
2018 1,402,760,000 21,670,000
2017 1,396,215,000 21,453,000
2016 1,387,790,000 21,209,000
2015 1,379,860,000 20,970,000
2014 1,371,860,000 20,778,000
2013 1,363,240,000 20,585,000
2012 1,354,190,000 21,169,458
2011 1,345,035,000 21,009,048
2010 1,337,705,000 20,879,089
2009 1,331,260,000 20,756,435
2008 1,324,655,000 20,629,378
2007 1,317,885,000 20,492,545
2006 1,311,020,000 20,352,411
2005 1,303,720,000 20,216,524
2004 1,296,075,000 20,087,605
2003 1,288,400,000 19,951,521
2002 1,280,400,000 19,805,752
2001 1,271,850,000 19,600,362
2000 1,262,645,000 19,293,054
1999 1,252,735,000 18,944,731
1998 1,241,935,000 18,596,003
1997 1,230,075,000 18,248,200
1996 1,217,550,000 17,905,018
1995 1,204,855,000 17,564,068
1994 1,191,835,000 17,275,773
1993 1,178,440,000 17,025,918
1992 1,164,970,000 16,739,284
1991 1,150,780,000 16,475,354
1990 1,135,185,000 16,352,458
1989 1,118,650,000 16,248,557
1988 1,101,630,000 16,078,621
1987 1,084,035,000 15,916,576
1986 1,066,790,000 15,731,256
1985 1,051,040,000 15,544,154
1984 1,036,825,000 15,441,860
1983 1,023,310,000 15,388,794
1982 1,008,630,000 15,286,567
1981 993,885,000 15,099,414
1980 981,235,000 14,847,974
1979 969,005,000 14,579,614
1978 956,165,000 14,310,128
1977 943,455,000 14,049,371
1976 930,685,000 13,796,770
1975 916,395,000 13,548,984
1974 900,350,000 13,305,693
1973 881,940,000 13,060,916
1972 862,030,000 12,809,205
1971 841,105,000 12,551,910
1970 818,315,000 12,287,110
1969 796,025,000 12,013,858
1968 774,510,000 11,736,088
1967 754,550,000 11,457,328
1966 735,400,000 11,183,928
1965 715,185,000 10,916,965
1964 698,355,000 10,653,397
1963 682,335,000 10,395,040
1962 665,770,000 10,143,754
1961 660,330,000 9,899,372
1960 667,070,000 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/china/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Sri Lanka
2100 -1.65% -0.56%
2099 -1.64% -0.56%
2098 -1.63% -0.55%
2097 -1.61% -0.54%
2096 -1.6% -0.53%
2095 -1.59% -0.52%
2094 -1.59% -0.51%
2093 -1.58% -0.5%
2092 -1.57% -0.49%
2091 -1.57% -0.5%
2090 -1.57% -0.49%
2089 -1.57% -0.47%
2088 -1.57% -0.46%
2087 -1.56% -0.46%
2086 -1.56% -0.45%
2085 -1.55% -0.43%
2084 -1.53% -0.42%
2083 -1.51% -0.4%
2082 -1.5% -0.4%
2081 -1.47% -0.38%
2080 -1.45% -0.38%
2079 -1.42% -0.35%
2078 -1.4% -0.33%
2077 -1.38% -0.32%
2076 -1.36% -0.31%
2075 -1.34% -0.31%
2074 -1.33% -0.29%
2073 -1.31% -0.27%
2072 -1.3% -0.26%
2071 -1.3% -0.25%
2070 -1.29% -0.23%
2069 -1.29% -0.23%
2068 -1.29% -0.24%
2067 -1.28% -0.21%
2066 -1.28% -0.22%
2065 -1.27% -0.19%
2064 -1.26% -0.17%
2063 -1.25% -0.16%
2062 -1.24% -0.14%
2061 -1.22% -0.14%
2060 -1.19% -0.12%
2059 -1.17% -0.11%
2058 -1.13% -0.1%
2057 -1.09% -0.09%
2056 -1.05% -0.05%
2055 -1.01% -0.04%
2054 -0.96% -0.04%
2053 -0.92% -0.02%
2052 -0.87% -0.004%
2051 -0.82% 0.01%
2050 -0.77% 0.02%
2049 -0.73% 0.04%
2048 -0.69% 0.07%
2047 -0.65% 0.1%
2046 -0.62% 0.14%
2045 -0.59% 0.13%
2044 -0.56% 0.16%
2043 -0.54% 0.18%
2042 -0.52% 0.2%
2041 -0.5% 0.22%
2040 -0.48% 0.25%
2039 -0.46% 0.26%
2038 -0.44% 0.29%
2037 -0.42% 0.29%
2036 -0.4% 0.31%
2035 -0.39% 0.33%
2034 -0.37% 0.35%
2033 -0.35% 0.37%
2032 -0.33% 0.38%
2031 -0.3% 0.41%
2030 -0.29% 0.42%
2029 -0.26% 0.45%
2028 -0.24% 0.47%
2027 -0.22% 0.5%
2026 -0.23% 0.52%
2025 -0.22% 0.57%
2024 -0.12% -0.55%
2023 -0.1% -0.65%
2022 -0.01% 0.11%
2021 0.09% 1.08%
2020 0.24% 0.53%
2019 0.36% 0.61%
2018 0.47% 1.01%
2017 0.61% 1.15%
2016 0.57% 1.14%
2015 0.58% 0.92%
2014 0.63% 0.94%
2013 0.67% -2.76%
2012 0.68% 0.76%
2011 0.55% 0.62%
2010 0.48% 0.59%
2009 0.5% 0.62%
2008 0.51% 0.67%
2007 0.52% 0.69%
2006 0.56% 0.67%
2005 0.59% 0.64%
2004 0.6% 0.68%
2003 0.62% 0.74%
2002 0.67% 1.05%
2001 0.73% 1.59%
2000 0.79% 1.84%
1999 0.87% 1.88%
1998 0.96% 1.91%
1997 1.03% 1.92%
1996 1.05% 1.94%
1995 1.09% 1.67%
1994 1.14% 1.47%
1993 1.16% 1.71%
1992 1.23% 1.6%
1991 1.37% 0.75%
1990 1.48% 0.64%
1989 1.54% 1.06%
1988 1.62% 1.02%
1987 1.62% 1.18%
1986 1.5% 1.2%
1985 1.37% 0.66%
1984 1.32% 0.34%
1983 1.46% 0.67%
1982 1.48% 1.24%
1981 1.29% 1.69%
1980 1.26% 1.84%
1979 1.34% 1.88%
1978 1.35% 1.86%
1977 1.37% 1.83%
1976 1.56% 1.83%
1975 1.78% 1.83%
1974 2.09% 1.87%
1973 2.31% 1.97%
1972 2.49% 2.05%
1971 2.78% 2.16%
1970 2.8% 2.27%
1969 2.78% 2.37%
1968 2.65% 2.43%
1967 2.6% 2.44%
1966 2.83% 2.45%
1965 2.41% 2.47%
1964 2.35% 2.49%
1963 2.49% 2.48%
1962 0.82% 2.47%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

China Sri Lanka
Current population
1402578808
22185425
Population rank 2/197 63/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.27%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 -332
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -30,724
Net migration rank 189/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -30,724
2024 - -318,992 - -27,245
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 66,111 -28,011
2022 -847,305 -293,846 95,378 -27,435
2021 480,203 -379,749 121,858 -29,586
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 170,968 -29,875
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 172,243 -28,426
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 183,610 -28,607
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 187,993 -22,324
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 194,232 -18,388
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 201,815 -29,797
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 211,541 -33,672
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 221,021 -37,754
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 229,138 -41,955
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 224,461 -90,839
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 224,325 -98,060
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 200,175 -81,130
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 232,225 -97,144
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 248,287 -109,695
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 248,706 -107,045
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 248,683 -118,594
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 212,527 -84,795
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 252,008 -107,573
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 252,840 -105,718
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 244,377 19,273
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 227,060 123,894
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 206,876 138,799
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 201,059 150,724
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 208,193 135,636
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 215,290 127,236
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 221,957 117,416
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 228,904 8,323
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 226,257 36,232
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 222,230 88,542
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 218,117 -1,047
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 224,454 -195,736
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 212,401 -33,305
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 219,184 -58,415
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 226,414 -63,105
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 233,782 -26,460
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 247,836 -80,950
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 263,175 -225,450
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 277,768 -209,362
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 300,030 -163,987
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 328,096 -89,824
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 328,155 -63,541
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 329,791 -57,683
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 317,055 -50,189
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 300,038 -45,383
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 291,816 -41,258
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 282,496 -37,475
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 275,521 -33,979
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 278,577 -30,582
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 282,494 -27,071
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 281,200 -22,021
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 286,719 -16,299
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 286,218 -10,152
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 286,642 -7,163
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 284,738 -6,696
1966 19,282,187 4,165 275,549 -6,794
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 272,422 -7,249
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 269,584 -7,614
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 262,880 -8,118
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 256,719 -8,909
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 251,087 -10,144
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 247,631 -12,610

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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/china/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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