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Population in El Salvador compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,365,503 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,404,781 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.42 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • El Salvador is ranked the 111th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.08% for El Salvador vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.71% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

El Salvador vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
El Salvador Sri Lanka
2100 5,105,420 20,009,380
2099 5,149,457 20,121,095
2098 5,194,156 20,234,513
2097 5,239,201 20,345,619
2096 5,285,584 20,456,607
2095 5,332,377 20,566,246
2094 5,379,380 20,674,019
2093 5,426,293 20,780,946
2092 5,473,168 20,886,274
2091 5,520,243 20,990,047
2090 5,567,316 21,095,968
2089 5,614,518 21,198,788
2088 5,661,216 21,299,229
2087 5,708,023 21,398,269
2086 5,754,535 21,496,892
2085 5,800,712 21,594,661
2084 5,846,470 21,687,323
2083 5,890,746 21,778,597
2082 5,933,965 21,866,395
2081 5,976,533 21,954,337
2080 6,018,220 22,038,953
2079 6,058,704 22,122,744
2078 6,097,568 22,200,069
2077 6,135,005 22,274,355
2076 6,171,552 22,345,857
2075 6,205,725 22,414,609
2074 6,238,209 22,485,066
2073 6,271,184 22,550,427
2072 6,300,399 22,610,645
2071 6,328,923 22,669,042
2070 6,356,884 22,725,948
2069 6,383,690 22,779,050
2068 6,409,808 22,831,596
2067 6,434,255 22,885,941
2066 6,457,592 22,935,123
2065 6,480,747 22,985,942
2064 6,502,689 23,030,844
2063 6,523,174 23,071,114
2062 6,541,955 23,107,970
2061 6,559,213 23,139,924
2060 6,576,220 23,171,649
2059 6,591,451 23,199,387
2058 6,605,091 23,224,997
2057 6,619,257 23,247,211
2056 6,632,447 23,267,292
2055 6,644,372 23,278,653
2054 6,655,028 23,287,520
2053 6,662,891 23,297,347
2052 6,669,204 23,301,287
2051 6,675,431 23,302,108
2050 6,678,745 23,299,282
2049 6,682,265 23,293,630
2048 6,683,689 23,283,465
2047 6,683,495 23,267,251
2046 6,682,835 23,244,081
2045 6,680,720 23,212,221
2044 6,678,277 23,181,041
2043 6,672,970 23,144,217
2042 6,666,915 23,103,489
2041 6,659,099 23,056,478
2040 6,649,797 23,005,928
2039 6,639,891 22,948,866
2038 6,627,081 22,888,821
2037 6,614,212 22,822,943
2036 6,599,632 22,756,462
2035 6,583,864 22,685,766
2034 6,567,581 22,611,514
2033 6,548,738 22,532,374
2032 6,529,775 22,449,310
2031 6,509,868 22,364,063
2030 6,489,300 22,273,377
2029 6,466,193 22,181,300
2028 6,442,242 22,082,826
2027 6,417,110 21,979,196
2026 6,391,761 21,870,145
2025 6,365,503 21,756,000
2024 6,338,193 21,916,000
2023 6,309,624 22,037,000
2022 6,280,319 22,181,000
2021 6,255,782 22,156,000
2020 6,234,673 21,919,000
2019 6,222,318 21,803,000
2018 6,219,807 21,670,000
2017 6,213,533 21,453,000
2016 6,200,800 21,209,000
2015 6,183,676 20,970,000
2014 6,162,955 20,778,000
2013 6,138,839 20,585,000
2012 6,113,975 21,169,458
2011 6,090,127 21,009,048
2010 6,068,249 20,879,089
2009 6,048,279 20,756,435
2008 6,029,297 20,629,378
2007 6,009,824 20,492,545
2006 6,002,319 20,352,411
2005 6,005,578 20,216,524
2004 6,004,671 20,087,605
2003 5,998,599 19,951,521
2002 5,986,631 19,805,752
2001 5,968,060 19,600,362
2000 5,943,366 19,293,054
1999 5,913,900 18,944,731
1998 5,880,781 18,596,003
1997 5,844,578 18,248,200
1996 5,805,286 17,905,018
1995 5,762,131 17,564,068
1994 5,714,129 17,275,773
1993 5,659,957 17,025,918
1992 5,585,609 16,739,284
1991 5,495,077 16,475,354
1990 5,399,726 16,352,458
1989 5,298,979 16,248,557
1988 5,195,833 16,078,621
1987 5,092,441 15,916,576
1986 4,992,769 15,731,256
1985 4,894,706 15,544,154
1984 4,798,003 15,441,860
1983 4,707,367 15,388,794
1982 4,622,477 15,286,567
1981 4,570,599 15,099,414
1980 4,540,382 14,847,974
1979 4,480,388 14,579,614
1978 4,394,114 14,310,128
1977 4,301,256 14,049,371
1976 4,210,310 13,796,770
1975 4,120,449 13,548,984
1974 4,029,671 13,305,693
1973 3,938,068 13,060,916
1972 3,846,830 12,809,205
1971 3,757,523 12,551,910
1970 3,668,796 12,287,110
1969 3,576,485 12,013,858
1968 3,480,773 11,736,088
1967 3,385,184 11,457,328
1966 3,290,961 11,183,928
1965 3,199,466 10,916,965
1964 3,111,883 10,653,397
1963 3,028,679 10,395,040
1962 2,949,204 10,143,754
1961 2,870,016 9,899,372
1960 2,791,459 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/el-salvador/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of El Salvador increased by 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, El Salvador gained 203,981 people (a 3.29% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 102nd most populous country in 2006 and is 111th 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) El Salvador's population will grow by 4.28% to 6,678,745 people with a rank change from 111th to 116th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

El Salvador
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
El Salvador Sri Lanka
2100 -0.86% -0.56%
2099 -0.86% -0.56%
2098 -0.86% -0.55%
2097 -0.88% -0.54%
2096 -0.88% -0.53%
2095 -0.87% -0.52%
2094 -0.86% -0.51%
2093 -0.86% -0.5%
2092 -0.85% -0.49%
2091 -0.85% -0.5%
2090 -0.84% -0.49%
2089 -0.82% -0.47%
2088 -0.82% -0.46%
2087 -0.81% -0.46%
2086 -0.8% -0.45%
2085 -0.78% -0.43%
2084 -0.75% -0.42%
2083 -0.73% -0.4%
2082 -0.71% -0.4%
2081 -0.69% -0.38%
2080 -0.67% -0.38%
2079 -0.64% -0.35%
2078 -0.61% -0.33%
2077 -0.59% -0.32%
2076 -0.55% -0.31%
2075 -0.52% -0.31%
2074 -0.53% -0.29%
2073 -0.46% -0.27%
2072 -0.45% -0.26%
2071 -0.44% -0.25%
2070 -0.42% -0.23%
2069 -0.41% -0.23%
2068 -0.38% -0.24%
2067 -0.36% -0.21%
2066 -0.36% -0.22%
2065 -0.34% -0.19%
2064 -0.31% -0.17%
2063 -0.29% -0.16%
2062 -0.26% -0.14%
2061 -0.26% -0.14%
2060 -0.23% -0.12%
2059 -0.21% -0.11%
2058 -0.21% -0.1%
2057 -0.2% -0.09%
2056 -0.18% -0.05%
2055 -0.16% -0.04%
2054 -0.12% -0.04%
2053 -0.09% -0.02%
2052 -0.09% -0.004%
2051 -0.05% 0.01%
2050 -0.05% 0.02%
2049 -0.02% 0.04%
2048 0.003% 0.07%
2047 0.01% 0.1%
2046 0.03% 0.14%
2045 0.04% 0.13%
2044 0.08% 0.16%
2043 0.09% 0.18%
2042 0.12% 0.2%
2041 0.14% 0.22%
2040 0.15% 0.25%
2039 0.19% 0.26%
2038 0.19% 0.29%
2037 0.22% 0.29%
2036 0.24% 0.31%
2035 0.25% 0.33%
2034 0.29% 0.35%
2033 0.29% 0.37%
2032 0.31% 0.38%
2031 0.32% 0.41%
2030 0.36% 0.42%
2029 0.37% 0.45%
2028 0.39% 0.47%
2027 0.4% 0.5%
2026 0.41% 0.52%
2025 0.43% -0.73%
2024 0.45% -0.55%
2023 0.47% -0.65%
2022 0.39% 0.11%
2021 0.34% 1.08%
2020 0.2% 0.53%
2019 0.04% 0.61%
2018 0.1% 1.01%
2017 0.21% 1.15%
2016 0.28% 1.14%
2015 0.34% 0.92%
2014 0.39% 0.94%
2013 0.41% -2.76%
2012 0.39% 0.76%
2011 0.36% 0.62%
2010 0.33% 0.59%
2009 0.31% 0.62%
2008 0.32% 0.67%
2007 0.13% 0.69%
2006 -0.05% 0.67%
2005 0.02% 0.64%
2004 0.1% 0.68%
2003 0.2% 0.74%
2002 0.31% 1.05%
2001 0.42% 1.59%
2000 0.5% 1.84%
1999 0.56% 1.88%
1998 0.62% 1.91%
1997 0.68% 1.92%
1996 0.75% 1.94%
1995 0.84% 1.67%
1994 0.96% 1.47%
1993 1.33% 1.71%
1992 1.65% 1.6%
1991 1.77% 0.75%
1990 1.9% 0.64%
1989 1.99% 1.06%
1988 2.03% 1.02%
1987 2% 1.18%
1986 2% 1.2%
1985 2.02% 0.66%
1984 1.93% 0.34%
1983 1.84% 0.67%
1982 1.14% 1.24%
1981 0.67% 1.69%
1980 1.34% 1.84%
1979 1.96% 1.88%
1978 2.16% 1.86%
1977 2.16% 1.83%
1976 2.18% 1.83%
1975 2.25% 1.83%
1974 2.33% 1.87%
1973 2.37% 1.97%
1972 2.38% 2.05%
1971 2.42% 2.16%
1970 2.58% 2.27%
1969 2.75% 2.37%
1968 2.82% 2.43%
1967 2.86% 2.44%
1966 2.86% 2.45%
1965 2.81% 2.47%
1964 2.75% 2.49%
1963 2.69% 2.48%
1962 2.76% 2.47%
1961 2.81% 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/el-salvador/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.43%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Sri Lanka
Current population
6404781
21926160
Population rank 111/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.26%
One net population change
19.3 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
5.32 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +75 -438
Annual growth/decline +27,310 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.43% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 137/197 190/197
One migration net change every
22 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -23,934 -30,724
Net migration rank 155/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 43,342 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 155/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 164/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

El Salvador
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
El Salvador Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,934 - -30,724
2024 51,510 -23,102 50,407 -27,245
2023 51,985 -23,253 66,111 -28,011
2022 53,138 -23,255 95,378 -27,435
2021 46,530 -27,343 121,858 -29,586
2020 48,244 -25,213 170,968 -29,875
2019 56,816 -55,144 172,243 -28,426
2018 57,509 -54,163 183,610 -28,607
2017 59,824 -50,608 187,993 -22,324
2016 63,751 -47,491 194,232 -18,388
2015 69,263 -51,278 201,815 -29,797
2014 72,581 -49,126 211,541 -33,672
2013 73,869 -49,087 221,021 -37,754
2012 75,495 -50,546 229,138 -41,955
2011 76,182 -53,433 224,461 -90,839
2010 75,695 -54,688 224,325 -98,060
2009 74,908 -55,966 200,175 -81,130
2008 75,107 -56,086 232,225 -97,144
2007 76,776 -56,857 248,287 -109,695
2006 80,887 -85,789 248,706 -107,045
2005 84,883 -86,501 248,683 -118,594
2004 90,905 -87,466 212,527 -84,795
2003 97,849 -89,146 252,008 -107,573
2002 106,137 -90,908 252,840 -105,718
2001 114,313 -92,389 244,377 19,273
2000 122,315 -94,861 227,060 123,894
1999 128,947 -97,475 206,876 138,799
1998 134,065 -99,293 201,059 150,724
1997 134,448 -96,820 208,193 135,636
1996 136,929 -95,977 215,290 127,236
1995 138,268 -92,912 221,957 117,416
1994 137,974 -87,318 228,904 8,323
1993 138,432 -80,736 226,257 36,232
1992 139,221 -48,232 222,230 88,542
1991 140,691 -50,622 218,117 -1,047
1990 140,311 -39,689 224,454 -195,736
1989 139,093 -38,211 212,401 -33,305
1988 136,230 -30,806 219,184 -58,415
1987 133,667 -32,308 226,414 -63,105
1986 130,177 -32,181 233,782 -26,460
1985 127,248 -29,111 247,836 -80,950
1984 125,036 -29,767 263,175 -225,450
1983 121,700 -35,694 277,768 -209,362
1982 120,938 -37,159 300,030 -163,987
1981 117,346 -97,365 328,096 -89,824
1980 111,771 -71,318 328,155 -63,541
1979 123,838 -44,302 329,791 -57,683
1978 124,468 -31,463 317,055 -50,189
1977 121,446 -28,742 300,038 -45,383
1976 120,511 -31,317 291,816 -41,258
1975 116,737 -26,198 282,496 -37,475
1974 113,846 -22,844 275,521 -33,979
1973 111,546 -19,347 278,577 -30,582
1972 107,604 -17,317 282,494 -27,071
1971 104,714 -16,389 281,200 -22,021
1970 100,499 -11,367 286,719 -16,299
1969 99,848 -4,355 286,218 -10,152
1968 98,851 -2,919 286,642 -7,163
1967 98,424 -3,192 284,738 -6,696
1966 97,156 -3,945 275,549 -6,794
1965 95,341 -5,560 272,422 -7,249
1964 93,328 -7,937 269,584 -7,614
1963 90,794 -9,774 262,880 -8,118
1962 88,237 -10,307 256,719 -8,909
1961 84,614 -4,159 251,087 -10,144
1960 81,544 -4,885 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/el-salvador/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 59.5% of the population change in El Salvador is from natural causes (a gain of 558,570 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a loss of 380,850 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, 43,342 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in El Salvador, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K
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/el-salvador/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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