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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of El Salvador was 6,338,193 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current El Salvador's population is 6,399,793 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.47 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 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, El Salvador has had an average growth rate of +0.29% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of El Salvador has increased from 6M people to 6.4M (6.62% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% 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 5,106,358 20,270,496
2099 5,150,403 20,383,669
2098 5,195,110 20,498,567
2097 5,240,164 20,611,123
2096 5,286,555 20,723,560
2095 5,333,357 20,834,629
2094 5,380,368 20,943,809
2093 5,427,291 21,052,131
2092 5,474,174 21,158,833
2091 5,521,257 21,263,961
2090 5,568,339 21,371,263
2089 5,615,550 21,475,426
2088 5,662,256 21,577,177
2087 5,709,072 21,677,510
2086 5,755,593 21,777,420
2085 5,801,778 21,876,464
2084 5,847,545 21,970,336
2083 5,891,829 22,062,801
2082 5,935,056 22,151,745
2081 5,977,631 22,240,834
2080 6,019,326 22,326,555
2079 6,059,817 22,411,438
2078 6,098,689 22,489,772
2077 6,136,133 22,565,028
2076 6,172,686 22,637,463
2075 6,206,865 22,707,112
2074 6,239,356 22,778,489
2073 6,272,337 22,844,703
2072 6,301,557 22,905,707
2071 6,330,086 22,964,866
2070 6,358,052 23,022,515
2069 6,384,863 23,076,310
2068 6,410,986 23,129,541
2067 6,435,437 23,184,596
2066 6,458,779 23,234,419
2065 6,481,938 23,285,901
2064 6,503,884 23,331,390
2063 6,524,373 23,372,184
2062 6,543,157 23,409,522
2061 6,560,419 23,441,893
2060 6,577,429 23,474,032
2059 6,592,662 23,502,132
2058 6,606,305 23,528,076
2057 6,620,473 23,550,580
2056 6,633,666 23,570,923
2055 6,645,594 23,582,432
2054 6,656,251 23,591,414
2053 6,664,115 23,601,371
2052 6,670,429 23,605,361
2051 6,676,658 23,606,194
2050 6,679,973 23,603,330
2049 6,683,494 23,597,604
2048 6,684,918 23,587,307
2047 6,684,723 23,570,881
2046 6,684,063 23,547,409
2045 6,681,948 23,515,133
2044 6,679,505 23,483,546
2043 6,674,197 23,446,242
2042 6,668,140 23,404,983
2041 6,660,323 23,357,358
2040 6,651,019 23,306,148
2039 6,641,112 23,248,341
2038 6,628,299 23,187,512
2037 6,615,428 23,120,775
2036 6,600,845 23,053,427
2035 6,585,074 22,981,808
2034 6,568,788 22,906,587
2033 6,549,941 22,826,414
2032 6,530,975 22,742,267
2031 6,511,064 22,655,907
2030 6,490,493 22,564,038
2029 6,467,381 22,470,759
2028 6,443,426 22,370,999
2027 6,418,289 22,266,017
2026 6,392,935 22,155,543
2025 6,366,672 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

El Salvador was ranked 103rd 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 4.38% to 6,679,973 people with a rank change from 111th to 116th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

El Salvador is projected to reach its peak in 2048 at 6.68M people compared to the peak of 23.6M 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 0.45% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of El Salvador grew by 0.45%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

El Salvador Sri Lanka
Current population
6399793
22185425
Population rank 111/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.27%
One net population change
18.4 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
5.29 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
11.1 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +78 -332
Annual growth/decline +28,569 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.45% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 140/197 188/197
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 - -23,102 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 58.8% of the population change in El Salvador is from natural causes (a gain of 579,641 people) and 41.2% is from migration (a loss of 406,874 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/el-salvador/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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