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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 6.42 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.96% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Ethiopia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Sri Lanka
2100 371,078,260 20,009,380
2099 369,338,252 20,121,095
2098 367,513,542 20,234,513
2097 365,567,496 20,345,619
2096 363,536,294 20,456,607
2095 361,596,042 20,566,246
2094 359,531,317 20,674,019
2093 357,460,480 20,780,946
2092 355,389,829 20,886,274
2091 353,218,632 20,990,047
2090 350,960,021 21,095,968
2089 348,751,618 21,198,788
2088 346,517,326 21,299,229
2087 344,162,324 21,398,269
2086 341,671,994 21,496,892
2085 339,167,930 21,594,661
2084 336,649,520 21,687,323
2083 334,083,247 21,778,597
2082 331,401,460 21,866,395
2081 328,715,487 21,954,337
2080 326,013,981 22,038,953
2079 323,282,865 22,122,744
2078 320,422,535 22,200,069
2077 317,492,915 22,274,355
2076 314,518,328 22,345,857
2075 311,487,723 22,414,609
2074 308,416,133 22,485,066
2073 305,383,505 22,550,427
2072 302,258,564 22,610,645
2071 299,119,280 22,669,042
2070 295,963,235 22,725,948
2069 292,756,723 22,779,050
2068 289,522,748 22,831,596
2067 286,191,689 22,885,941
2066 282,905,709 22,935,123
2065 279,576,283 22,985,942
2064 276,197,958 23,030,844
2063 272,782,685 23,071,114
2062 269,340,926 23,107,970
2061 265,803,351 23,139,924
2060 262,269,354 23,171,649
2059 258,692,767 23,199,387
2058 255,205,644 23,224,997
2057 251,656,356 23,247,211
2056 248,002,497 23,267,292
2055 244,426,069 23,278,653
2054 240,794,405 23,287,520
2053 237,155,110 23,297,347
2052 233,479,314 23,301,287
2051 229,733,593 23,302,108
2050 226,055,085 23,299,282
2049 222,351,471 23,293,630
2048 218,627,197 23,283,465
2047 214,883,954 23,267,251
2046 211,161,780 23,244,081
2045 207,461,987 23,212,221
2044 203,749,820 23,181,041
2043 200,035,613 23,144,217
2042 196,351,202 23,103,489
2041 192,689,672 23,056,478
2040 189,023,384 23,005,928
2039 185,365,776 22,948,866
2038 181,733,067 22,888,821
2037 178,124,993 22,822,943
2036 174,515,366 22,756,462
2035 170,904,339 22,685,766
2034 167,316,305 22,611,514
2033 163,763,376 22,532,374
2032 160,167,364 22,449,310
2031 156,590,018 22,364,063
2030 153,023,174 22,273,377
2029 149,461,578 22,181,300
2028 145,944,350 22,082,826
2027 142,419,893 21,979,196
2026 138,930,724 21,870,145
2025 135,472,051 21,756,000
2024 132,059,767 21,916,000
2023 128,691,692 22,037,000
2022 125,384,287 22,181,000
2021 122,138,588 22,156,000
2020 118,917,671 21,919,000
2019 115,737,383 21,803,000
2018 112,664,152 21,670,000
2017 109,666,481 21,453,000
2016 106,718,162 21,209,000
2015 103,867,135 20,970,000
2014 101,115,610 20,778,000
2013 98,438,751 20,585,000
2012 95,798,767 21,169,458
2011 93,149,970 21,009,048
2010 90,538,514 20,879,089
2009 88,007,636 20,756,435
2008 85,543,668 20,629,378
2007 83,103,217 20,492,545
2006 80,703,490 20,352,411
2005 78,367,470 20,216,524
2004 76,077,206 20,087,605
2003 73,832,663 19,951,521
2002 71,635,517 19,805,752
2001 69,487,762 19,600,362
2000 67,411,494 19,293,054
1999 65,374,561 18,944,731
1998 63,363,524 18,596,003
1997 61,404,539 18,248,200
1996 59,467,635 17,905,018
1995 57,537,335 17,564,068
1994 55,611,508 17,275,773
1993 53,708,891 17,025,918
1992 51,853,747 16,739,284
1991 49,717,198 16,475,354
1990 47,609,755 16,352,458
1989 45,879,690 16,248,557
1988 44,150,825 16,078,621
1987 42,460,039 15,916,576
1986 41,037,656 15,731,256
1985 39,842,136 15,544,154
1984 38,735,722 15,441,860
1983 37,740,817 15,388,794
1982 36,701,290 15,286,567
1981 35,304,012 15,099,414
1980 34,428,514 14,847,974
1979 34,238,652 14,579,614
1978 33,734,592 14,310,128
1977 33,167,272 14,049,371
1976 32,534,418 13,796,770
1975 31,723,252 13,548,984
1974 30,957,273 13,305,693
1973 30,166,785 13,060,916
1972 29,374,608 12,809,205
1971 28,600,106 12,551,910
1970 27,829,128 12,287,110
1969 27,072,571 12,013,858
1968 26,337,930 11,736,088
1967 25,620,276 11,457,328
1966 24,952,689 11,183,928
1965 24,310,612 10,916,965
1964 23,666,548 10,653,397
1963 23,051,637 10,395,040
1962 22,465,126 10,143,754
1961 21,906,102 9,899,372
1960 21,376,693 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/ethiopia/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th 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) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Sri Lanka
2100 0.47% -0.56%
2099 0.5% -0.56%
2098 0.53% -0.55%
2097 0.56% -0.54%
2096 0.54% -0.53%
2095 0.57% -0.52%
2094 0.58% -0.51%
2093 0.58% -0.5%
2092 0.61% -0.49%
2091 0.64% -0.5%
2090 0.63% -0.49%
2089 0.64% -0.47%
2088 0.68% -0.46%
2087 0.73% -0.46%
2086 0.74% -0.45%
2085 0.75% -0.43%
2084 0.77% -0.42%
2083 0.81% -0.4%
2082 0.82% -0.4%
2081 0.83% -0.38%
2080 0.84% -0.38%
2079 0.89% -0.35%
2078 0.92% -0.33%
2077 0.95% -0.32%
2076 0.97% -0.31%
2075 1% -0.31%
2074 0.99% -0.29%
2073 1.03% -0.27%
2072 1.05% -0.26%
2071 1.07% -0.25%
2070 1.1% -0.23%
2069 1.12% -0.23%
2068 1.16% -0.24%
2067 1.16% -0.21%
2066 1.19% -0.22%
2065 1.22% -0.19%
2064 1.25% -0.17%
2063 1.28% -0.16%
2062 1.33% -0.14%
2061 1.35% -0.14%
2060 1.38% -0.12%
2059 1.37% -0.11%
2058 1.41% -0.1%
2057 1.47% -0.09%
2056 1.46% -0.05%
2055 1.51% -0.04%
2054 1.53% -0.04%
2053 1.57% -0.02%
2052 1.63% -0.004%
2051 1.63% 0.01%
2050 1.67% 0.02%
2049 1.7% 0.04%
2048 1.74% 0.07%
2047 1.76% 0.1%
2046 1.78% 0.14%
2045 1.82% 0.13%
2044 1.86% 0.16%
2043 1.88% 0.18%
2042 1.9% 0.2%
2041 1.94% 0.22%
2040 1.97% 0.25%
2039 2% 0.26%
2038 2.03% 0.29%
2037 2.07% 0.29%
2036 2.11% 0.31%
2035 2.14% 0.33%
2034 2.17% 0.35%
2033 2.25% 0.37%
2032 2.28% 0.38%
2031 2.33% 0.41%
2030 2.38% 0.42%
2029 2.41% 0.45%
2028 2.47% 0.47%
2027 2.51% 0.5%
2026 2.55% 0.52%
2025 2.58% -0.73%
2024 2.62% -0.55%
2023 2.64% -0.65%
2022 2.66% 0.11%
2021 2.71% 1.08%
2020 2.75% 0.53%
2019 2.73% 0.61%
2018 2.73% 1.01%
2017 2.76% 1.15%
2016 2.74% 1.14%
2015 2.72% 0.92%
2014 2.72% 0.94%
2013 2.76% -2.76%
2012 2.84% 0.76%
2011 2.88% 0.62%
2010 2.88% 0.59%
2009 2.88% 0.62%
2008 2.94% 0.67%
2007 2.97% 0.69%
2006 2.98% 0.67%
2005 3.01% 0.64%
2004 3.04% 0.68%
2003 3.07% 0.74%
2002 3.09% 1.05%
2001 3.08% 1.59%
2000 3.12% 1.84%
1999 3.17% 1.88%
1998 3.19% 1.91%
1997 3.26% 1.92%
1996 3.35% 1.94%
1995 3.46% 1.67%
1994 3.54% 1.47%
1993 3.58% 1.71%
1992 4.3% 1.6%
1991 4.43% 0.75%
1990 3.77% 0.64%
1989 3.92% 1.06%
1988 3.98% 1.02%
1987 3.47% 1.18%
1986 3% 1.2%
1985 2.86% 0.66%
1984 2.64% 0.34%
1983 2.83% 0.67%
1982 3.96% 1.24%
1981 2.54% 1.69%
1980 0.55% 1.84%
1979 1.49% 1.88%
1978 1.71% 1.86%
1977 1.95% 1.83%
1976 2.56% 1.83%
1975 2.47% 1.83%
1974 2.62% 1.87%
1973 2.7% 1.97%
1972 2.71% 2.05%
1971 2.77% 2.16%
1970 2.79% 2.27%
1969 2.79% 2.37%
1968 2.8% 2.43%
1967 2.68% 2.44%
1966 2.64% 2.45%
1965 2.72% 2.47%
1964 2.67% 2.49%
1963 2.61% 2.48%
1962 2.55% 2.47%
1961 2.48% 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/ethiopia/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Sri Lanka
Current population
140722974
21926160
Population rank 10/197 63/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.26%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
3.29 minutes
One birth every
7.59 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
40.6 seconds
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 -438
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 190/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 -30,724
Net migration rank 31/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - -30,724
2024 3,379,409 30,069 50,407 -27,245
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 66,111 -28,011
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 95,378 -27,435
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 121,858 -29,586
2020 3,199,718 38,866 170,968 -29,875
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 172,243 -28,426
2018 3,015,231 9,302 183,610 -28,607
2017 2,899,143 71,766 187,993 -22,324
2016 2,809,889 115,823 194,232 -18,388
2015 2,713,529 62,785 201,815 -29,797
2014 2,623,647 103,122 211,541 -33,672
2013 2,546,020 80,955 221,021 -37,754
2012 2,533,398 119,517 229,138 -41,955
2011 2,527,811 116,793 224,461 -90,839
2010 2,498,048 80,213 224,325 -98,060
2009 2,467,118 16,315 200,175 -81,130
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 232,225 -97,144
2007 2,436,753 -381 248,287 -109,695
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 248,706 -107,045
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 248,683 -118,594
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 212,527 -84,795
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 252,008 -107,573
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 252,840 -105,718
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 244,377 19,273
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 227,060 123,894
1999 2,010,987 29,142 206,876 138,799
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 201,059 150,724
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 208,193 135,636
1996 1,896,364 41,456 215,290 127,236
1995 1,831,068 91,727 221,957 117,416
1994 1,788,133 140,715 228,904 8,323
1993 1,734,851 141,545 226,257 36,232
1992 1,673,839 160,106 222,230 88,542
1991 1,579,416 859,737 218,117 -1,047
1990 1,479,663 296,014 224,454 -195,736
1989 1,441,769 242,614 212,401 -33,305
1988 1,393,356 379,966 219,184 -58,415
1987 1,356,853 251,387 226,414 -63,105
1986 1,050,277 186,227 233,782 -26,460
1985 997,050 157,476 247,836 -80,950
1984 920,670 137,632 263,175 -225,450
1983 863,472 68,022 277,768 -209,362
1982 1,080,853 66,702 300,030 -163,987
1981 1,018,838 628,135 328,096 -89,824
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 328,155 -63,541
1979 987,203 -711,455 329,791 -57,683
1978 943,388 -210,991 317,055 -50,189
1977 929,381 -527,133 300,038 -45,383
1976 899,577 -36,125 291,816 -41,258
1975 801,425 -42,540 282,496 -37,475
1974 777,306 -4,232 275,521 -33,979
1973 807,535 347 278,577 -30,582
1972 779,808 -3,375 282,494 -27,071
1971 787,047 -14,510 281,200 -22,021
1970 760,821 8,589 286,719 -16,299
1969 736,428 7,258 286,218 -10,152
1968 715,602 9,992 286,642 -7,163
1967 695,283 14,437 284,738 -6,696
1966 616,281 9,160 275,549 -6,794
1965 642,359 16,348 272,422 -7,249
1964 618,667 10,749 269,584 -7,614
1963 590,998 9,418 262,880 -8,118
1962 563,650 8,960 256,719 -8,909
1961 538,518 6,938 251,087 -10,144
1960 511,694 1,696 247,631 -12,610

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 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, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
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/ethiopia/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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