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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 5.53 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.75% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Japan vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Sri Lanka
2100 76,978,998 20,270,496
2099 77,363,458 20,383,669
2098 77,742,445 20,498,567
2097 78,118,375 20,611,123
2096 78,498,614 20,723,560
2095 78,875,245 20,834,629
2094 79,250,325 20,943,809
2093 79,628,057 21,052,131
2092 80,007,967 21,158,833
2091 80,383,529 21,263,961
2090 80,760,724 21,371,263
2089 81,140,553 21,475,426
2088 81,521,696 21,577,177
2087 81,908,373 21,677,510
2086 82,304,497 21,777,420
2085 82,709,534 21,876,464
2084 83,123,058 21,970,336
2083 83,544,006 22,062,801
2082 83,980,325 22,151,745
2081 84,429,305 22,240,834
2080 84,899,768 22,326,555
2079 85,387,247 22,411,438
2078 85,897,934 22,489,772
2077 86,434,291 22,565,028
2076 86,993,007 22,637,463
2075 87,577,777 22,707,112
2074 88,190,392 22,778,489
2073 88,834,763 22,844,703
2072 89,499,356 22,905,707
2071 90,184,464 22,964,866
2070 90,899,136 23,022,515
2069 91,625,421 23,076,310
2068 92,367,969 23,129,541
2067 93,113,499 23,184,596
2066 93,869,240 23,234,419
2065 94,633,430 23,285,901
2064 95,391,433 23,331,390
2063 96,148,081 23,372,184
2062 96,902,907 23,409,522
2061 97,654,031 23,441,893
2060 98,400,894 23,474,032
2059 99,144,216 23,502,132
2058 99,868,968 23,528,076
2057 100,585,601 23,550,580
2056 101,295,868 23,570,923
2055 101,989,736 23,582,432
2054 102,683,462 23,591,414
2053 103,359,083 23,601,371
2052 104,036,901 23,605,361
2051 104,706,698 23,606,194
2050 105,377,283 23,603,330
2049 106,053,011 23,597,604
2048 106,731,207 23,587,307
2047 107,419,237 23,570,881
2046 108,115,358 23,547,409
2045 108,820,982 23,515,133
2044 109,529,333 23,483,546
2043 110,245,586 23,446,242
2042 110,968,174 23,404,983
2041 111,704,629 23,357,358
2040 112,438,759 23,306,148
2039 113,175,948 23,248,341
2038 113,915,783 23,187,512
2037 114,662,374 23,120,775
2036 115,410,956 23,053,427
2035 116,162,381 22,981,808
2034 116,911,001 22,906,587
2033 117,652,676 22,826,414
2032 118,393,188 22,742,267
2031 119,127,425 22,655,907
2030 119,856,131 22,564,038
2029 120,574,242 22,470,759
2028 121,287,543 22,370,999
2027 121,989,133 22,266,017
2026 122,677,250 22,155,543
2025 123,339,586 22,039,908
2024 123,975,371 21,916,000
2023 124,516,650 22,037,000
2022 125,124,989 22,181,000
2021 125,681,593 22,156,000
2020 126,261,000 21,919,000
2019 126,633,000 21,803,000
2018 126,811,000 21,670,000
2017 126,972,000 21,453,000
2016 127,076,000 21,209,000
2015 127,141,000 20,970,000
2014 127,276,000 20,778,000
2013 127,445,000 20,585,000
2012 127,629,000 21,169,458
2011 127,833,000 21,009,048
2010 128,070,000 20,879,089
2009 128,047,000 20,756,435
2008 128,063,000 20,629,378
2007 128,001,000 20,492,545
2006 127,854,000 20,352,411
2005 127,773,000 20,216,524
2004 127,761,000 20,087,605
2003 127,718,000 19,951,521
2002 127,445,000 19,805,752
2001 127,149,000 19,600,362
2000 126,843,000 19,293,054
1999 126,631,000 18,944,731
1998 126,400,000 18,596,003
1997 126,057,000 18,248,200
1996 125,757,000 17,905,018
1995 125,472,000 17,564,068
1994 125,178,000 17,275,773
1993 124,829,000 17,025,918
1992 124,425,000 16,739,284
1991 123,964,000 16,475,354
1990 123,478,000 16,352,458
1989 123,069,000 16,248,557
1988 122,578,000 16,078,621
1987 122,069,000 15,916,576
1986 121,482,000 15,731,256
1985 120,837,000 15,544,154
1984 120,083,000 15,441,860
1983 119,307,000 15,388,794
1982 118,480,000 15,286,567
1981 117,661,000 15,099,414
1980 116,807,000 14,847,974
1979 115,890,000 14,579,614
1978 114,913,000 14,310,128
1977 113,872,000 14,049,371
1976 112,775,000 13,796,770
1975 111,573,000 13,548,984
1974 110,162,000 13,305,693
1973 108,707,000 13,060,916
1972 107,188,000 12,809,205
1971 105,697,000 12,551,910
1970 103,403,000 12,287,110
1969 102,219,000 12,013,858
1968 101,011,000 11,736,088
1967 99,879,000 11,457,328
1966 98,851,000 11,183,928
1965 97,952,000 10,916,965
1964 96,903,000 10,653,397
1963 95,900,000 10,395,040
1962 94,933,000 10,143,754
1961 94,055,000 9,899,372
1960 93,216,000 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/japan/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. 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 Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Sri Lanka
2100 -0.5% -0.56%
2099 -0.49% -0.56%
2098 -0.48% -0.55%
2097 -0.48% -0.54%
2096 -0.48% -0.53%
2095 -0.47% -0.52%
2094 -0.47% -0.51%
2093 -0.47% -0.5%
2092 -0.47% -0.49%
2091 -0.47% -0.5%
2090 -0.47% -0.49%
2089 -0.47% -0.47%
2088 -0.47% -0.46%
2087 -0.48% -0.46%
2086 -0.49% -0.45%
2085 -0.5% -0.43%
2084 -0.5% -0.42%
2083 -0.52% -0.4%
2082 -0.53% -0.4%
2081 -0.55% -0.38%
2080 -0.57% -0.38%
2079 -0.59% -0.35%
2078 -0.62% -0.33%
2077 -0.64% -0.32%
2076 -0.67% -0.31%
2075 -0.69% -0.31%
2074 -0.73% -0.29%
2073 -0.74% -0.27%
2072 -0.76% -0.26%
2071 -0.79% -0.25%
2070 -0.79% -0.23%
2069 -0.8% -0.23%
2068 -0.8% -0.24%
2067 -0.81% -0.21%
2066 -0.81% -0.22%
2065 -0.79% -0.19%
2064 -0.79% -0.17%
2063 -0.78% -0.16%
2062 -0.77% -0.14%
2061 -0.76% -0.14%
2060 -0.75% -0.12%
2059 -0.73% -0.11%
2058 -0.71% -0.1%
2057 -0.7% -0.09%
2056 -0.68% -0.05%
2055 -0.68% -0.04%
2054 -0.65% -0.04%
2053 -0.65% -0.02%
2052 -0.64% -0.004%
2051 -0.64% 0.01%
2050 -0.64% 0.02%
2049 -0.64% 0.04%
2048 -0.64% 0.07%
2047 -0.64% 0.1%
2046 -0.65% 0.14%
2045 -0.65% 0.13%
2044 -0.65% 0.16%
2043 -0.65% 0.18%
2042 -0.66% 0.2%
2041 -0.65% 0.22%
2040 -0.65% 0.25%
2039 -0.65% 0.26%
2038 -0.65% 0.29%
2037 -0.65% 0.29%
2036 -0.65% 0.31%
2035 -0.64% 0.33%
2034 -0.63% 0.35%
2033 -0.63% 0.37%
2032 -0.62% 0.38%
2031 -0.61% 0.41%
2030 -0.6% 0.42%
2029 -0.59% 0.45%
2028 -0.58% 0.47%
2027 -0.56% 0.5%
2026 -0.54% 0.52%
2025 -0.51% 0.57%
2024 -0.43% -0.55%
2023 -0.49% -0.65%
2022 -0.44% 0.11%
2021 -0.46% 1.08%
2020 -0.29% 0.53%
2019 -0.14% 0.61%
2018 -0.13% 1.01%
2017 -0.08% 1.15%
2016 -0.05% 1.14%
2015 -0.11% 0.92%
2014 -0.13% 0.94%
2013 -0.14% -2.76%
2012 -0.16% 0.76%
2011 -0.19% 0.62%
2010 0.02% 0.59%
2009 -0.01% 0.62%
2008 0.05% 0.67%
2007 0.11% 0.69%
2006 0.06% 0.67%
2005 0.009% 0.64%
2004 0.03% 0.68%
2003 0.21% 0.74%
2002 0.23% 1.05%
2001 0.24% 1.59%
2000 0.17% 1.84%
1999 0.18% 1.88%
1998 0.27% 1.91%
1997 0.24% 1.92%
1996 0.23% 1.94%
1995 0.23% 1.67%
1994 0.28% 1.47%
1993 0.32% 1.71%
1992 0.37% 1.6%
1991 0.39% 0.75%
1990 0.33% 0.64%
1989 0.4% 1.06%
1988 0.42% 1.02%
1987 0.48% 1.18%
1986 0.53% 1.2%
1985 0.63% 0.66%
1984 0.65% 0.34%
1983 0.7% 0.67%
1982 0.7% 1.24%
1981 0.73% 1.69%
1980 0.79% 1.84%
1979 0.85% 1.88%
1978 0.91% 1.86%
1977 0.97% 1.83%
1976 1.08% 1.83%
1975 1.28% 1.83%
1974 1.34% 1.87%
1973 1.42% 1.97%
1972 1.41% 2.05%
1971 2.22% 2.16%
1970 1.16% 2.27%
1969 1.2% 2.37%
1968 1.13% 2.43%
1967 1.04% 2.44%
1966 0.92% 2.45%
1965 1.08% 2.47%
1964 1.05% 2.49%
1963 1.02% 2.48%
1962 0.93% 2.47%
1961 0.9% 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/japan/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Japan Sri Lanka
Current population
122677250
22185425
Population rank 12/197 63/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.27%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 -332
Annual growth/decline -541,279 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 188/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -30,724
Net migration rank 10/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -30,724
2024 - 153,357 - -27,245
2023 -871,617 175,003 66,111 -28,011
2022 -825,825 175,003 95,378 -27,435
2021 -640,976 -34,996 121,858 -29,586
2020 -542,923 42,001 170,968 -29,875
2019 -531,858 318,190 172,243 -28,426
2018 -456,520 320,601 183,610 -28,607
2017 -406,310 322,564 187,993 -22,324
2016 -343,106 314,732 194,232 -18,388
2015 -292,424 168,896 201,815 -29,797
2014 -267,279 58,109 211,541 -33,672
2013 -242,146 66,449 221,021 -37,754
2012 -229,733 67,904 229,138 -41,955
2011 -204,533 97,720 224,461 -90,839
2010 -128,070 131,860 224,325 -98,060
2009 -76,828 125,450 200,175 -81,130
2008 -51,225 142,605 232,225 -97,144
2007 -25,600 138,024 248,287 -109,695
2006 12,785 130,065 248,706 -107,045
2005 -25,554 113,017 248,683 -118,594
2004 76,656 69,014 212,527 -84,795
2003 114,946 74,875 252,008 -107,573
2002 178,423 60,864 252,840 -105,718
2001 203,438 59,563 244,377 19,273
2000 228,317 23,468 227,060 123,894
1999 202,610 56,901 206,876 138,799
1998 265,440 45,912 201,059 150,724
1997 277,325 43,366 208,193 135,636
1996 314,392 25,030 215,290 127,236
1995 276,039 87,714 221,957 117,416
1994 363,017 154,214 228,904 8,323
1993 312,073 168,836 226,257 36,232
1992 360,833 170,878 222,230 88,542
1991 396,685 161,331 218,117 -1,047
1990 407,478 124,582 224,454 -195,736
1989 467,662 31,202 212,401 -33,305
1988 527,085 51,154 219,184 -58,415
1987 598,138 28,001 226,414 -63,105
1986 631,706 27,987 233,782 -26,460
1985 676,687 -141,323 247,836 -80,950
1984 756,523 -273,686 263,175 -225,450
1983 775,495 -269,755 277,768 -209,362
1982 805,664 -288,550 300,030 -163,987
1981 811,861 -278,525 328,096 -89,824
1980 864,372 -92,314 328,155 -63,541
1979 950,298 -57,692 329,791 -57,683
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 317,055 -50,189
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 300,038 -45,383
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 291,816 -41,258
1975 1,204,989 107 282,496 -37,475
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 275,521 -33,979
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 278,577 -30,582
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 282,494 -27,071
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 281,200 -22,021
1970 1,230,496 33,731 286,719 -16,299
1969 1,195,962 49,447 286,218 -10,152
1968 1,191,930 43,593 286,642 -7,163
1967 1,258,475 29,632 284,738 -6,696
1966 682,072 68,934 275,549 -6,794
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 272,422 -7,249
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 269,584 -7,614
1963 987,770 -100,742 262,880 -8,118
1962 901,864 -57,075 256,719 -8,909
1961 893,522 -58,882 251,087 -10,144
1960 894,874 -150,371 247,631 -12,610

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.6% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 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, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/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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