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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 5.6 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 1.74% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Japan vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Sri Lanka
2100 76,995,942 20,009,380
2099 77,380,486 20,121,095
2098 77,759,557 20,234,513
2097 78,135,569 20,345,619
2096 78,515,892 20,456,607
2095 78,892,606 20,566,246
2094 79,267,768 20,674,019
2093 79,645,584 20,780,946
2092 80,025,578 20,886,274
2091 80,401,222 20,990,047
2090 80,778,500 21,095,968
2089 81,158,413 21,198,788
2088 81,539,639 21,299,229
2087 81,926,401 21,398,269
2086 82,322,612 21,496,892
2085 82,727,738 21,594,661
2084 83,141,354 21,687,323
2083 83,562,394 21,778,597
2082 83,998,809 21,866,395
2081 84,447,888 21,954,337
2080 84,918,455 22,038,953
2079 85,406,042 22,122,744
2078 85,916,840 22,200,069
2077 86,453,316 22,274,355
2076 87,012,155 22,345,857
2075 87,597,053 22,414,609
2074 88,209,803 22,485,066
2073 88,854,316 22,550,427
2072 89,519,055 22,610,645
2071 90,204,314 22,669,042
2070 90,919,143 22,725,948
2069 91,645,589 22,779,050
2068 92,388,299 22,831,596
2067 93,133,993 22,885,941
2066 93,889,902 22,935,123
2065 94,654,259 22,985,942
2064 95,412,429 23,030,844
2063 96,169,244 23,071,114
2062 96,924,236 23,107,970
2061 97,675,525 23,139,924
2060 98,422,553 23,171,649
2059 99,166,038 23,199,387
2058 99,890,950 23,224,997
2057 100,607,740 23,247,211
2056 101,318,164 23,267,292
2055 102,012,184 23,278,653
2054 102,706,063 23,287,520
2053 103,381,833 23,297,347
2052 104,059,800 23,301,287
2051 104,729,745 23,302,108
2050 105,400,477 23,299,282
2049 106,076,354 23,293,630
2048 106,754,699 23,283,465
2047 107,442,881 23,267,251
2046 108,139,155 23,244,081
2045 108,844,934 23,212,221
2044 109,553,441 23,181,041
2043 110,269,851 23,144,217
2042 110,992,599 23,103,489
2041 111,729,216 23,056,478
2040 112,463,507 23,005,928
2039 113,200,859 22,948,866
2038 113,940,856 22,888,821
2037 114,687,611 22,822,943
2036 115,436,359 22,756,462
2035 116,187,949 22,685,766
2034 116,936,734 22,611,514
2033 117,678,572 22,532,374
2032 118,419,247 22,449,310
2031 119,153,646 22,364,063
2030 119,882,512 22,273,377
2029 120,600,781 22,181,300
2028 121,314,239 22,082,826
2027 122,015,984 21,979,196
2026 122,704,252 21,870,145
2025 123,366,734 21,756,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% 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 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M 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 -0.49% -0.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Japan Sri Lanka
Current population
122704252
21926160
Population rank 12/197 63/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.26%
One net population change
52 seconds
3.29 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 -438
Annual growth/decline -608,637 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 190/197
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 -942,213 153,357 50,407 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 75% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/japan/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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