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Population in the Marshall Islands compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 36,282 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,039 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 626 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
  • The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.84% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35K (32.6% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Marshall Islands vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Marshall Islands
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Marshall Islands Sri Lanka
2100 23,445 20,009,380
2099 23,524 20,121,095
2098 23,613 20,234,513
2097 23,708 20,345,619
2096 23,784 20,456,607
2095 23,867 20,566,246
2094 23,935 20,674,019
2093 24,009 20,780,946
2092 24,079 20,886,274
2091 24,137 20,990,047
2090 24,185 21,095,968
2089 24,240 21,198,788
2088 24,272 21,299,229
2087 24,301 21,398,269
2086 24,316 21,496,892
2085 24,335 21,594,661
2084 24,342 21,687,323
2083 24,331 21,778,597
2082 24,315 21,866,395
2081 24,304 21,954,337
2080 24,278 22,038,953
2079 24,256 22,122,744
2078 24,214 22,200,069
2077 24,172 22,274,355
2076 24,138 22,345,857
2075 24,083 22,414,609
2074 24,049 22,485,066
2073 24,000 22,550,427
2072 23,969 22,610,645
2071 23,931 22,669,042
2070 23,889 22,725,948
2069 23,857 22,779,050
2068 23,815 22,831,596
2067 23,795 22,885,941
2066 23,763 22,935,123
2065 23,762 22,985,942
2064 23,766 23,030,844
2063 23,778 23,071,114
2062 23,818 23,107,970
2061 23,869 23,139,924
2060 23,917 23,171,649
2059 23,981 23,199,387
2058 24,028 23,224,997
2057 24,106 23,247,211
2056 24,194 23,267,292
2055 24,305 23,278,653
2054 24,411 23,287,520
2053 24,502 23,297,347
2052 24,602 23,301,287
2051 24,714 23,302,108
2050 24,811 23,299,282
2049 24,935 23,293,630
2048 25,047 23,283,465
2047 25,155 23,267,251
2046 25,267 23,244,081
2045 25,394 23,212,221
2044 25,531 23,181,041
2043 25,687 23,144,217
2042 25,846 23,103,489
2041 26,033 23,056,478
2040 26,249 23,005,928
2039 26,493 22,948,866
2038 26,759 22,888,821
2037 27,090 22,822,943
2036 27,446 22,756,462
2035 27,874 22,685,766
2034 28,364 22,611,514
2033 28,919 22,532,374
2032 29,543 22,449,310
2031 30,251 22,364,063
2030 31,054 22,273,377
2029 31,943 22,181,300
2028 32,879 22,082,826
2027 33,909 21,979,196
2026 35,039 21,870,145
2025 36,282 21,756,000
2024 37,548 21,916,000
2023 38,827 22,037,000
2022 40,077 22,181,000
2021 41,367 22,156,000
2020 42,706 21,919,000
2019 44,007 21,803,000
2018 45,285 21,670,000
2017 46,529 21,453,000
2016 47,709 21,209,000
2015 48,800 20,970,000
2014 49,796 20,778,000
2013 50,681 20,585,000
2012 51,419 21,169,458
2011 51,907 21,009,048
2010 52,044 20,879,089
2009 52,019 20,756,435
2008 52,030 20,629,378
2007 52,035 20,492,545
2006 51,992 20,352,411
2005 51,906 20,216,524
2004 51,791 20,087,605
2003 51,639 19,951,521
2002 51,425 19,805,752
2001 51,123 19,600,362
2000 50,706 19,293,054
1999 50,202 18,944,731
1998 49,717 18,596,003
1997 49,259 18,248,200
1996 48,775 17,905,018
1995 48,266 17,564,068
1994 47,712 17,275,773
1993 47,093 17,025,918
1992 46,388 16,739,284
1991 45,568 16,475,354
1990 44,629 16,352,458
1989 43,586 16,248,557
1988 42,321 16,078,621
1987 40,828 15,916,576
1986 39,286 15,731,256
1985 37,761 15,544,154
1984 36,264 15,441,860
1983 34,811 15,388,794
1982 33,397 15,286,567
1981 32,017 15,099,414
1980 30,774 14,847,974
1979 29,738 14,579,614
1978 28,809 14,310,128
1977 27,906 14,049,371
1976 27,021 13,796,770
1975 26,154 13,548,984
1974 25,296 13,305,693
1973 24,581 13,060,916
1972 23,992 12,809,205
1971 23,366 12,551,910
1970 22,530 12,287,110
1969 21,305 12,013,858
1968 19,862 11,736,088
1967 18,655 11,457,328
1966 17,927 11,183,928
1965 17,402 10,916,965
1964 16,852 10,653,397
1963 16,302 10,395,040
1962 15,755 10,143,754
1961 15,219 9,899,372
1960 14,703 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/marshall-islands/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,670 people (a 26.6% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd 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) the Marshall Islands' population will shrink by 29.2% to 24,811 people with a rank change from 192nd to 193rd. 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 the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.4K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Marshall Islands
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Marshall Islands Sri Lanka
2100 -0.33% -0.56%
2099 -0.38% -0.56%
2098 -0.4% -0.55%
2097 -0.32% -0.54%
2096 -0.35% -0.53%
2095 -0.28% -0.52%
2094 -0.31% -0.51%
2093 -0.29% -0.5%
2092 -0.24% -0.49%
2091 -0.2% -0.5%
2090 -0.23% -0.49%
2089 -0.13% -0.47%
2088 -0.12% -0.46%
2087 -0.06% -0.46%
2086 -0.08% -0.45%
2085 -0.03% -0.43%
2084 0.05% -0.42%
2083 0.06% -0.4%
2082 0.04% -0.4%
2081 0.11% -0.38%
2080 0.09% -0.38%
2079 0.17% -0.35%
2078 0.17% -0.33%
2077 0.14% -0.32%
2076 0.23% -0.31%
2075 0.14% -0.31%
2074 0.2% -0.29%
2073 0.13% -0.27%
2072 0.16% -0.26%
2071 0.17% -0.25%
2070 0.14% -0.23%
2069 0.18% -0.23%
2068 0.08% -0.24%
2067 0.14% -0.21%
2066 0.004% -0.22%
2065 -0.02% -0.19%
2064 -0.05% -0.17%
2063 -0.17% -0.16%
2062 -0.21% -0.14%
2061 -0.2% -0.14%
2060 -0.27% -0.12%
2059 -0.2% -0.11%
2058 -0.32% -0.1%
2057 -0.37% -0.09%
2056 -0.46% -0.05%
2055 -0.43% -0.04%
2054 -0.37% -0.04%
2053 -0.41% -0.02%
2052 -0.45% -0.004%
2051 -0.39% 0.01%
2050 -0.5% 0.02%
2049 -0.45% 0.04%
2048 -0.43% 0.07%
2047 -0.44% 0.1%
2046 -0.5% 0.14%
2045 -0.54% 0.13%
2044 -0.61% 0.16%
2043 -0.62% 0.18%
2042 -0.72% 0.2%
2041 -0.82% 0.22%
2040 -0.92% 0.25%
2039 -1% 0.26%
2038 -1.22% 0.29%
2037 -1.3% 0.29%
2036 -1.53% 0.31%
2035 -1.73% 0.33%
2034 -1.92% 0.35%
2033 -2.11% 0.37%
2032 -2.34% 0.38%
2031 -2.59% 0.41%
2030 -2.78% 0.42%
2029 -2.85% 0.45%
2028 -3.04% 0.47%
2027 -3.23% 0.5%
2026 -3.42% 0.52%
2025 -3.37% -0.73%
2024 -3.29% -0.55%
2023 -3.12% -0.65%
2022 -3.12% 0.11%
2021 -3.14% 1.08%
2020 -2.96% 0.53%
2019 -2.82% 0.61%
2018 -2.67% 1.01%
2017 -2.47% 1.15%
2016 -2.24% 1.14%
2015 -2% 0.92%
2014 -1.75% 0.94%
2013 -1.44% -2.76%
2012 -0.94% 0.76%
2011 -0.26% 0.62%
2010 0.05% 0.59%
2009 -0.02% 0.62%
2008 -0.01% 0.67%
2007 0.08% 0.69%
2006 0.17% 0.67%
2005 0.22% 0.64%
2004 0.29% 0.68%
2003 0.42% 0.74%
2002 0.59% 1.05%
2001 0.82% 1.59%
2000 1% 1.84%
1999 0.98% 1.88%
1998 0.93% 1.91%
1997 0.99% 1.92%
1996 1.05% 1.94%
1995 1.16% 1.67%
1994 1.31% 1.47%
1993 1.52% 1.71%
1992 1.8% 1.6%
1991 2.1% 0.75%
1990 2.39% 0.64%
1989 2.99% 1.06%
1988 3.66% 1.02%
1987 3.93% 1.18%
1986 4.04% 1.2%
1985 4.13% 0.66%
1984 4.17% 0.34%
1983 4.23% 0.67%
1982 4.31% 1.24%
1981 4.04% 1.69%
1980 3.48% 1.84%
1979 3.22% 1.88%
1978 3.24% 1.86%
1977 3.28% 1.83%
1976 3.31% 1.83%
1975 3.39% 1.83%
1974 2.91% 1.87%
1973 2.45% 1.97%
1972 2.68% 2.05%
1971 3.71% 2.16%
1970 5.75% 2.27%
1969 7.27% 2.37%
1968 6.47% 2.43%
1967 4.06% 2.44%
1966 3.02% 2.45%
1965 3.26% 2.47%
1964 3.37% 2.49%
1963 3.47% 2.48%
1962 3.52% 2.47%
1961 3.51% 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/marshall-islands/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.37%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Marshall Islands Sri Lanka
Current population
35039
21926160
Population rank 192/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.0004% 0.26%
One net population change
6.94 hours
3.29 minutes
One birth every
11.6 hours
2.37 minutes
One death every
1.37 days
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline -3 -438
Annual growth/decline -1,266 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate -3.37% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 197/197 190/197
One migration net change every
5.17 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -1,698 -30,724
Net migration rank 97/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 3,309 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 189/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 71/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Marshall Islands
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Marshall Islands Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,698 - -30,724
2024 487 -1,765 50,407 -27,245
2023 550 -1,832 66,111 -28,011
2022 606 -1,829 95,378 -27,435
2021 653 -2,016 121,858 -29,586
2020 689 -2,004 170,968 -29,875
2019 746 -2,030 172,243 -28,426
2018 785 -2,058 183,610 -28,607
2017 826 -2,040 187,993 -22,324
2016 866 -2,003 194,232 -18,388
2015 912 -1,964 201,815 -29,797
2014 959 -1,906 211,541 -33,672
2013 1,014 -1,825 221,021 -37,754
2012 1,097 -1,759 229,138 -41,955
2011 1,185 -1,512 224,461 -90,839
2010 1,273 -1,221 224,325 -98,060
2009 1,365 -1,361 200,175 -81,130
2008 1,443 -1,467 232,225 -97,144
2007 1,507 -1,491 248,287 -109,695
2006 1,556 -1,491 248,706 -107,045
2005 1,586 -1,482 248,683 -118,594
2004 1,595 -1,466 212,527 -84,795
2003 1,600 -1,427 252,008 -107,573
2002 1,594 -1,345 252,840 -105,718
2001 1,596 -1,237 244,377 19,273
2000 1,592 -1,110 227,060 123,894
1999 1,590 -1,068 206,876 138,799
1998 1,576 -1,124 201,059 150,724
1997 1,564 -1,097 208,193 135,636
1996 1,542 -1,050 215,290 127,236
1995 1,522 -991 221,957 117,416
1994 1,524 -942 228,904 8,323
1993 1,524 -869 226,257 36,232
1992 1,525 -769 222,230 88,542
1991 1,540 -661 218,117 -1,047
1990 1,556 -562 224,454 -195,736
1989 1,574 -479 212,401 -33,305
1988 1,575 -140 219,184 -58,415
1987 1,566 -16 226,414 -63,105
1986 1,544 -8 233,782 -26,460
1985 1,511 -1 247,836 -80,950
1984 1,470 6 263,175 -225,450
1983 1,422 12 277,768 -209,362
1982 1,375 23 300,030 -163,987
1981 1,328 31 328,096 -89,824
1980 1,287 -155 328,155 -63,541
1979 1,250 -316 329,791 -57,683
1978 1,207 -286 317,055 -50,189
1977 1,160 -264 300,038 -45,383
1976 1,109 -233 291,816 -41,258
1975 1,055 -193 282,496 -37,475
1974 1,000 -145 275,521 -33,979
1973 954 -383 278,577 -30,582
1972 913 -306 282,494 -27,071
1971 877 -232 281,200 -22,021
1970 819 201 286,719 -16,299
1969 747 690 286,218 -10,152
1968 685 769 286,642 -7,163
1967 636 308 284,738 -6,696
1966 603 -89 275,549 -6,794
1965 566 -22 272,422 -7,249
1964 536 16 269,584 -7,614
1963 509 42 262,880 -8,118
1962 488 54 256,719 -8,909
1961 469 56 251,087 -10,144
1960 452 63 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 26.7% of the population change in the Marshall Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 7,120 people) and 73.3% is from migration (a loss of 19,541 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, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Marshall Islands
City Population
Majuro 30K
Djarrit 7.1K
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/marshall-islands/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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