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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 37,548 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,058 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 633 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 0.27% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.69% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35.1K (32.6% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% 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 23,457 20,270,496
2099 23,536 20,383,669
2098 23,626 20,498,567
2097 23,720 20,611,123
2096 23,797 20,723,560
2095 23,879 20,834,629
2094 23,947 20,943,809
2093 24,022 21,052,131
2092 24,092 21,158,833
2091 24,150 21,263,961
2090 24,198 21,371,263
2089 24,253 21,475,426
2088 24,284 21,577,177
2087 24,314 21,677,510
2086 24,329 21,777,420
2085 24,347 21,876,464
2084 24,355 21,970,336
2083 24,343 22,062,801
2082 24,328 22,151,745
2081 24,317 22,240,834
2080 24,290 22,326,555
2079 24,269 22,411,438
2078 24,226 22,489,772
2077 24,185 22,565,028
2076 24,151 22,637,463
2075 24,096 22,707,112
2074 24,061 22,778,489
2073 24,013 22,844,703
2072 23,982 22,905,707
2071 23,943 22,964,866
2070 23,902 23,022,515
2069 23,869 23,076,310
2068 23,827 23,129,541
2067 23,808 23,184,596
2066 23,775 23,234,419
2065 23,774 23,285,901
2064 23,778 23,331,390
2063 23,791 23,372,184
2062 23,830 23,409,522
2061 23,881 23,441,893
2060 23,929 23,474,032
2059 23,993 23,502,132
2058 24,041 23,528,076
2057 24,118 23,550,580
2056 24,207 23,570,923
2055 24,318 23,582,432
2054 24,424 23,591,414
2053 24,515 23,601,371
2052 24,615 23,605,361
2051 24,727 23,606,194
2050 24,824 23,603,330
2049 24,948 23,597,604
2048 25,060 23,587,307
2047 25,169 23,570,881
2046 25,281 23,547,409
2045 25,407 23,515,133
2044 25,544 23,483,546
2043 25,701 23,446,242
2042 25,860 23,404,983
2041 26,047 23,357,358
2040 26,263 23,306,148
2039 26,507 23,248,341
2038 26,773 23,187,512
2037 27,104 23,120,775
2036 27,461 23,053,427
2035 27,889 22,981,808
2034 28,379 22,906,587
2033 28,934 22,826,414
2032 29,558 22,742,267
2031 30,266 22,655,907
2030 31,070 22,564,038
2029 31,960 22,470,759
2028 32,896 22,370,999
2027 33,927 22,266,017
2026 35,058 22,155,543
2025 36,301 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% 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 24,824 people with a rank change from 192nd to 193rd. 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 the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.5K 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 -3.32% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.29%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Marshall Islands Sri Lanka
Current population
35058
22185425
Population rank 192/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.0004% 0.27%
One net population change
6.85 hours
4.34 minutes
One birth every
10.7 hours
2.13 minutes
One death every
1.35 days
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4 -332
Annual growth/decline -1,279 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate -3.29% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 197/197 188/197
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 - -1,765 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 27.8% of the population change in the Marshall Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 7,592 people) and 72.2% is from migration (a loss of 19,682 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, 3,309 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 (1960–2024, 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/marshall-islands/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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