The latest officially reported population of Nauru was 11,947 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nauru's population is 12,125 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.
Population statistics:
- Sri Lanka's population is 1,830 times bigger than Nauru's.
- Nauru is ranked the 195th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
- The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.0001% for Nauru vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
- For the last 10 years, Nauru has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
- Since 2006, the population of Nauru has increased from 10K people to 12.1K (20.8% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).
Nauru vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Nauru
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
| 2100 | 20,717 | 20,270,496 |
| 2099 | 20,686 | 20,383,669 |
| 2098 | 20,645 | 20,498,567 |
| 2097 | 20,605 | 20,611,123 |
| 2096 | 20,570 | 20,723,560 |
| 2095 | 20,535 | 20,834,629 |
| 2094 | 20,488 | 20,943,809 |
| 2093 | 20,432 | 21,052,131 |
| 2092 | 20,386 | 21,158,833 |
| 2091 | 20,341 | 21,263,961 |
| 2090 | 20,285 | 21,371,263 |
| 2089 | 20,219 | 21,475,426 |
| 2088 | 20,152 | 21,577,177 |
| 2087 | 20,096 | 21,677,510 |
| 2086 | 20,028 | 21,777,420 |
| 2085 | 19,959 | 21,876,464 |
| 2084 | 19,880 | 21,970,336 |
| 2083 | 19,796 | 22,062,801 |
| 2082 | 19,709 | 22,151,745 |
| 2081 | 19,611 | 22,240,834 |
| 2080 | 19,525 | 22,326,555 |
| 2079 | 19,420 | 22,411,438 |
| 2078 | 19,312 | 22,489,772 |
| 2077 | 19,206 | 22,565,028 |
| 2076 | 19,098 | 22,637,463 |
| 2075 | 18,986 | 22,707,112 |
| 2074 | 18,874 | 22,778,489 |
| 2073 | 18,758 | 22,844,703 |
| 2072 | 18,638 | 22,905,707 |
| 2071 | 18,535 | 22,964,866 |
| 2070 | 18,396 | 23,022,515 |
| 2069 | 18,289 | 23,076,310 |
| 2068 | 18,168 | 23,129,541 |
| 2067 | 18,025 | 23,184,596 |
| 2066 | 17,903 | 23,234,419 |
| 2065 | 17,777 | 23,285,901 |
| 2064 | 17,649 | 23,331,390 |
| 2063 | 17,524 | 23,372,184 |
| 2062 | 17,402 | 23,409,522 |
| 2061 | 17,267 | 23,441,893 |
| 2060 | 17,137 | 23,474,032 |
| 2059 | 17,013 | 23,502,132 |
| 2058 | 16,882 | 23,528,076 |
| 2057 | 16,752 | 23,550,580 |
| 2056 | 16,612 | 23,570,923 |
| 2055 | 16,472 | 23,582,432 |
| 2054 | 16,335 | 23,591,414 |
| 2053 | 16,193 | 23,601,371 |
| 2052 | 16,049 | 23,605,361 |
| 2051 | 15,888 | 23,606,194 |
| 2050 | 15,738 | 23,603,330 |
| 2049 | 15,572 | 23,597,604 |
| 2048 | 15,412 | 23,587,307 |
| 2047 | 15,241 | 23,570,881 |
| 2046 | 15,064 | 23,547,409 |
| 2045 | 14,895 | 23,515,133 |
| 2044 | 14,718 | 23,483,546 |
| 2043 | 14,546 | 23,446,242 |
| 2042 | 14,363 | 23,404,983 |
| 2041 | 14,180 | 23,357,358 |
| 2040 | 13,996 | 23,306,148 |
| 2039 | 13,827 | 23,248,341 |
| 2038 | 13,672 | 23,187,512 |
| 2037 | 13,513 | 23,120,775 |
| 2036 | 13,363 | 23,053,427 |
| 2035 | 13,196 | 22,981,808 |
| 2034 | 13,040 | 22,906,587 |
| 2033 | 12,894 | 22,826,414 |
| 2032 | 12,758 | 22,742,267 |
| 2031 | 12,625 | 22,655,907 |
| 2030 | 12,504 | 22,564,038 |
| 2029 | 12,386 | 22,470,759 |
| 2028 | 12,292 | 22,370,999 |
| 2027 | 12,182 | 22,266,017 |
| 2026 | 12,105 | 22,155,543 |
| 2025 | 12,030 | 22,039,908 |
| 2024 | 11,947 | 21,916,000 |
| 2023 | 11,875 | 22,037,000 |
| 2022 | 11,801 | 22,181,000 |
| 2021 | 11,709 | 22,156,000 |
| 2020 | 11,643 | 21,919,000 |
| 2019 | 11,587 | 21,803,000 |
| 2018 | 11,477 | 21,670,000 |
| 2017 | 11,324 | 21,453,000 |
| 2016 | 11,150 | 21,209,000 |
| 2015 | 10,954 | 20,970,000 |
| 2014 | 10,742 | 20,778,000 |
| 2013 | 10,517 | 20,585,000 |
| 2012 | 10,267 | 21,169,458 |
| 2011 | 10,098 | 21,009,048 |
| 2010 | 10,043 | 20,879,089 |
| 2009 | 10,016 | 20,756,435 |
| 2008 | 10,009 | 20,629,378 |
| 2007 | 10,020 | 20,492,545 |
| 2006 | 10,034 | 20,352,411 |
| 2005 | 10,049 | 20,216,524 |
| 2004 | 10,060 | 20,087,605 |
| 2003 | 10,059 | 19,951,521 |
| 2002 | 10,082 | 19,805,752 |
| 2001 | 10,130 | 19,600,362 |
| 2000 | 10,168 | 19,293,054 |
| 1999 | 10,187 | 18,944,731 |
| 1998 | 10,198 | 18,596,003 |
| 1997 | 10,197 | 18,248,200 |
| 1996 | 10,183 | 17,905,018 |
| 1995 | 10,165 | 17,564,068 |
| 1994 | 10,137 | 17,275,773 |
| 1993 | 10,102 | 17,025,918 |
| 1992 | 10,021 | 16,739,284 |
| 1991 | 9,850 | 16,475,354 |
| 1990 | 9,622 | 16,352,458 |
| 1989 | 9,390 | 16,248,557 |
| 1988 | 9,165 | 16,078,621 |
| 1987 | 8,946 | 15,916,576 |
| 1986 | 8,742 | 15,731,256 |
| 1985 | 8,551 | 15,544,154 |
| 1984 | 8,377 | 15,441,860 |
| 1983 | 8,216 | 15,388,794 |
| 1982 | 8,040 | 15,286,567 |
| 1981 | 7,839 | 15,099,414 |
| 1980 | 7,649 | 14,847,974 |
| 1979 | 7,468 | 14,579,614 |
| 1978 | 7,298 | 14,310,128 |
| 1977 | 7,163 | 14,049,371 |
| 1976 | 7,064 | 13,796,770 |
| 1975 | 6,987 | 13,548,984 |
| 1974 | 6,923 | 13,305,693 |
| 1973 | 6,866 | 13,060,916 |
| 1972 | 6,812 | 12,809,205 |
| 1971 | 6,762 | 12,551,910 |
| 1970 | 6,710 | 12,287,110 |
| 1969 | 6,581 | 12,013,858 |
| 1968 | 6,328 | 11,736,088 |
| 1967 | 6,135 | 11,457,328 |
| 1966 | 6,043 | 11,183,928 |
| 1965 | 5,832 | 10,916,965 |
| 1964 | 5,515 | 10,653,397 |
| 1963 | 5,226 | 10,395,040 |
| 1962 | 4,979 | 10,143,754 |
| 1961 | 4,774 | 9,899,372 |
| 1960 | 4,607 | 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/nauru/sri-lanka | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nauru increased by 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nauru gained 975 people (a 8.74% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).
Nauru was ranked 196th most populous country in 2006 and is 195th 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) Nauru's population will grow by 29.8% to 15,738 people with a rank change from 195th to 194th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.
Nauru is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.7K people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
| 2100 | 0.15% | -0.56% |
| 2099 | 0.2% | -0.56% |
| 2098 | 0.19% | -0.55% |
| 2097 | 0.17% | -0.54% |
| 2096 | 0.17% | -0.53% |
| 2095 | 0.23% | -0.52% |
| 2094 | 0.27% | -0.51% |
| 2093 | 0.23% | -0.5% |
| 2092 | 0.22% | -0.49% |
| 2091 | 0.28% | -0.5% |
| 2090 | 0.33% | -0.49% |
| 2089 | 0.33% | -0.47% |
| 2088 | 0.28% | -0.46% |
| 2087 | 0.34% | -0.46% |
| 2086 | 0.35% | -0.45% |
| 2085 | 0.39% | -0.43% |
| 2084 | 0.43% | -0.42% |
| 2083 | 0.44% | -0.4% |
| 2082 | 0.5% | -0.4% |
| 2081 | 0.44% | -0.38% |
| 2080 | 0.54% | -0.38% |
| 2079 | 0.56% | -0.35% |
| 2078 | 0.55% | -0.33% |
| 2077 | 0.57% | -0.32% |
| 2076 | 0.59% | -0.31% |
| 2075 | 0.6% | -0.31% |
| 2074 | 0.62% | -0.29% |
| 2073 | 0.65% | -0.27% |
| 2072 | 0.56% | -0.26% |
| 2071 | 0.75% | -0.25% |
| 2070 | 0.59% | -0.23% |
| 2069 | 0.66% | -0.23% |
| 2068 | 0.8% | -0.24% |
| 2067 | 0.68% | -0.21% |
| 2066 | 0.71% | -0.22% |
| 2065 | 0.73% | -0.19% |
| 2064 | 0.71% | -0.17% |
| 2063 | 0.7% | -0.16% |
| 2062 | 0.78% | -0.14% |
| 2061 | 0.76% | -0.14% |
| 2060 | 0.73% | -0.12% |
| 2059 | 0.78% | -0.11% |
| 2058 | 0.77% | -0.1% |
| 2057 | 0.85% | -0.09% |
| 2056 | 0.85% | -0.05% |
| 2055 | 0.84% | -0.04% |
| 2054 | 0.87% | -0.04% |
| 2053 | 0.9% | -0.02% |
| 2052 | 1.01% | -0.004% |
| 2051 | 0.96% | 0.01% |
| 2050 | 1.06% | 0.02% |
| 2049 | 1.04% | 0.04% |
| 2048 | 1.12% | 0.07% |
| 2047 | 1.17% | 0.1% |
| 2046 | 1.14% | 0.14% |
| 2045 | 1.2% | 0.13% |
| 2044 | 1.19% | 0.16% |
| 2043 | 1.27% | 0.18% |
| 2042 | 1.29% | 0.2% |
| 2041 | 1.32% | 0.22% |
| 2040 | 1.22% | 0.25% |
| 2039 | 1.14% | 0.26% |
| 2038 | 1.17% | 0.29% |
| 2037 | 1.12% | 0.29% |
| 2036 | 1.27% | 0.31% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | 0.33% |
| 2034 | 1.14% | 0.35% |
| 2033 | 1.06% | 0.37% |
| 2032 | 1.06% | 0.38% |
| 2031 | 0.96% | 0.41% |
| 2030 | 0.96% | 0.42% |
| 2029 | 0.77% | 0.45% |
| 2028 | 0.9% | 0.47% |
| 2027 | 0.64% | 0.5% |
| 2026 | 0.63% | 0.52% |
| 2025 | 0.7% | 0.57% |
| 2024 | 0.61% | -0.55% |
| 2023 | 0.63% | -0.65% |
| 2022 | 0.79% | 0.11% |
| 2021 | 0.57% | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 0.48% | 0.53% |
| 2019 | 0.96% | 0.61% |
| 2018 | 1.35% | 1.01% |
| 2017 | 1.56% | 1.15% |
| 2016 | 1.79% | 1.14% |
| 2015 | 1.97% | 0.92% |
| 2014 | 2.14% | 0.94% |
| 2013 | 2.43% | -2.76% |
| 2012 | 1.67% | 0.76% |
| 2011 | 0.55% | 0.62% |
| 2010 | 0.27% | 0.59% |
| 2009 | 0.07% | 0.62% |
| 2008 | -0.11% | 0.67% |
| 2007 | -0.14% | 0.69% |
| 2006 | -0.15% | 0.67% |
| 2005 | -0.11% | 0.64% |
| 2004 | 0.01% | 0.68% |
| 2003 | -0.23% | 0.74% |
| 2002 | -0.47% | 1.05% |
| 2001 | -0.37% | 1.59% |
| 2000 | -0.19% | 1.84% |
| 1999 | -0.11% | 1.88% |
| 1998 | 0.01% | 1.91% |
| 1997 | 0.14% | 1.92% |
| 1996 | 0.18% | 1.94% |
| 1995 | 0.28% | 1.67% |
| 1994 | 0.35% | 1.47% |
| 1993 | 0.81% | 1.71% |
| 1992 | 1.74% | 1.6% |
| 1991 | 2.37% | 0.75% |
| 1990 | 2.47% | 0.64% |
| 1989 | 2.45% | 1.06% |
| 1988 | 2.45% | 1.02% |
| 1987 | 2.33% | 1.18% |
| 1986 | 2.23% | 1.2% |
| 1985 | 2.08% | 0.66% |
| 1984 | 1.96% | 0.34% |
| 1983 | 2.19% | 0.67% |
| 1982 | 2.56% | 1.24% |
| 1981 | 2.48% | 1.69% |
| 1980 | 2.42% | 1.84% |
| 1979 | 2.33% | 1.88% |
| 1978 | 1.88% | 1.86% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | 1.83% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | 1.83% |
| 1975 | 0.92% | 1.83% |
| 1974 | 0.83% | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 0.79% | 1.97% |
| 1972 | 0.74% | 2.05% |
| 1971 | 0.77% | 2.16% |
| 1970 | 1.96% | 2.27% |
| 1969 | 4% | 2.37% |
| 1968 | 3.15% | 2.43% |
| 1967 | 1.52% | 2.44% |
| 1966 | 3.62% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 5.75% | 2.47% |
| 1964 | 5.53% | 2.49% |
| 1963 | 4.96% | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 4.29% | 2.47% |
| 1961 | 3.62% | 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/nauru/sri-lanka | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Nauru grew by 0.61%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.
Live population counters
|
Nauru
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
12125
|
22185425
|
| Population rank | 195/197 | 63/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0001% | 0.27% |
| One net population change |
5.07 days
|
4.34 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.21 days
|
2.13 minutes
|
| One death every |
4.1 days
|
2.91 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | -332 |
| Annual growth/decline | +72 | -121,000 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.61% | -0.55% |
| Population growth rate rank | 126/197 | 188/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3 days
|
17.2 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -122 | -30,724 |
| Net migration rank | 82/196 | 165/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,548 | 40,698 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 191/195 | 156/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 21.3% | 0.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 29/195 | 190/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Sri Lanka
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -122 | - | -30,724 |
| 2024 | - | -121 | - | -27,245 |
| 2023 | 213 | -148 | 66,111 | -28,011 |
| 2022 | 226 | -144 | 95,378 | -27,435 |
| 2021 | 236 | -137 | 121,858 | -29,586 |
| 2020 | 246 | -214 | 170,968 | -29,875 |
| 2019 | 255 | -171 | 172,243 | -28,426 |
| 2018 | 265 | -131 | 183,610 | -28,607 |
| 2017 | 279 | -115 | 187,993 | -22,324 |
| 2016 | 289 | -105 | 194,232 | -18,388 |
| 2015 | 291 | -86 | 201,815 | -29,797 |
| 2014 | 290 | -69 | 211,541 | -33,672 |
| 2013 | 291 | -53 | 221,021 | -37,754 |
| 2012 | 292 | -38 | 229,138 | -41,955 |
| 2011 | 291 | -206 | 224,461 | -90,839 |
| 2010 | 281 | -246 | 224,325 | -98,060 |
| 2009 | 261 | -249 | 200,175 | -81,130 |
| 2008 | 240 | -243 | 232,225 | -97,144 |
| 2007 | 222 | -235 | 248,287 | -109,695 |
| 2006 | 209 | -224 | 248,706 | -107,045 |
| 2005 | 204 | -217 | 248,683 | -118,594 |
| 2004 | 202 | -210 | 212,527 | -84,795 |
| 2003 | 201 | -199 | 252,008 | -107,573 |
| 2002 | 200 | -247 | 252,840 | -105,718 |
| 2001 | 203 | -252 | 244,377 | 19,273 |
| 2000 | 207 | -236 | 227,060 | 123,894 |
| 1999 | 212 | -227 | 206,876 | 138,799 |
| 1998 | 214 | -217 | 201,059 | 150,724 |
| 1997 | 218 | -209 | 208,193 | 135,636 |
| 1996 | 221 | -204 | 215,290 | 127,236 |
| 1995 | 225 | -201 | 221,957 | 117,416 |
| 1994 | 229 | -196 | 228,904 | 8,323 |
| 1993 | 235 | -194 | 226,257 | 36,232 |
| 1992 | 237 | -121 | 222,230 | 88,542 |
| 1991 | 225 | 0 | 218,117 | -1,047 |
| 1990 | 214 | 20 | 224,454 | -195,736 |
| 1989 | 204 | 24 | 212,401 | -33,305 |
| 1988 | 195 | 29 | 219,184 | -58,415 |
| 1987 | 186 | 27 | 226,414 | -63,105 |
| 1986 | 178 | 21 | 233,782 | -26,460 |
| 1985 | 171 | 8 | 247,836 | -80,950 |
| 1984 | 166 | -2 | 263,175 | -225,450 |
| 1983 | 163 | -5 | 277,768 | -209,362 |
| 1982 | 162 | 30 | 300,030 | -163,987 |
| 1981 | 157 | 44 | 328,096 | -89,824 |
| 1980 | 145 | 44 | 328,155 | -63,541 |
| 1979 | 130 | 48 | 329,791 | -57,683 |
| 1978 | 111 | 40 | 317,055 | -50,189 |
| 1977 | 89 | 32 | 300,038 | -45,383 |
| 1976 | 79 | 0 | 291,816 | -41,258 |
| 1975 | 70 | 0 | 282,496 | -37,475 |
| 1974 | 63 | 0 | 275,521 | -33,979 |
| 1973 | 57 | 0 | 278,577 | -30,582 |
| 1972 | 53 | 0 | 282,494 | -27,071 |
| 1971 | 50 | 0 | 281,200 | -22,021 |
| 1970 | 49 | 0 | 286,719 | -16,299 |
| 1969 | 71 | 132 | 286,218 | -10,152 |
| 1968 | 116 | 180 | 286,642 | -7,163 |
| 1967 | 117 | -28 | 284,738 | -6,696 |
| 1966 | 123 | -32 | 275,549 | -6,794 |
| 1965 | 113 | 218 | 272,422 | -7,249 |
| 1964 | 100 | 203 | 269,584 | -7,614 |
| 1963 | 88 | 181 | 262,880 | -8,118 |
| 1962 | 75 | 158 | 256,719 | -8,909 |
| 1961 | 70 | 120 | 251,087 | -10,144 |
| 1960 | 72 | 76 | 247,631 | -12,610 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/nauru/sri-lanka | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 66.2% of the population change in Nauru is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 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, 2,548 residents or 21.3% of the population were not native-born in Nauru, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Nauru and Sri Lanka
|
Nauru
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.6 years | 78 years |
| Average age | 25.3 years | 35.8 years |
| Median age | 21.4 years | 34.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 48.4:51.6 |
| Fertility rate | 3.33 births per woman | 1.97 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,568 ppl/mi² | 928 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/nauru/sri-lanka | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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