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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,651,054 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,596,762 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 1.33 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Nepal is ranked the 52nd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.36% for Nepal vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Nepal has had an average growth rate of +0.66% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.4% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Nepal vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Nepal
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nepal Sri Lanka
2100 31,902,377 20,270,496
2099 32,090,762 20,383,669
2098 32,277,789 20,498,567
2097 32,464,318 20,611,123
2096 32,647,891 20,723,560
2095 32,828,594 20,834,629
2094 33,009,460 20,943,809
2093 33,186,290 21,052,131
2092 33,361,327 21,158,833
2091 33,532,505 21,263,961
2090 33,699,660 21,371,263
2089 33,863,636 21,475,426
2088 34,022,597 21,577,177
2087 34,175,457 21,677,510
2086 34,322,945 21,777,420
2085 34,468,441 21,876,464
2084 34,605,513 21,970,336
2083 34,735,114 22,062,801
2082 34,856,938 22,151,745
2081 34,972,075 22,240,834
2080 35,080,783 22,326,555
2079 35,183,584 22,411,438
2078 35,277,254 22,489,772
2077 35,362,658 22,565,028
2076 35,440,746 22,637,463
2075 35,510,291 22,707,112
2074 35,573,094 22,778,489
2073 35,627,375 22,844,703
2072 35,670,886 22,905,707
2071 35,709,979 22,964,866
2070 35,739,580 23,022,515
2069 35,759,193 23,076,310
2068 35,770,405 23,129,541
2067 35,774,081 23,184,596
2066 35,770,220 23,234,419
2065 35,758,824 23,285,901
2064 35,737,661 23,331,390
2063 35,709,945 23,372,184
2062 35,669,839 23,409,522
2061 35,623,365 23,441,893
2060 35,567,728 23,474,032
2059 35,503,043 23,502,132
2058 35,427,419 23,528,076
2057 35,345,633 23,550,580
2056 35,253,644 23,570,923
2055 35,155,433 23,582,432
2054 35,050,330 23,591,414
2053 34,936,594 23,601,371
2052 34,816,009 23,605,361
2051 34,684,328 23,606,194
2050 34,546,267 23,603,330
2049 34,400,898 23,597,604
2048 34,250,249 23,587,307
2047 34,091,495 23,570,881
2046 33,921,975 23,547,409
2045 33,747,892 23,515,133
2044 33,566,784 23,483,546
2043 33,380,395 23,446,242
2042 33,186,321 23,404,983
2041 32,987,097 23,357,358
2040 32,781,189 23,306,148
2039 32,569,731 23,248,341
2038 32,349,742 23,187,512
2037 32,125,036 23,120,775
2036 31,892,962 23,053,427
2035 31,653,976 22,981,808
2034 31,407,460 22,906,587
2033 31,152,292 22,826,414
2032 30,890,627 22,742,267
2031 30,623,706 22,655,907
2030 30,349,201 22,564,038
2029 30,068,368 22,470,759
2028 29,780,585 22,370,999
2027 29,627,864 22,266,017
2026 29,585,230 22,155,543
2025 29,605,298 22,039,908
2024 29,651,054 21,916,000
2023 29,694,614 22,037,000
2022 29,715,436 22,181,000
2021 29,475,010 22,156,000
2020 28,966,574 21,919,000
2019 28,414,064 21,803,000
2018 28,079,689 21,670,000
2017 28,011,258 21,453,000
2016 27,955,462 21,209,000
2015 27,823,629 20,970,000
2014 27,672,370 20,778,000
2013 27,589,996 20,585,000
2012 27,534,915 21,169,458
2011 27,464,494 21,009,048
2010 27,341,952 20,879,089
2009 27,173,035 20,756,435
2008 26,990,037 20,629,378
2007 26,788,492 20,492,545
2006 26,565,425 20,352,411
2005 26,309,458 20,216,524
2004 26,016,656 20,087,605
2003 25,688,758 19,951,521
2002 25,328,981 19,805,752
2001 24,946,748 19,600,362
2000 24,546,509 19,293,054
1999 24,125,199 18,944,731
1998 23,680,357 18,596,003
1997 23,219,463 18,248,200
1996 22,741,862 17,905,018
1995 22,245,439 17,564,068
1994 21,717,479 17,275,773
1993 21,180,159 17,025,918
1992 20,609,707 16,739,284
1991 20,036,500 16,475,354
1990 19,524,573 16,352,458
1989 19,057,807 16,248,557
1988 18,638,661 16,078,621
1987 18,250,505 15,916,576
1986 17,868,124 15,731,256
1985 17,477,692 15,544,154
1984 17,085,242 15,441,860
1983 16,689,119 15,388,794
1982 16,297,987 15,286,567
1981 15,922,423 15,099,414
1980 15,553,105 14,847,974
1979 15,190,590 14,579,614
1978 14,839,695 14,310,128
1977 14,499,175 14,049,371
1976 14,177,649 13,796,770
1975 13,870,695 13,548,984
1974 13,568,435 13,305,693
1973 13,275,239 13,060,916
1972 12,989,099 12,809,205
1971 12,710,061 12,551,910
1970 12,436,190 12,287,110
1969 12,167,036 12,013,858
1968 11,906,266 11,736,088
1967 11,652,716 11,457,328
1966 11,408,710 11,183,928
1965 11,173,411 10,916,965
1964 10,946,392 10,653,397
1963 10,729,818 10,395,040
1962 10,521,116 10,143,754
1961 10,318,396 9,899,372
1960 10,123,658 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/nepal/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nepal increased by 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nepal gained 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Nepal was ranked 43rd most populous country in 2006 and is 52nd 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) Nepal's population will grow by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Nepal is projected to reach its peak in 2067 at 35.8M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Nepal
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nepal Sri Lanka
2100 -0.59% -0.56%
2099 -0.58% -0.56%
2098 -0.57% -0.55%
2097 -0.56% -0.54%
2096 -0.55% -0.53%
2095 -0.55% -0.52%
2094 -0.53% -0.51%
2093 -0.52% -0.5%
2092 -0.51% -0.49%
2091 -0.5% -0.5%
2090 -0.48% -0.49%
2089 -0.47% -0.47%
2088 -0.45% -0.46%
2087 -0.43% -0.46%
2086 -0.42% -0.45%
2085 -0.4% -0.43%
2084 -0.37% -0.42%
2083 -0.35% -0.4%
2082 -0.33% -0.4%
2081 -0.31% -0.38%
2080 -0.29% -0.38%
2079 -0.27% -0.35%
2078 -0.24% -0.33%
2077 -0.22% -0.32%
2076 -0.2% -0.31%
2075 -0.18% -0.31%
2074 -0.15% -0.29%
2073 -0.12% -0.27%
2072 -0.11% -0.26%
2071 -0.08% -0.25%
2070 -0.05% -0.23%
2069 -0.03% -0.23%
2068 -0.01% -0.24%
2067 0.01% -0.21%
2066 0.03% -0.22%
2065 0.06% -0.19%
2064 0.08% -0.17%
2063 0.11% -0.16%
2062 0.13% -0.14%
2061 0.16% -0.14%
2060 0.18% -0.12%
2059 0.21% -0.11%
2058 0.23% -0.1%
2057 0.26% -0.09%
2056 0.28% -0.05%
2055 0.3% -0.04%
2054 0.33% -0.04%
2053 0.35% -0.02%
2052 0.38% -0.004%
2051 0.4% 0.01%
2050 0.42% 0.02%
2049 0.44% 0.04%
2048 0.47% 0.07%
2047 0.5% 0.1%
2046 0.52% 0.14%
2045 0.54% 0.13%
2044 0.56% 0.16%
2043 0.58% 0.18%
2042 0.6% 0.2%
2041 0.63% 0.22%
2040 0.65% 0.25%
2039 0.68% 0.26%
2038 0.7% 0.29%
2037 0.73% 0.29%
2036 0.75% 0.31%
2035 0.78% 0.33%
2034 0.82% 0.35%
2033 0.85% 0.37%
2032 0.87% 0.38%
2031 0.9% 0.41%
2030 0.93% 0.42%
2029 0.97% 0.45%
2028 0.52% 0.47%
2027 0.14% 0.5%
2026 -0.07% 0.52%
2025 -0.15% 0.57%
2024 -0.15% -0.55%
2023 -0.07% -0.65%
2022 0.82% 0.11%
2021 1.76% 1.08%
2020 1.94% 0.53%
2019 1.19% 0.61%
2018 0.24% 1.01%
2017 0.2% 1.15%
2016 0.47% 1.14%
2015 0.55% 0.92%
2014 0.3% 0.94%
2013 0.2% -2.76%
2012 0.26% 0.76%
2011 0.45% 0.62%
2010 0.62% 0.59%
2009 0.68% 0.62%
2008 0.75% 0.67%
2007 0.84% 0.69%
2006 0.97% 0.67%
2005 1.13% 0.64%
2004 1.28% 0.68%
2003 1.42% 0.74%
2002 1.53% 1.05%
2001 1.63% 1.59%
2000 1.75% 1.84%
1999 1.88% 1.88%
1998 1.98% 1.91%
1997 2.1% 1.92%
1996 2.23% 1.94%
1995 2.43% 1.67%
1994 2.54% 1.47%
1993 2.77% 1.71%
1992 2.86% 1.6%
1991 2.62% 0.75%
1990 2.45% 0.64%
1989 2.25% 1.06%
1988 2.13% 1.02%
1987 2.14% 1.18%
1986 2.23% 1.2%
1985 2.3% 0.66%
1984 2.37% 0.34%
1983 2.4% 0.67%
1982 2.36% 1.24%
1981 2.37% 1.69%
1980 2.39% 1.84%
1979 2.36% 1.88%
1978 2.35% 1.86%
1977 2.27% 1.83%
1976 2.21% 1.83%
1975 2.23% 1.83%
1974 2.21% 1.87%
1973 2.2% 1.97%
1972 2.2% 2.05%
1971 2.2% 2.16%
1970 2.21% 2.27%
1969 2.19% 2.37%
1968 2.18% 2.43%
1967 2.14% 2.44%
1966 2.11% 2.45%
1965 2.07% 2.47%
1964 2.02% 2.49%
1963 1.98% 2.48%
1962 1.96% 2.47%
1961 1.92% 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/nepal/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nepal declined by 0.15%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Nepal Sri Lanka
Current population
29596762
22185425
Population rank 52/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.27%
One net population change
12.1 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
54.9 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.55 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -119 -332
Annual growth/decline -43,560 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.15% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.45 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -364,699 -30,724
Net migration rank 193/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 470,719 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 82/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 142/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nepal
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nepal Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -364,699 - -30,724
2024 - -401,282 - -27,245
2023 368,450 -409,782 66,111 -28,011
2022 379,021 -379,321 95,378 -27,435
2021 351,165 130,001 121,858 -29,586
2020 373,553 162,139 170,968 -29,875
2019 387,113 182,203 172,243 -28,426
2018 394,576 -295,151 183,610 -28,607
2017 406,219 -368,787 187,993 -22,324
2016 415,921 -341,748 194,232 -18,388
2015 410,565 -221,062 201,815 -29,797
2014 423,166 -310,156 211,541 -33,672
2013 424,804 -373,064 221,021 -37,754
2012 430,151 -371,707 229,138 -41,955
2011 429,957 -347,552 224,461 -90,839
2010 432,631 -269,963 224,325 -98,060
2009 441,290 -266,144 200,175 -81,130
2008 452,353 -261,540 232,225 -97,144
2007 464,780 -252,526 248,287 -109,695
2006 475,335 -241,455 248,706 -107,045
2005 489,093 -211,024 248,683 -118,594
2004 504,853 -197,336 212,527 -84,795
2003 516,575 -168,314 252,008 -107,573
2002 525,045 -153,730 252,840 -105,718
2001 542,118 -148,973 244,377 19,273
2000 554,506 -147,193 227,060 123,894
1999 557,847 -122,551 206,876 138,799
1998 562,787 -108,400 201,059 150,724
1997 565,882 -98,454 208,193 135,636
1996 580,099 -92,307 215,290 127,236
1995 591,283 -86,232 221,957 117,416
1994 578,293 -27,415 228,904 8,323
1993 561,549 -37,782 226,257 36,232
1992 533,029 84,113 222,230 88,542
1991 512,233 17,056 218,117 -1,047
1990 495,202 -640 224,454 -195,736
1989 478,771 -39,808 212,401 -33,305
1988 463,581 -64,246 219,184 -58,415
1987 449,400 -72,437 226,414 -63,105
1986 434,802 -47,017 233,782 -26,460
1985 423,240 -30,154 247,836 -80,950
1984 411,122 -19,300 263,175 -225,450
1983 399,103 1,304 277,768 -209,362
1982 385,741 -3,898 300,030 -163,987
1981 374,145 -4,855 328,096 -89,824
1980 364,254 5,084 328,155 -63,541
1979 355,597 88 329,791 -57,683
1978 345,765 346 317,055 -50,189
1977 332,843 2,108 300,038 -45,383
1976 323,222 -15,119 291,816 -41,258
1975 312,479 -6,686 282,496 -37,475
1974 303,078 -4,361 275,521 -33,979
1973 288,750 -1,076 278,577 -30,582
1972 286,708 -2,107 282,494 -27,071
1971 280,752 -7,284 281,200 -22,021
1970 272,439 1,847 286,719 -16,299
1969 264,560 -527 286,218 -10,152
1968 258,259 -746 286,642 -7,163
1967 249,240 347 284,738 -6,696
1966 241,716 -3,306 275,549 -6,794
1965 233,726 -1,551 272,422 -7,249
1964 227,948 -6,087 269,584 -7,614
1963 219,586 -8,303 262,880 -8,118
1962 215,368 -9,249 256,719 -8,909
1961 209,917 -10,601 251,087 -10,144
1960 203,374 -13,223 247,631 -12,610

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 67.9% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 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, 470,719 residents or 1.6% of the population were not native-born in Nepal, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K
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/nepal/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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