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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,618,118 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,619,950 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 1.35 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 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Nepal has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Nepal vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Nepal
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nepal Sri Lanka
2100 31,916,191 20,009,380
2099 32,104,658 20,121,095
2098 32,291,766 20,234,513
2097 32,478,376 20,345,619
2096 32,662,029 20,456,607
2095 32,842,809 20,566,246
2094 33,023,754 20,674,019
2093 33,200,660 20,780,946
2092 33,375,774 20,886,274
2091 33,547,026 20,990,047
2090 33,714,253 21,095,968
2089 33,878,299 21,198,788
2088 34,037,329 21,299,229
2087 34,190,255 21,398,269
2086 34,337,807 21,496,892
2085 34,483,366 21,594,661
2084 34,620,498 21,687,323
2083 34,750,155 21,778,597
2082 34,872,031 21,866,395
2081 34,987,218 21,954,337
2080 35,095,973 22,038,953
2079 35,198,820 22,122,744
2078 35,292,530 22,200,069
2077 35,377,971 22,274,355
2076 35,456,092 22,345,857
2075 35,525,668 22,414,609
2074 35,588,497 22,485,066
2073 35,642,802 22,550,427
2072 35,686,332 22,610,645
2071 35,725,442 22,669,042
2070 35,755,056 22,725,948
2069 35,774,677 22,779,050
2068 35,785,895 22,831,596
2067 35,789,572 22,885,941
2066 35,785,710 22,935,123
2065 35,774,308 22,985,942
2064 35,753,136 23,030,844
2063 35,725,408 23,071,114
2062 35,685,285 23,107,970
2061 35,638,790 23,139,924
2060 35,583,129 23,171,649
2059 35,518,416 23,199,387
2058 35,442,760 23,224,997
2057 35,360,939 23,247,211
2056 35,268,910 23,267,292
2055 35,170,656 23,278,653
2054 35,065,508 23,287,520
2053 34,951,722 23,297,347
2052 34,831,085 23,301,287
2051 34,699,347 23,302,108
2050 34,561,226 23,299,282
2049 34,415,794 23,293,630
2048 34,265,080 23,283,465
2047 34,106,257 23,267,251
2046 33,936,663 23,244,081
2045 33,762,505 23,212,221
2044 33,581,319 23,181,041
2043 33,394,849 23,144,217
2042 33,200,691 23,103,489
2041 33,001,382 23,056,478
2040 32,795,384 23,005,928
2039 32,583,834 22,948,866
2038 32,363,750 22,888,821
2037 32,138,947 22,822,943
2036 31,906,773 22,756,462
2035 31,667,683 22,685,766
2034 31,421,060 22,611,514
2033 31,165,782 22,532,374
2032 30,904,004 22,449,310
2031 30,636,967 22,364,063
2030 30,362,343 22,273,377
2029 30,081,388 22,181,300
2028 29,793,481 22,082,826
2027 29,640,694 21,979,196
2026 29,598,041 21,870,145
2025 29,618,118 21,756,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,664,488 people (a 5.95% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% 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 34,561,226 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Nepal is projected to reach its peak in 2067 at 35.8M people compared to the peak of 23.3M 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 -0.11% -0.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nepal declined by 0.11%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Nepal Sri Lanka
Current population
29619950
21926160
Population rank 52/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.26%
One net population change
16 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
56.1 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
2.54 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline -90 -438
Annual growth/decline -32,936 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.11% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 167/197 190/197
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 355,516 -401,282 50,407 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 66.4% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,842,099 people) and 33.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,942,790 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/nepal/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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