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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.11 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Nicaragua vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Sri Lanka
2100 8,688,116 20,270,496
2099 8,724,538 20,383,669
2098 8,760,232 20,498,567
2097 8,794,755 20,611,123
2096 8,828,433 20,723,560
2095 8,861,157 20,834,629
2094 8,892,755 20,943,809
2093 8,924,287 21,052,131
2092 8,954,488 21,158,833
2091 8,984,026 21,263,961
2090 9,012,075 21,371,263
2089 9,039,709 21,475,426
2088 9,065,862 21,577,177
2087 9,090,942 21,677,510
2086 9,115,336 21,777,420
2085 9,138,363 21,876,464
2084 9,160,205 21,970,336
2083 9,180,483 22,062,801
2082 9,199,639 22,151,745
2081 9,217,574 22,240,834
2080 9,233,677 22,326,555
2079 9,247,995 22,411,438
2078 9,260,269 22,489,772
2077 9,271,296 22,565,028
2076 9,280,355 22,637,463
2075 9,287,263 22,707,112
2074 9,293,340 22,778,489
2073 9,297,217 22,844,703
2072 9,298,930 22,905,707
2071 9,298,548 22,964,866
2070 9,296,541 23,022,515
2069 9,292,245 23,076,310
2068 9,285,519 23,129,541
2067 9,277,073 23,184,596
2066 9,266,063 23,234,419
2065 9,253,359 23,285,901
2064 9,238,451 23,331,390
2063 9,221,261 23,372,184
2062 9,201,687 23,409,522
2061 9,180,231 23,441,893
2060 9,156,164 23,474,032
2059 9,129,485 23,502,132
2058 9,100,437 23,528,076
2057 9,069,770 23,550,580
2056 9,037,076 23,570,923
2055 9,002,004 23,582,432
2054 8,964,646 23,591,414
2053 8,925,248 23,601,371
2052 8,883,323 23,605,361
2051 8,838,651 23,606,194
2050 8,791,647 23,603,330
2049 8,743,003 23,597,604
2048 8,691,701 23,587,307
2047 8,638,293 23,570,881
2046 8,583,244 23,547,409
2045 8,525,953 23,515,133
2044 8,466,669 23,483,546
2043 8,405,733 23,446,242
2042 8,342,871 23,404,983
2041 8,278,159 23,357,358
2040 8,211,510 23,306,148
2039 8,143,346 23,248,341
2038 8,072,943 23,187,512
2037 8,000,701 23,120,775
2036 7,926,969 23,053,427
2035 7,851,540 22,981,808
2034 7,774,327 22,906,587
2033 7,695,506 22,826,414
2032 7,615,273 22,742,267
2031 7,533,169 22,655,907
2030 7,449,842 22,564,038
2029 7,364,850 22,470,759
2028 7,278,061 22,370,999
2027 7,189,755 22,266,017
2026 7,100,090 22,155,543
2025 7,008,896 22,039,908
2024 6,916,140 21,916,000
2023 6,823,613 22,037,000
2022 6,730,654 22,181,000
2021 6,644,741 22,156,000
2020 6,565,267 21,919,000
2019 6,483,657 21,803,000
2018 6,400,080 21,670,000
2017 6,316,231 21,453,000
2016 6,232,666 21,209,000
2015 6,149,417 20,970,000
2014 6,066,492 20,778,000
2013 5,983,845 20,585,000
2012 5,901,287 21,169,458
2011 5,819,051 21,009,048
2010 5,737,450 20,879,089
2009 5,656,601 20,756,435
2008 5,576,593 20,629,378
2007 5,497,243 20,492,545
2006 5,418,855 20,352,411
2005 5,342,105 20,216,524
2004 5,272,912 20,087,605
2003 5,210,963 19,951,521
2002 5,149,909 19,805,752
2001 5,087,825 19,600,362
2000 5,022,633 19,293,054
1999 4,954,018 18,944,731
1998 4,883,655 18,596,003
1997 4,809,573 18,248,200
1996 4,729,974 17,905,018
1995 4,642,931 17,564,068
1994 4,549,316 17,275,773
1993 4,453,732 17,025,918
1992 4,357,026 16,739,284
1991 4,259,637 16,475,354
1990 4,162,559 16,352,458
1989 4,066,476 16,248,557
1988 3,972,320 16,078,621
1987 3,882,164 15,916,576
1986 3,794,157 15,731,256
1985 3,706,479 15,544,154
1984 3,619,104 15,441,860
1983 3,530,282 15,388,794
1982 3,438,745 15,286,567
1981 3,345,674 15,099,414
1980 3,252,403 14,847,974
1979 3,164,525 14,579,614
1978 3,080,314 14,310,128
1977 2,992,534 14,049,371
1976 2,903,851 13,796,770
1975 2,816,943 13,548,984
1974 2,732,075 13,305,693
1973 2,649,278 13,060,916
1972 2,573,578 12,809,205
1971 2,499,825 12,551,910
1970 2,423,065 12,287,110
1969 2,348,398 12,013,858
1968 2,275,836 11,736,088
1967 2,205,567 11,457,328
1966 2,137,820 11,183,928
1965 2,072,681 10,916,965
1964 2,010,176 10,653,397
1963 1,950,159 10,395,040
1962 1,892,320 10,143,754
1961 1,836,451 9,899,372
1960 1,782,370 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/nicaragua/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th 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) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Sri Lanka
2100 -0.42% -0.56%
2099 -0.41% -0.56%
2098 -0.39% -0.55%
2097 -0.38% -0.54%
2096 -0.37% -0.53%
2095 -0.36% -0.52%
2094 -0.35% -0.51%
2093 -0.34% -0.5%
2092 -0.33% -0.49%
2091 -0.31% -0.5%
2090 -0.31% -0.49%
2089 -0.29% -0.47%
2088 -0.28% -0.46%
2087 -0.27% -0.46%
2086 -0.25% -0.45%
2085 -0.24% -0.43%
2084 -0.22% -0.42%
2083 -0.21% -0.4%
2082 -0.19% -0.4%
2081 -0.17% -0.38%
2080 -0.15% -0.38%
2079 -0.13% -0.35%
2078 -0.12% -0.33%
2077 -0.1% -0.32%
2076 -0.07% -0.31%
2075 -0.07% -0.31%
2074 -0.04% -0.29%
2073 -0.02% -0.27%
2072 0.004% -0.26%
2071 0.02% -0.25%
2070 0.05% -0.23%
2069 0.07% -0.23%
2068 0.09% -0.24%
2067 0.12% -0.21%
2066 0.14% -0.22%
2065 0.16% -0.19%
2064 0.19% -0.17%
2063 0.21% -0.16%
2062 0.23% -0.14%
2061 0.26% -0.14%
2060 0.29% -0.12%
2059 0.32% -0.11%
2058 0.34% -0.1%
2057 0.36% -0.09%
2056 0.39% -0.05%
2055 0.42% -0.04%
2054 0.44% -0.04%
2053 0.47% -0.02%
2052 0.51% -0.004%
2051 0.53% 0.01%
2050 0.56% 0.02%
2049 0.59% 0.04%
2048 0.62% 0.07%
2047 0.64% 0.1%
2046 0.67% 0.14%
2045 0.7% 0.13%
2044 0.72% 0.16%
2043 0.75% 0.18%
2042 0.78% 0.2%
2041 0.81% 0.22%
2040 0.84% 0.25%
2039 0.87% 0.26%
2038 0.9% 0.29%
2037 0.93% 0.29%
2036 0.96% 0.31%
2035 0.99% 0.33%
2034 1.02% 0.35%
2033 1.05% 0.37%
2032 1.09% 0.38%
2031 1.12% 0.41%
2030 1.15% 0.42%
2029 1.19% 0.45%
2028 1.23% 0.47%
2027 1.26% 0.5%
2026 1.3% 0.52%
2025 1.34% 0.57%
2024 1.36% -0.55%
2023 1.38% -0.65%
2022 1.29% 0.11%
2021 1.21% 1.08%
2020 1.26% 0.53%
2019 1.31% 0.61%
2018 1.33% 1.01%
2017 1.34% 1.15%
2016 1.35% 1.14%
2015 1.37% 0.92%
2014 1.38% 0.94%
2013 1.4% -2.76%
2012 1.41% 0.76%
2011 1.42% 0.62%
2010 1.43% 0.59%
2009 1.43% 0.62%
2008 1.44% 0.67%
2007 1.45% 0.69%
2006 1.44% 0.67%
2005 1.31% 0.64%
2004 1.19% 0.68%
2003 1.19% 0.74%
2002 1.22% 1.05%
2001 1.3% 1.59%
2000 1.39% 1.84%
1999 1.44% 1.88%
1998 1.54% 1.91%
1997 1.68% 1.92%
1996 1.87% 1.94%
1995 2.06% 1.67%
1994 2.15% 1.47%
1993 2.22% 1.71%
1992 2.29% 1.6%
1991 2.33% 0.75%
1990 2.36% 0.64%
1989 2.37% 1.06%
1988 2.32% 1.02%
1987 2.32% 1.18%
1986 2.37% 1.2%
1985 2.41% 0.66%
1984 2.52% 0.34%
1983 2.66% 0.67%
1982 2.78% 1.24%
1981 2.87% 1.69%
1980 2.78% 1.84%
1979 2.73% 1.88%
1978 2.93% 1.86%
1977 3.05% 1.83%
1976 3.09% 1.83%
1975 3.11% 1.83%
1974 3.13% 1.87%
1973 2.94% 1.97%
1972 2.95% 2.05%
1971 3.17% 2.16%
1970 3.18% 2.27%
1969 3.19% 2.37%
1968 3.19% 2.43%
1967 3.17% 2.44%
1966 3.14% 2.45%
1965 3.11% 2.47%
1964 3.08% 2.49%
1963 3.06% 2.48%
1962 3.04% 2.47%
1961 3.03% 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/nicaragua/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Sri Lanka
Current population
7124343
22185425
Population rank 107/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.27%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 -332
Annual growth/decline +92,527 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -8,371 -30,724
Net migration rank 129/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - -30,724
2024 - -8,189 - -27,245
2023 100,921 -7,996 66,111 -28,011
2022 100,987 -7,996 95,378 -27,435
2021 89,213 -10,383 121,858 -29,586
2020 90,515 -10,383 170,968 -29,875
2019 102,817 -19,730 172,243 -28,426
2018 104,814 -20,742 183,610 -28,607
2017 105,468 -21,849 187,993 -22,324
2016 106,585 -23,076 194,232 -18,388
2015 107,344 -24,353 201,815 -29,797
2014 108,420 -25,570 211,541 -33,672
2013 109,032 -26,587 221,021 -37,754
2012 110,065 -27,389 229,138 -41,955
2011 110,026 -28,221 224,461 -90,839
2010 110,475 -29,081 224,325 -98,060
2009 110,213 -29,913 200,175 -81,130
2008 110,395 -30,675 232,225 -97,144
2007 110,341 -31,357 248,287 -109,695
2006 110,073 -32,274 248,706 -107,045
2005 108,984 -33,280 248,683 -118,594
2004 106,904 -44,222 212,527 -84,795
2003 106,142 -44,931 252,008 -107,573
2002 105,805 -44,906 252,840 -105,718
2001 107,109 -43,837 244,377 19,273
2000 109,192 -42,087 227,060 123,894
1999 110,217 -40,095 206,876 138,799
1998 108,862 -38,260 201,059 150,724
1997 114,415 -36,851 208,193 135,636
1996 116,849 -35,208 215,290 127,236
1995 118,325 -25,889 221,957 117,416
1994 119,565 -24,773 228,904 8,323
1993 120,469 -24,091 226,257 36,232
1992 121,204 -24,171 222,230 88,542
1991 121,787 -24,028 218,117 -1,047
1990 120,677 -24,280 224,454 -195,736
1989 120,128 -24,364 212,401 -33,305
1988 117,299 -24,753 219,184 -58,415
1987 112,885 -25,127 226,414 -63,105
1986 113,054 -24,805 233,782 -26,460
1985 110,949 -23,840 247,836 -80,950
1984 110,133 -22,493 263,175 -225,450
1983 110,618 -20,620 277,768 -209,362
1982 112,468 -19,395 300,030 -163,987
1981 110,421 -17,353 328,096 -89,824
1980 108,604 -15,130 328,155 -63,541
1979 96,429 -14,152 329,791 -57,683
1978 98,419 -12,273 317,055 -50,189
1977 100,498 -11,082 300,038 -45,383
1976 98,100 -10,155 291,816 -41,258
1975 95,230 -9,349 282,496 -37,475
1974 92,505 -8,639 275,521 -33,979
1973 89,662 -7,947 278,577 -30,582
1972 76,906 -7,219 282,494 -27,071
1971 84,139 -6,328 281,200 -22,021
1970 81,127 -5,423 286,719 -16,299
1969 78,237 -4,592 286,218 -10,152
1968 75,458 -3,979 286,642 -7,163
1967 72,722 -3,666 284,738 -6,696
1966 69,883 -3,443 275,549 -6,794
1965 67,056 -3,231 272,422 -7,249
1964 64,227 -3,043 269,584 -7,614
1963 61,738 -2,881 262,880 -8,118
1962 59,547 -2,727 256,719 -8,909
1961 57,499 -2,579 251,087 -10,144
1960 55,664 -2,418 247,631 -12,610

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K
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/nicaragua/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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