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Population in North Macedonia compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,824,359 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,805,954 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 12.3 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • North Macedonia is ranked the 150th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.02% for North Macedonia vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, North Macedonia has had an average growth rate of -0.48% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.44% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

North Macedonia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia Sri Lanka
2100 866,884 20,270,496
2099 877,788 20,383,669
2098 888,715 20,498,567
2097 899,716 20,611,123
2096 910,709 20,723,560
2095 921,559 20,834,629
2094 932,633 20,943,809
2093 943,984 21,052,131
2092 955,335 21,158,833
2091 966,773 21,263,961
2090 978,130 21,371,263
2089 989,666 21,475,426
2088 1,001,224 21,577,177
2087 1,012,831 21,677,510
2086 1,024,787 21,777,420
2085 1,036,668 21,876,464
2084 1,048,876 21,970,336
2083 1,061,031 22,062,801
2082 1,073,408 22,151,745
2081 1,085,823 22,240,834
2080 1,098,127 22,326,555
2079 1,110,614 22,411,438
2078 1,123,398 22,489,772
2077 1,136,448 22,565,028
2076 1,149,787 22,637,463
2075 1,163,080 22,707,112
2074 1,176,671 22,778,489
2073 1,190,351 22,844,703
2072 1,204,015 22,905,707
2071 1,217,691 22,964,866
2070 1,231,978 23,022,515
2069 1,246,408 23,076,310
2068 1,260,869 23,129,541
2067 1,275,289 23,184,596
2066 1,289,439 23,234,419
2065 1,303,917 23,285,901
2064 1,318,161 23,331,390
2063 1,332,807 23,372,184
2062 1,347,540 23,409,522
2061 1,362,299 23,441,893
2060 1,376,807 23,474,032
2059 1,390,921 23,502,132
2058 1,404,982 23,528,076
2057 1,419,185 23,550,580
2056 1,433,595 23,570,923
2055 1,447,857 23,582,432
2054 1,462,210 23,591,414
2053 1,476,351 23,601,371
2052 1,489,905 23,605,361
2051 1,503,526 23,606,194
2050 1,516,629 23,603,330
2049 1,529,608 23,597,604
2048 1,542,390 23,587,307
2047 1,555,085 23,570,881
2046 1,568,151 23,547,409
2045 1,581,115 23,515,133
2044 1,593,878 23,483,546
2043 1,606,930 23,446,242
2042 1,619,941 23,404,983
2041 1,632,704 23,357,358
2040 1,645,446 23,306,148
2039 1,658,034 23,248,341
2038 1,670,347 23,187,512
2037 1,682,850 23,120,775
2036 1,695,204 23,053,427
2035 1,707,302 22,981,808
2034 1,719,193 22,906,587
2033 1,730,723 22,826,414
2032 1,742,288 22,742,267
2031 1,753,729 22,655,907
2030 1,765,162 22,564,038
2029 1,775,815 22,470,759
2028 1,786,051 22,370,999
2027 1,795,945 22,266,017
2026 1,805,954 22,155,543
2025 1,815,368 22,039,908
2024 1,824,359 21,916,000
2023 1,827,816 22,037,000
2022 1,831,712 22,181,000
2021 1,837,114 22,156,000
2020 1,856,124 21,919,000
2019 1,876,262 21,803,000
2018 1,889,051 21,670,000
2017 1,898,657 21,453,000
2016 1,906,313 21,209,000
2015 1,912,430 20,970,000
2014 1,917,557 20,778,000
2013 1,922,716 20,585,000
2012 1,929,821 21,169,458
2011 1,937,398 21,009,048
2010 1,946,298 20,879,089
2009 1,958,782 20,756,435
2008 1,971,493 20,629,378
2007 1,982,933 20,492,545
2006 1,994,287 20,352,411
2005 2,005,330 20,216,524
2004 2,016,186 20,087,605
2003 2,022,725 19,951,521
2002 2,020,157 19,805,752
2001 2,034,882 19,600,362
2000 2,026,350 19,293,054
1999 2,017,142 18,944,731
1998 2,007,523 18,596,003
1997 1,996,869 18,248,200
1996 2,012,553 17,905,018
1995 1,998,534 17,564,068
1994 1,992,666 17,275,773
1993 2,006,854 17,025,918
1992 2,032,523 16,739,284
1991 2,055,994 16,475,354
1990 2,063,689 16,352,458
1989 2,055,649 16,248,557
1988 2,045,737 16,078,621
1987 2,035,157 15,916,576
1986 2,024,732 15,731,256
1985 2,014,331 15,544,154
1984 2,003,399 15,441,860
1983 1,991,901 15,388,794
1982 1,978,956 15,286,567
1981 1,959,065 15,099,414
1980 1,933,038 14,847,974
1979 1,906,523 14,579,614
1978 1,879,847 14,310,128
1977 1,853,138 14,049,371
1976 1,825,830 13,796,770
1975 1,797,972 13,548,984
1974 1,770,545 13,305,693
1973 1,743,816 13,060,916
1972 1,717,395 12,809,205
1971 1,691,216 12,551,910
1970 1,664,208 12,287,110
1969 1,636,345 12,013,858
1968 1,608,930 11,736,088
1967 1,582,492 11,457,328
1966 1,557,349 11,183,928
1965 1,533,466 10,916,965
1964 1,510,900 10,653,397
1963 1,488,737 10,395,040
1962 1,471,745 10,143,754
1961 1,455,171 9,899,372
1960 1,435,059 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/north-macedonia/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Macedonia decreased by 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Macedonia lost 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

North Macedonia was ranked 142nd most populous country in 2006 and is 150th 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) North Macedonia's population will shrink by 16% to 1,516,629 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. 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 North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Macedonia Sri Lanka
2100 -1.24% -0.56%
2099 -1.23% -0.56%
2098 -1.22% -0.55%
2097 -1.21% -0.54%
2096 -1.18% -0.53%
2095 -1.19% -0.52%
2094 -1.2% -0.51%
2093 -1.19% -0.5%
2092 -1.18% -0.49%
2091 -1.16% -0.5%
2090 -1.17% -0.49%
2089 -1.15% -0.47%
2088 -1.15% -0.46%
2087 -1.17% -0.46%
2086 -1.15% -0.45%
2085 -1.16% -0.43%
2084 -1.15% -0.42%
2083 -1.15% -0.4%
2082 -1.14% -0.4%
2081 -1.12% -0.38%
2080 -1.12% -0.38%
2079 -1.14% -0.35%
2078 -1.15% -0.33%
2077 -1.16% -0.32%
2076 -1.14% -0.31%
2075 -1.15% -0.31%
2074 -1.15% -0.29%
2073 -1.13% -0.27%
2072 -1.12% -0.26%
2071 -1.16% -0.25%
2070 -1.16% -0.23%
2069 -1.15% -0.23%
2068 -1.13% -0.24%
2067 -1.1% -0.21%
2066 -1.11% -0.22%
2065 -1.08% -0.19%
2064 -1.1% -0.17%
2063 -1.09% -0.16%
2062 -1.08% -0.14%
2061 -1.05% -0.14%
2060 -1.01% -0.12%
2059 -1% -0.11%
2058 -1% -0.1%
2057 -1.01% -0.09%
2056 -0.99% -0.05%
2055 -0.98% -0.04%
2054 -0.96% -0.04%
2053 -0.91% -0.02%
2052 -0.91% -0.004%
2051 -0.86% 0.01%
2050 -0.85% 0.02%
2049 -0.83% 0.04%
2048 -0.82% 0.07%
2047 -0.83% 0.1%
2046 -0.82% 0.14%
2045 -0.8% 0.13%
2044 -0.81% 0.16%
2043 -0.8% 0.18%
2042 -0.78% 0.2%
2041 -0.77% 0.22%
2040 -0.76% 0.25%
2039 -0.74% 0.26%
2038 -0.74% 0.29%
2037 -0.73% 0.29%
2036 -0.71% 0.31%
2035 -0.69% 0.33%
2034 -0.67% 0.35%
2033 -0.66% 0.37%
2032 -0.65% 0.38%
2031 -0.65% 0.41%
2030 -0.6% 0.42%
2029 -0.57% 0.45%
2028 -0.55% 0.47%
2027 -0.55% 0.5%
2026 -0.52% 0.52%
2025 -0.49% 0.57%
2024 -0.19% -0.55%
2023 -0.21% -0.65%
2022 -0.29% 0.11%
2021 -1.02% 1.08%
2020 -1.07% 0.53%
2019 -0.68% 0.61%
2018 -0.51% 1.01%
2017 -0.4% 1.15%
2016 -0.32% 1.14%
2015 -0.27% 0.92%
2014 -0.27% 0.94%
2013 -0.37% -2.76%
2012 -0.39% 0.76%
2011 -0.46% 0.62%
2010 -0.64% 0.59%
2009 -0.64% 0.62%
2008 -0.58% 0.67%
2007 -0.57% 0.69%
2006 -0.55% 0.67%
2005 -0.54% 0.64%
2004 -0.32% 0.68%
2003 0.13% 0.74%
2002 -0.72% 1.05%
2001 0.42% 1.59%
2000 0.46% 1.84%
1999 0.48% 1.88%
1998 0.53% 1.91%
1997 -0.78% 1.92%
1996 0.7% 1.94%
1995 0.29% 1.67%
1994 -0.71% 1.47%
1993 -1.26% 1.71%
1992 -1.14% 1.6%
1991 -0.37% 0.75%
1990 0.39% 0.64%
1989 0.48% 1.06%
1988 0.52% 1.02%
1987 0.51% 1.18%
1986 0.52% 1.2%
1985 0.55% 0.66%
1984 0.58% 0.34%
1983 0.65% 0.67%
1982 1.02% 1.24%
1981 1.35% 1.69%
1980 1.39% 1.84%
1979 1.42% 1.88%
1978 1.44% 1.86%
1977 1.5% 1.83%
1976 1.55% 1.83%
1975 1.55% 1.83%
1974 1.53% 1.87%
1973 1.54% 1.97%
1972 1.55% 2.05%
1971 1.62% 2.16%
1970 1.7% 2.27%
1969 1.7% 2.37%
1968 1.67% 2.43%
1967 1.61% 2.44%
1966 1.56% 2.45%
1965 1.49% 2.47%
1964 1.49% 2.49%
1963 1.15% 2.48%
1962 1.14% 2.47%
1961 1.4% 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/north-macedonia/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia Sri Lanka
Current population
1805954
22185425
Population rank 150/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.27%
One net population change
2.53 hours
4.34 minutes
One birth every
31.3 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
26.1 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -9 -332
Annual growth/decline -3,457 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -5,645 -30,724
Net migration rank 119/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 150,902 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 122/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.3% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 73/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Macedonia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,645 - -30,724
2024 - -5,728 - -27,245
2023 -3,290 -5,597 66,111 -28,011
2022 -4,397 -5,296 95,378 -27,435
2021 -9,737 -5,483 121,858 -29,586
2020 -5,939 -23,458 170,968 -29,875
2019 -375 -24,204 172,243 -28,426
2018 1,512 -24,878 183,610 -28,607
2017 1,329 -24,227 187,993 -22,324
2016 2,374 -24,144 194,232 -18,388
2015 2,294 -23,010 201,815 -29,797
2014 3,644 -22,132 211,541 -33,672
2013 3,653 -20,297 221,021 -37,754
2012 3,087 -19,083 229,138 -41,955
2011 3,100 -17,871 224,461 -90,839
2010 4,866 -16,668 224,325 -98,060
2009 4,309 -15,455 200,175 -81,130
2008 3,746 -17,645 232,225 -97,144
2007 2,974 -15,705 248,287 -109,695
2006 3,988 -9,632 248,706 -107,045
2005 4,011 -2,244 248,683 -118,594
2004 5,444 -2,640 212,527 -84,795
2003 8,900 -2,880 252,008 -107,573
2002 9,697 -2,858 252,840 -105,718
2001 10,174 -922 244,377 19,273
2000 12,159 -2,824 227,060 123,894
1999 10,489 -1,261 206,876 138,799
1998 12,446 -589 201,059 150,724
1997 12,979 -477 208,193 135,636
1996 14,806 -397 215,290 127,236
1995 17,239 -3,603 221,957 117,416
1994 19,103 -21,006 228,904 8,323
1993 20,797 -47,273 226,257 36,232
1992 21,659 -46,509 222,230 88,542
1991 23,387 -45,484 218,117 -1,047
1990 22,868 -16,174 224,454 -195,736
1989 22,912 -13,528 212,401 -33,305
1988 24,064 -13,621 219,184 -58,415
1987 24,359 -13,635 226,414 -63,105
1986 23,720 -13,589 233,782 -26,460
1985 24,167 -13,492 247,836 -80,950
1984 24,436 -13,251 263,175 -225,450
1983 24,690 -12,884 277,768 -209,362
1982 25,810 -11,716 300,030 -163,987
1981 25,689 0 328,096 -89,824
1980 26,547 -189 328,155 -63,541
1979 27,096 -426 329,791 -57,683
1978 27,150 -462 317,055 -50,189
1977 27,410 -683 300,038 -45,383
1976 28,799 -911 291,816 -41,258
1975 28,983 -1,147 282,496 -37,475
1974 28,400 -1,376 275,521 -33,979
1973 28,032 -1,600 278,577 -30,582
1972 28,236 -1,834 282,494 -27,071
1971 28,010 -2,064 281,200 -22,021
1970 28,022 60 286,719 -16,299
1969 27,464 181 286,218 -10,152
1968 28,378 -1,201 286,642 -7,163
1967 28,401 -2,696 284,738 -6,696
1966 28,766 -4,176 275,549 -6,794
1965 28,564 -5,385 272,422 -7,249
1964 27,889 -5,938 269,584 -7,614
1963 28,124 -5,759 262,880 -8,118
1962 25,317 -13,702 256,719 -8,909
1961 27,846 -6,309 251,087 -10,144
1960 28,816 -10,126 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 6.45% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 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, 150,902 residents or 8.3% of the population were not native-born in North Macedonia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K
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/north-macedonia/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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