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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Palestine was 5,413,596 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palestine's population is 5,563,879 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.94 times bigger than Palestine's.
  • Palestine is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.07% for Palestine vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Palestine has had an average growth rate of +2.39% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Palestine has increased from 3.41M people to 5.56M (63.3% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Palestine vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Palestine
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Palestine Sri Lanka
2100 11,215,819 20,009,380
2099 11,205,757 20,121,095
2098 11,192,283 20,234,513
2097 11,175,117 20,345,619
2096 11,158,746 20,456,607
2095 11,138,752 20,566,246
2094 11,119,812 20,674,019
2093 11,097,071 20,780,946
2092 11,073,029 20,886,274
2091 11,047,567 20,990,047
2090 11,020,998 21,095,968
2089 10,994,862 21,198,788
2088 10,963,888 21,299,229
2087 10,934,344 21,398,269
2086 10,901,130 21,496,892
2085 10,866,652 21,594,661
2084 10,828,231 21,687,323
2083 10,788,662 21,778,597
2082 10,744,562 21,866,395
2081 10,694,184 21,954,337
2080 10,643,741 22,038,953
2079 10,595,541 22,122,744
2078 10,542,808 22,200,069
2077 10,485,940 22,274,355
2076 10,425,009 22,345,857
2075 10,360,406 22,414,609
2074 10,296,803 22,485,066
2073 10,231,098 22,550,427
2072 10,162,543 22,610,645
2071 10,087,031 22,669,042
2070 10,011,609 22,725,948
2069 9,934,922 22,779,050
2068 9,859,053 22,831,596
2067 9,776,883 22,885,941
2066 9,697,923 22,935,123
2065 9,614,104 22,985,942
2064 9,528,739 23,030,844
2063 9,441,399 23,071,114
2062 9,355,323 23,107,970
2061 9,263,409 23,139,924
2060 9,170,607 23,171,649
2059 9,079,745 23,199,387
2058 8,990,271 23,224,997
2057 8,896,743 23,247,211
2056 8,802,019 23,267,292
2055 8,709,444 23,278,653
2054 8,615,281 23,287,520
2053 8,516,567 23,297,347
2052 8,414,954 23,301,287
2051 8,311,546 23,302,108
2050 8,205,177 23,299,282
2049 8,098,984 23,293,630
2048 7,992,341 23,283,465
2047 7,883,102 23,267,251
2046 7,771,995 23,244,081
2045 7,656,634 23,212,221
2044 7,540,346 23,181,041
2043 7,423,169 23,144,217
2042 7,304,164 23,103,489
2041 7,184,590 23,056,478
2040 7,065,128 23,005,928
2039 6,944,514 22,948,866
2038 6,828,736 22,888,821
2037 6,712,604 22,822,943
2036 6,597,804 22,756,462
2035 6,481,168 22,685,766
2034 6,367,252 22,611,514
2033 6,253,701 22,532,374
2032 6,144,167 22,449,310
2031 6,035,613 22,364,063
2030 5,928,640 22,273,377
2029 5,823,343 22,181,300
2028 5,719,323 22,082,826
2027 5,615,205 21,979,196
2026 5,509,670 21,870,145
2025 5,413,596 21,756,000
2024 5,289,152 21,916,000
2023 5,165,775 22,037,000
2022 5,043,612 22,181,000
2021 4,922,749 22,156,000
2020 4,803,269 21,919,000
2019 4,685,306 21,803,000
2018 4,569,087 21,670,000
2017 4,454,805 21,453,000
2016 4,367,088 21,209,000
2015 4,270,092 20,970,000
2014 4,173,398 20,778,000
2013 4,076,708 20,585,000
2012 3,979,998 21,169,458
2011 3,882,986 21,009,048
2010 3,786,161 20,879,089
2009 3,689,099 20,756,435
2008 3,591,977 20,629,378
2007 3,494,496 20,492,545
2006 3,406,334 20,352,411
2005 3,320,396 20,216,524
2004 3,236,626 20,087,605
2003 3,154,969 19,951,521
2002 3,075,373 19,805,752
2001 2,997,784 19,600,362
2000 2,922,153 19,293,054
1999 2,848,431 18,944,731
1998 2,776,568 18,596,003
1997 2,706,518 18,248,200
1996 2,587,997 17,905,018
1995 2,474,666 17,564,068
1994 2,366,298 17,275,773
1993 2,262,676 17,025,918
1992 2,163,591 16,739,284
1991 2,068,845 16,475,354
1990 1,978,248 16,352,458
1989 - 16,248,557
1988 - 16,078,621
1987 - 15,916,576
1986 - 15,731,256
1985 - 15,544,154
1984 - 15,441,860
1983 - 15,388,794
1982 - 15,286,567
1981 - 15,099,414
1980 - 14,847,974
1979 - 14,579,614
1978 - 14,310,128
1977 - 14,049,371
1976 - 13,796,770
1975 - 13,548,984
1974 - 13,305,693
1973 - 13,060,916
1972 - 12,809,205
1971 - 12,551,910
1970 - 12,287,110
1969 - 12,013,858
1968 - 11,736,088
1967 - 11,457,328
1966 - 11,183,928
1965 - 10,916,965
1964 - 10,653,397
1963 - 10,395,040
1962 - 10,143,754
1961 - 9,899,372
1960 - 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/palestine/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palestine increased by 960,754 people (a 28.2% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palestine gained 1,196,791 people (a 27.4% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Palestine was ranked 127th most populous country in 2006 and is 121st 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) Palestine's population will grow by 47.5% to 8,205,177 people with a rank change from 121st to 112th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Palestine is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 11.2M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Palestine
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Palestine Sri Lanka
2100 0.09% -0.56%
2099 0.12% -0.56%
2098 0.15% -0.55%
2097 0.15% -0.54%
2096 0.18% -0.53%
2095 0.17% -0.52%
2094 0.2% -0.51%
2093 0.22% -0.5%
2092 0.23% -0.49%
2091 0.24% -0.5%
2090 0.24% -0.49%
2089 0.28% -0.47%
2088 0.27% -0.46%
2087 0.3% -0.46%
2086 0.32% -0.45%
2085 0.35% -0.43%
2084 0.37% -0.42%
2083 0.41% -0.4%
2082 0.47% -0.4%
2081 0.47% -0.38%
2080 0.45% -0.38%
2079 0.5% -0.35%
2078 0.54% -0.33%
2077 0.58% -0.32%
2076 0.62% -0.31%
2075 0.62% -0.31%
2074 0.64% -0.29%
2073 0.67% -0.27%
2072 0.75% -0.26%
2071 0.75% -0.25%
2070 0.77% -0.23%
2069 0.77% -0.23%
2068 0.84% -0.24%
2067 0.81% -0.21%
2066 0.87% -0.22%
2065 0.9% -0.19%
2064 0.93% -0.17%
2063 0.92% -0.16%
2062 0.99% -0.14%
2061 1.01% -0.14%
2060 1% -0.12%
2059 1% -0.11%
2058 1.05% -0.1%
2057 1.08% -0.09%
2056 1.06% -0.05%
2055 1.09% -0.04%
2054 1.16% -0.04%
2053 1.21% -0.02%
2052 1.24% -0.004%
2051 1.3% 0.01%
2050 1.31% 0.02%
2049 1.33% 0.04%
2048 1.39% 0.07%
2047 1.43% 0.1%
2046 1.51% 0.14%
2045 1.54% 0.13%
2044 1.58% 0.16%
2043 1.63% 0.18%
2042 1.66% 0.2%
2041 1.69% 0.22%
2040 1.74% 0.25%
2039 1.7% 0.26%
2038 1.73% 0.29%
2037 1.74% 0.29%
2036 1.8% 0.31%
2035 1.79% 0.33%
2034 1.82% 0.35%
2033 1.78% 0.37%
2032 1.8% 0.38%
2031 1.8% 0.41%
2030 1.81% 0.42%
2029 1.82% 0.45%
2028 1.85% 0.47%
2027 1.92% 0.5%
2026 1.77% 0.52%
2025 2.35% -0.73%
2024 2.39% -0.55%
2023 2.42% -0.65%
2022 2.46% 0.11%
2021 2.49% 1.08%
2020 2.52% 0.53%
2019 2.54% 0.61%
2018 2.57% 1.01%
2017 2.01% 1.15%
2016 2.27% 1.14%
2015 2.32% 0.92%
2014 2.37% 0.94%
2013 2.43% -2.76%
2012 2.5% 0.76%
2011 2.56% 0.62%
2010 2.63% 0.59%
2009 2.7% 0.62%
2008 2.79% 0.67%
2007 2.59% 0.69%
2006 2.59% 0.67%
2005 2.59% 0.64%
2004 2.59% 0.68%
2003 2.59% 0.74%
2002 2.59% 1.05%
2001 2.59% 1.59%
2000 2.59% 1.84%
1999 2.59% 1.88%
1998 2.59% 1.91%
1997 4.58% 1.92%
1996 4.58% 1.94%
1995 4.58% 1.67%
1994 4.58% 1.47%
1993 4.58% 1.71%
1992 4.58% 1.6%
1991 4.58% 0.75%
1990 - 0.64%
1989 - 1.06%
1988 - 1.02%
1987 - 1.18%
1986 - 1.2%
1985 - 0.66%
1984 - 0.34%
1983 - 0.67%
1982 - 1.24%
1981 - 1.69%
1980 - 1.84%
1979 - 1.88%
1978 - 1.86%
1977 - 1.83%
1976 - 1.83%
1975 - 1.83%
1974 - 1.87%
1973 - 1.97%
1972 - 2.05%
1971 - 2.16%
1970 - 2.27%
1969 - 2.37%
1968 - 2.43%
1967 - 2.44%
1966 - 2.45%
1965 - 2.47%
1964 - 2.49%
1963 - 2.48%
1962 - 2.47%
1961 - 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/palestine/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Palestine grew by 2.35%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Palestine Sri Lanka
Current population
5563879
21926160
Population rank 121/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.26%
One net population change
4.24 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
3.75 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
16.9 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +341 -438
Annual growth/decline +124,444 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.35% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 33/197 190/197
One migration net change every
22.8 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -23,156 -30,724
Net migration rank 154/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 272,481 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 103/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 5% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 92/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Palestine
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Palestine Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,156 - -30,724
2024 108,930 -23,145 50,407 -27,245
2023 102,613 -24,996 66,111 -28,011
2022 123,987 -5,006 95,378 -27,435
2021 120,396 -12,369 121,858 -29,586
2020 122,416 -12,369 170,968 -29,875
2019 124,508 -24,733 172,243 -28,426
2018 124,791 -25,141 183,610 -28,607
2017 125,688 -25,452 187,993 -22,324
2016 126,698 -22,774 194,232 -18,388
2015 126,189 -22,903 201,815 -29,797
2014 120,724 -27,077 211,541 -33,672
2013 120,503 -26,979 221,021 -37,754
2012 119,185 -26,916 229,138 -41,955
2011 119,021 -26,662 224,461 -90,839
2010 117,674 -26,351 224,325 -98,060
2009 111,724 -25,906 200,175 -81,130
2008 108,395 -23,985 232,225 -97,144
2007 112,453 -20,337 248,287 -109,695
2006 111,728 -23,445 248,706 -107,045
2005 110,569 -28,161 248,683 -118,594
2004 110,045 -32,853 212,527 -84,795
2003 109,162 -35,968 252,008 -107,573
2002 108,560 -35,038 252,840 -105,718
2001 107,320 -25,652 244,377 19,273
2000 106,367 -11,496 227,060 123,894
1999 104,823 -13,860 206,876 138,799
1998 103,566 -13,146 201,059 150,724
1997 102,307 10,417 208,193 135,636
1996 98,085 9,810 215,290 127,236
1995 94,037 8,763 221,957 117,416
1994 90,156 7,434 228,904 8,323
1993 86,434 5,975 226,257 36,232
1992 82,865 4,411 222,230 88,542
1991 79,444 2,116 218,117 -1,047
1990 76,163 -476 224,454 -195,736
1989 - -3,026 212,401 -33,305
1988 - -3,008 219,184 -58,415
1987 - 50,702 226,414 -63,105
1986 - -21,071 233,782 -26,460
1985 - -31,640 247,836 -80,950
1984 - 9,108 263,175 -225,450
1983 - 684 277,768 -209,362
1982 - -9,799 300,030 -163,987
1981 - -13,892 328,096 -89,824
1980 - -15,067 328,155 -63,541
1979 - -16,058 329,791 -57,683
1978 - -16,654 317,055 -50,189
1977 - -16,444 300,038 -45,383
1976 - -14,515 291,816 -41,258
1975 - -11,596 282,496 -37,475
1974 - -8,670 275,521 -33,979
1973 - -6,736 278,577 -30,582
1972 - -7,848 282,494 -27,071
1971 - -17,235 281,200 -22,021
1970 - -31,405 286,719 -16,299
1969 - -45,586 286,218 -10,152
1968 - -54,963 286,642 -7,163
1967 - -55,265 284,738 -6,696
1966 - -47,780 275,549 -6,794
1965 - -36,419 272,422 -7,249
1964 - -31,125 269,584 -7,614
1963 - -21,220 262,880 -8,118
1962 - -18,971 256,719 -8,909
1961 - -18,224 251,087 -10,144
1960 - -17,662 247,631 -12,610

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.8% of the population change in Palestine is from natural causes (a gain of 1,206,216 people) and 14.2% is from migration (a loss of 198,888 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, 272,481 residents or 5% of the population were not native-born in Palestine, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Palestine
City Population
Gaza 590K
Ashdod 220K
Hebron 215K
Nablus 178K
Ramallah 43.9K
Qalqilya 41.7K
Bethlehem 36K
Dura 6K
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/palestine/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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