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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Palestine was 5,289,152 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palestine's population is 5,500,288 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 4.03 times bigger than Palestine's.
  • Palestine is ranked the 123rd 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 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Palestine has had an average growth rate of +2.4% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Palestine has increased from 3.41M people to 5.5M (61.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Palestine vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Palestine
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Palestine Sri Lanka
2100 11,139,010 20,270,496
2099 11,129,016 20,383,669
2098 11,115,634 20,498,567
2097 11,098,586 20,611,123
2096 11,082,327 20,723,560
2095 11,062,471 20,834,629
2094 11,043,660 20,943,809
2093 11,021,075 21,052,131
2092 10,997,198 21,158,833
2091 10,971,910 21,263,961
2090 10,945,522 21,371,263
2089 10,919,566 21,475,426
2088 10,888,804 21,577,177
2087 10,859,463 21,677,510
2086 10,826,475 21,777,420
2085 10,792,233 21,876,464
2084 10,754,076 21,970,336
2083 10,714,778 22,062,801
2082 10,670,980 22,151,745
2081 10,620,947 22,240,834
2080 10,570,849 22,326,555
2079 10,522,979 22,411,438
2078 10,470,607 22,489,772
2077 10,414,129 22,565,028
2076 10,353,616 22,637,463
2075 10,289,455 22,707,112
2074 10,226,287 22,778,489
2073 10,161,032 22,844,703
2072 10,092,947 22,905,707
2071 10,017,951 22,964,866
2070 9,943,046 23,022,515
2069 9,866,885 23,076,310
2068 9,791,535 23,129,541
2067 9,709,928 23,184,596
2066 9,631,509 23,234,419
2065 9,548,264 23,285,901
2064 9,463,483 23,331,390
2063 9,376,741 23,372,184
2062 9,291,255 23,409,522
2061 9,199,970 23,441,893
2060 9,107,804 23,474,032
2059 9,017,564 23,502,132
2058 8,928,703 23,528,076
2057 8,835,816 23,550,580
2056 8,741,740 23,570,923
2055 8,649,798 23,582,432
2054 8,556,281 23,591,414
2053 8,458,243 23,601,371
2052 8,357,325 23,605,361
2051 8,254,626 23,606,194
2050 8,148,985 23,603,330
2049 8,043,520 23,597,604
2048 7,937,607 23,587,307
2047 7,829,116 23,570,881
2046 7,718,770 23,547,409
2045 7,604,199 23,515,133
2044 7,488,707 23,483,546
2043 7,372,333 23,446,242
2042 7,254,143 23,404,983
2041 7,135,388 23,357,358
2040 7,016,744 23,306,148
2039 6,896,956 23,248,341
2038 6,781,970 23,187,512
2037 6,666,634 23,120,775
2036 6,552,620 23,053,427
2035 6,436,783 22,981,808
2034 6,323,647 22,906,587
2033 6,210,874 22,826,414
2032 6,102,090 22,742,267
2031 5,994,279 22,655,907
2030 5,888,039 22,564,038
2029 5,783,463 22,470,759
2028 5,680,155 22,370,999
2027 5,576,750 22,266,017
2026 5,471,938 22,155,543
2025 5,376,521 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,133,200 people (a 25.9% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Palestine was ranked 127th most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd 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 48.2% to 8,148,985 people with a rank change from 123rd to 112th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Palestine is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 11.1M people compared to the peak of 23.6M 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 1.65% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Palestine grew by 2.39%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Palestine Sri Lanka
Current population
5500288
22185425
Population rank 123/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
4.26 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
3.76 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
14.1 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +338 -332
Annual growth/decline +123,377 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 34/197 188/197
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 - -23,145 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.7% of the population change in Palestine is from natural causes (a gain of 1,218,010 people) and 14.3% is from migration (a loss of 202,820 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/palestine/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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