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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.48 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Rwanda vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Sri Lanka
2100 33,092,520 20,270,496
2099 32,987,847 20,383,669
2098 32,907,335 20,498,567
2097 32,832,706 20,611,123
2096 32,747,490 20,723,560
2095 32,615,044 20,834,629
2094 32,529,590 20,943,809
2093 32,396,544 21,052,131
2092 32,274,083 21,158,833
2091 32,171,077 21,263,961
2090 32,068,626 21,371,263
2089 31,872,593 21,475,426
2088 31,726,882 21,577,177
2087 31,533,364 21,677,510
2086 31,379,315 21,777,420
2085 31,235,000 21,876,464
2084 31,092,940 21,970,336
2083 30,917,707 22,062,801
2082 30,733,578 22,151,745
2081 30,557,819 22,240,834
2080 30,367,298 22,326,555
2079 30,176,627 22,411,438
2078 29,997,866 22,489,772
2077 29,800,561 22,565,028
2076 29,627,021 22,637,463
2075 29,423,503 22,707,112
2074 29,225,643 22,778,489
2073 29,007,777 22,844,703
2072 28,780,763 22,905,707
2071 28,560,382 22,964,866
2070 28,316,533 23,022,515
2069 28,103,541 23,076,310
2068 27,854,906 23,129,541
2067 27,591,747 23,184,596
2066 27,355,659 23,234,419
2065 27,084,704 23,285,901
2064 26,821,315 23,331,390
2063 26,543,184 23,372,184
2062 26,296,132 23,409,522
2061 25,985,356 23,441,893
2060 25,712,904 23,474,032
2059 25,437,446 23,502,132
2058 25,106,242 23,528,076
2057 24,837,928 23,550,580
2056 24,566,784 23,570,923
2055 24,266,669 23,582,432
2054 23,976,914 23,591,414
2053 23,690,426 23,601,371
2052 23,406,346 23,605,361
2051 23,099,207 23,606,194
2050 22,800,250 23,603,330
2049 22,484,698 23,597,604
2048 22,157,938 23,587,307
2047 21,834,786 23,570,881
2046 21,540,566 23,547,409
2045 21,215,262 23,515,133
2044 20,902,695 23,483,546
2043 20,535,605 23,446,242
2042 20,201,608 23,404,983
2041 19,832,577 23,357,358
2040 19,463,015 23,306,148
2039 19,096,860 23,248,341
2038 18,761,626 23,187,512
2037 18,421,864 23,120,775
2036 18,116,691 23,053,427
2035 17,753,910 22,981,808
2034 17,421,234 22,906,587
2033 17,089,349 22,826,414
2032 16,811,505 22,742,267
2031 16,485,559 22,655,907
2030 16,167,916 22,564,038
2029 15,858,862 22,470,759
2028 15,544,959 22,370,999
2027 15,207,733 22,266,017
2026 14,888,776 22,155,543
2025 14,560,205 22,039,908
2024 14,256,567 21,916,000
2023 13,954,471 22,037,000
2022 13,651,030 22,181,000
2021 13,355,260 22,156,000
2020 13,065,837 21,919,000
2019 12,776,103 21,803,000
2018 12,487,996 21,670,000
2017 12,202,060 21,453,000
2016 11,919,183 21,209,000
2015 11,640,022 20,970,000
2014 11,364,757 20,778,000
2013 11,093,340 20,585,000
2012 10,829,901 21,169,458
2011 10,573,733 21,009,048
2010 10,317,553 20,879,089
2009 10,060,432 20,756,435
2008 9,804,269 20,629,378
2007 9,549,933 20,492,545
2006 9,299,246 20,352,411
2005 9,054,528 20,216,524
2004 8,816,844 20,087,605
2003 8,586,875 19,951,521
2002 8,400,180 19,805,752
2001 8,287,094 19,600,362
2000 8,213,931 19,293,054
1999 8,147,912 18,944,731
1998 8,081,681 18,596,003
1997 7,755,238 18,248,200
1996 6,708,764 17,905,018
1995 5,674,118 17,564,068
1994 6,792,352 17,275,773
1993 7,981,132 17,025,918
1992 7,683,266 16,739,284
1991 7,526,966 16,475,354
1990 7,375,307 16,352,458
1989 7,184,706 16,248,557
1988 6,968,071 16,078,621
1987 6,749,493 15,916,576
1986 6,531,881 15,731,256
1985 6,317,228 15,544,154
1984 6,107,627 15,441,860
1983 5,905,311 15,388,794
1982 5,711,549 15,286,567
1981 5,527,230 15,099,414
1980 5,353,259 14,847,974
1979 5,189,541 14,579,614
1978 5,035,171 14,310,128
1977 4,888,240 14,049,371
1976 4,745,954 13,796,770
1975 4,607,728 13,548,984
1974 4,474,228 13,305,693
1973 4,345,047 13,060,916
1972 4,220,335 12,809,205
1971 4,100,044 12,551,910
1970 3,980,669 12,287,110
1969 3,861,271 12,013,858
1968 3,744,010 11,736,088
1967 3,629,577 11,457,328
1966 3,521,626 11,183,928
1965 3,423,210 10,916,965
1964 3,334,834 10,653,397
1963 3,258,890 10,395,040
1962 3,186,025 10,143,754
1961 3,106,779 9,899,372
1960 3,022,294 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/rwanda/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 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, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Sri Lanka
2100 0.32% -0.56%
2099 0.24% -0.56%
2098 0.23% -0.55%
2097 0.26% -0.54%
2096 0.41% -0.53%
2095 0.26% -0.52%
2094 0.41% -0.51%
2093 0.38% -0.5%
2092 0.32% -0.49%
2091 0.32% -0.5%
2090 0.62% -0.49%
2089 0.46% -0.47%
2088 0.61% -0.46%
2087 0.49% -0.46%
2086 0.46% -0.45%
2085 0.46% -0.43%
2084 0.57% -0.42%
2083 0.6% -0.4%
2082 0.58% -0.4%
2081 0.63% -0.38%
2080 0.63% -0.38%
2079 0.6% -0.35%
2078 0.66% -0.33%
2077 0.59% -0.32%
2076 0.69% -0.31%
2075 0.68% -0.31%
2074 0.75% -0.29%
2073 0.79% -0.27%
2072 0.77% -0.26%
2071 0.86% -0.25%
2070 0.76% -0.23%
2069 0.89% -0.23%
2068 0.95% -0.24%
2067 0.86% -0.21%
2066 1% -0.22%
2065 0.98% -0.19%
2064 1.05% -0.17%
2063 0.94% -0.16%
2062 1.2% -0.14%
2061 1.06% -0.14%
2060 1.08% -0.12%
2059 1.32% -0.11%
2058 1.08% -0.1%
2057 1.1% -0.09%
2056 1.24% -0.05%
2055 1.21% -0.04%
2054 1.21% -0.04%
2053 1.21% -0.02%
2052 1.33% -0.004%
2051 1.31% 0.01%
2050 1.4% 0.02%
2049 1.47% 0.04%
2048 1.48% 0.07%
2047 1.37% 0.1%
2046 1.53% 0.14%
2045 1.5% 0.13%
2044 1.79% 0.16%
2043 1.65% 0.18%
2042 1.86% 0.2%
2041 1.9% 0.22%
2040 1.92% 0.25%
2039 1.79% 0.26%
2038 1.84% 0.29%
2037 1.68% 0.29%
2036 2.04% 0.31%
2035 1.91% 0.33%
2034 1.94% 0.35%
2033 1.65% 0.37%
2032 1.98% 0.38%
2031 1.96% 0.41%
2030 1.95% 0.42%
2029 2.02% 0.45%
2028 2.22% 0.47%
2027 2.14% 0.5%
2026 2.26% 0.52%
2025 2.13% 0.57%
2024 2.16% -0.55%
2023 2.22% -0.65%
2022 2.21% 0.11%
2021 2.22% 1.08%
2020 2.27% 0.53%
2019 2.31% 0.61%
2018 2.34% 1.01%
2017 2.37% 1.15%
2016 2.4% 1.14%
2015 2.42% 0.92%
2014 2.45% 0.94%
2013 2.43% -2.76%
2012 2.42% 0.76%
2011 2.48% 0.62%
2010 2.56% 0.59%
2009 2.61% 0.62%
2008 2.66% 0.67%
2007 2.7% 0.69%
2006 2.7% 0.67%
2005 2.7% 0.64%
2004 2.68% 0.68%
2003 2.22% 0.74%
2002 1.36% 1.05%
2001 0.89% 1.59%
2000 0.81% 1.84%
1999 0.82% 1.88%
1998 4.21% 1.91%
1997 15.6% 1.92%
1996 18.2% 1.94%
1995 -16.5% 1.67%
1994 -14.9% 1.47%
1993 3.88% 1.71%
1992 2.08% 1.6%
1991 2.06% 0.75%
1990 2.65% 0.64%
1989 3.11% 1.06%
1988 3.24% 1.02%
1987 3.33% 1.18%
1986 3.4% 1.2%
1985 3.43% 0.66%
1984 3.43% 0.34%
1983 3.39% 0.67%
1982 3.33% 1.24%
1981 3.25% 1.69%
1980 3.15% 1.84%
1979 3.07% 1.88%
1978 3.01% 1.86%
1977 3% 1.83%
1976 3% 1.83%
1975 2.98% 1.83%
1974 2.97% 1.87%
1973 2.96% 1.97%
1972 2.93% 2.05%
1971 3% 2.16%
1970 3.09% 2.27%
1969 3.13% 2.37%
1968 3.15% 2.43%
1967 3.07% 2.44%
1966 2.87% 2.45%
1965 2.65% 2.47%
1964 2.33% 2.49%
1963 2.29% 2.48%
1962 2.55% 2.47%
1961 2.8% 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/rwanda/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Sri Lanka
Current population
14975051
22185425
Population rank 77/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.27%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
1.33 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
6.35 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 -332
Annual growth/decline +302,096 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 -30,724
Net migration rank 48/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - -30,724
2024 - -15,582 - -27,245
2023 312,762 -9,001 66,111 -28,011
2022 312,145 -9,001 95,378 -27,435
2021 309,895 -21,492 121,858 -29,586
2020 312,692 -22,251 170,968 -29,875
2019 313,525 -24,492 172,243 -28,426
2018 312,512 -25,323 183,610 -28,607
2017 310,323 -25,634 187,993 -22,324
2016 305,549 -24,474 194,232 -18,388
2015 299,114 -21,862 201,815 -29,797
2014 292,779 -19,505 211,541 -33,672
2013 286,331 -16,779 221,021 -37,754
2012 282,584 -25,260 229,138 -41,955
2011 282,922 -27,915 224,461 -90,839
2010 286,848 -29,501 224,325 -98,060
2009 287,034 -30,128 200,175 -81,130
2008 287,334 -31,913 232,225 -97,144
2007 285,791 -32,537 248,287 -109,695
2006 282,149 -34,008 248,706 -107,045
2005 275,121 -33,830 248,683 -118,594
2004 265,273 -31,214 212,527 -84,795
2003 251,243 -25,355 252,008 -107,573
2002 239,036 -91,518 252,840 -105,718
2001 230,845 -152,197 244,377 19,273
2000 221,276 -153,588 227,060 123,894
1999 210,518 -146,162 206,876 138,799
1998 197,185 -129,089 201,059 150,724
1997 174,687 410,106 208,193 135,636
1996 140,455 1,367,700 215,290 127,236
1995 121,137 439,995 221,957 117,416
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 228,904 8,323
1993 183,926 236,110 226,257 36,232
1992 188,025 -12,334 222,230 88,542
1991 196,431 -59,519 218,117 -1,047
1990 207,895 -41,483 224,454 -195,736
1989 217,632 -2,826 212,401 -33,305
1988 223,759 -5,285 219,184 -58,415
1987 225,744 -7,062 226,414 -63,105
1986 225,526 -8,982 233,782 -26,460
1985 223,794 -11,031 247,836 -80,950
1984 219,337 -12,899 263,175 -225,450
1983 212,750 -14,560 277,768 -209,362
1982 205,147 -15,818 300,030 -163,987
1981 195,769 -16,453 328,096 -89,824
1980 184,988 -16,359 328,155 -63,541
1979 174,477 -15,669 329,791 -57,683
1978 163,779 -13,838 317,055 -50,189
1977 155,011 -11,084 300,038 -45,383
1976 147,665 -7,027 291,816 -41,258
1975 140,596 -4,791 282,496 -37,475
1974 135,743 -4,535 275,521 -33,979
1973 131,021 -3,862 278,577 -30,582
1972 126,403 -4,156 282,494 -27,071
1971 122,567 -4,230 281,200 -22,021
1970 119,273 1,149 286,719 -16,299
1969 115,394 2,983 286,218 -10,152
1968 111,422 4,728 286,642 -7,163
1967 108,053 4,655 284,738 -6,696
1966 105,128 -1,930 275,549 -6,794
1965 103,422 -9,774 272,422 -7,249
1964 102,562 -19,458 269,584 -7,614
1963 94,296 -25,524 262,880 -8,118
1962 102,548 -25,594 256,719 -8,909
1961 102,051 -20,508 251,087 -10,144
1960 100,627 -13,198 247,631 -12,610

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.8% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K
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/rwanda/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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