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Population in Saudi Arabia compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 35,300,280 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 36,734,925 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.66 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 44th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.71% of the world: 0.44% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.3% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 36.7M (71.2% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka
2100 74,230,118 20,270,496
2099 73,760,045 20,383,669
2098 73,287,526 20,498,567
2097 72,813,125 20,611,123
2096 72,336,039 20,723,560
2095 71,858,206 20,834,629
2094 71,379,928 20,943,809
2093 70,900,460 21,052,131
2092 70,420,464 21,158,833
2091 69,940,749 21,263,961
2090 69,462,214 21,371,263
2089 68,985,976 21,475,426
2088 68,510,277 21,577,177
2087 68,035,545 21,677,510
2086 67,562,521 21,777,420
2085 67,091,615 21,876,464
2084 66,621,667 21,970,336
2083 66,152,653 22,062,801
2082 65,684,321 22,151,745
2081 65,216,102 22,240,834
2080 64,749,128 22,326,555
2079 64,282,393 22,411,438
2078 63,815,918 22,489,772
2077 63,348,712 22,565,028
2076 62,880,120 22,637,463
2075 62,409,793 22,707,112
2074 61,937,628 22,778,489
2073 61,462,662 22,844,703
2072 60,984,202 22,905,707
2071 60,502,791 22,964,866
2070 60,018,216 23,022,515
2069 59,529,456 23,076,310
2068 59,036,086 23,129,541
2067 58,539,487 23,184,596
2066 58,039,687 23,234,419
2065 57,537,106 23,285,901
2064 57,032,172 23,331,390
2063 56,524,331 23,372,184
2062 56,014,549 23,409,522
2061 55,501,467 23,441,893
2060 54,986,901 23,474,032
2059 54,469,809 23,502,132
2058 53,950,469 23,528,076
2057 53,430,639 23,550,580
2056 52,909,061 23,570,923
2055 52,386,571 23,582,432
2054 51,862,312 23,591,414
2053 51,336,335 23,601,371
2052 50,809,100 23,605,361
2051 50,280,719 23,606,194
2050 49,751,739 23,603,330
2049 49,221,828 23,597,604
2048 48,690,143 23,587,307
2047 48,157,605 23,570,881
2046 47,623,246 23,547,409
2045 47,087,215 23,515,133
2044 46,550,306 23,483,546
2043 46,013,232 23,446,242
2042 45,475,200 23,404,983
2041 44,936,131 23,357,358
2040 44,396,093 23,306,148
2039 43,856,006 23,248,341
2038 43,314,707 23,187,512
2037 42,773,375 23,120,775
2036 42,231,639 23,053,427
2035 41,690,245 22,981,808
2034 41,150,029 22,906,587
2033 40,611,021 22,826,414
2032 40,073,144 22,742,267
2031 39,535,357 22,655,907
2030 38,998,581 22,564,038
2029 38,417,447 22,470,759
2028 37,810,902 22,370,999
2027 37,189,969 22,266,017
2026 36,566,201 22,155,543
2025 35,932,673 22,039,908
2024 35,300,280 21,916,000
2023 33,702,731 22,037,000
2022 32,175,224 22,181,000
2021 30,784,383 22,156,000
2020 31,552,510 21,919,000
2019 30,063,799 21,803,000
2018 30,196,281 21,670,000
2017 30,977,355 21,453,000
2016 30,954,198 21,209,000
2015 29,816,382 20,970,000
2014 28,309,273 20,778,000
2013 27,624,004 20,585,000
2012 26,168,861 21,169,458
2011 25,091,867 21,009,048
2010 23,978,487 20,879,089
2009 24,217,654 20,756,435
2008 23,287,877 20,629,378
2007 22,368,313 20,492,545
2006 21,459,144 20,352,411
2005 20,559,890 20,216,524
2004 19,669,480 20,087,605
2003 18,786,767 19,951,521
2002 17,910,910 19,805,752
2001 17,041,397 19,600,362
2000 16,177,722 19,293,054
1999 15,472,075 18,944,731
1998 14,922,185 18,596,003
1997 14,374,943 18,248,200
1996 13,831,009 17,905,018
1995 13,289,245 17,564,068
1994 12,750,040 17,275,773
1993 12,215,862 17,025,918
1992 11,686,676 16,739,284
1991 11,160,744 16,475,354
1990 10,640,691 16,352,458
1989 10,128,394 16,248,557
1988 9,629,165 16,078,621
1987 9,130,194 15,916,576
1986 8,628,639 15,731,256
1985 8,151,779 15,544,154
1984 7,697,307 15,441,860
1983 7,252,941 15,388,794
1982 6,824,486 15,286,567
1981 6,420,551 15,099,414
1980 6,047,997 14,847,974
1979 5,703,698 14,579,614
1978 5,381,902 14,310,128
1977 5,083,048 14,049,371
1976 4,807,933 13,796,770
1975 4,556,287 13,548,984
1974 4,323,632 13,305,693
1973 4,106,344 13,060,916
1972 3,905,722 12,809,205
1971 3,724,031 12,551,910
1970 3,562,470 12,287,110
1969 3,417,114 12,013,858
1968 3,282,711 11,736,088
1967 3,157,242 11,457,328
1966 3,039,887 11,183,928
1965 2,928,771 10,916,965
1964 2,821,968 10,653,397
1963 2,719,341 10,395,040
1962 2,620,910 10,143,754
1961 2,526,347 9,899,372
1960 2,435,403 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/saudi-arabia/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Saudi Arabia increased by 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 44th 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) Saudi Arabia's population will grow by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people with a rank change from 44th to 43rd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka
2100 0.64% -0.56%
2099 0.64% -0.56%
2098 0.65% -0.55%
2097 0.66% -0.54%
2096 0.66% -0.53%
2095 0.67% -0.52%
2094 0.68% -0.51%
2093 0.68% -0.5%
2092 0.69% -0.49%
2091 0.69% -0.5%
2090 0.69% -0.49%
2089 0.69% -0.47%
2088 0.7% -0.46%
2087 0.7% -0.46%
2086 0.7% -0.45%
2085 0.71% -0.43%
2084 0.71% -0.42%
2083 0.71% -0.4%
2082 0.72% -0.4%
2081 0.72% -0.38%
2080 0.73% -0.38%
2079 0.73% -0.35%
2078 0.74% -0.33%
2077 0.75% -0.32%
2076 0.75% -0.31%
2075 0.76% -0.31%
2074 0.77% -0.29%
2073 0.78% -0.27%
2072 0.8% -0.26%
2071 0.81% -0.25%
2070 0.82% -0.23%
2069 0.84% -0.23%
2068 0.85% -0.24%
2067 0.86% -0.21%
2066 0.87% -0.22%
2065 0.89% -0.19%
2064 0.9% -0.17%
2063 0.91% -0.16%
2062 0.92% -0.14%
2061 0.94% -0.14%
2060 0.95% -0.12%
2059 0.96% -0.11%
2058 0.97% -0.1%
2057 0.99% -0.09%
2056 1% -0.05%
2055 1.01% -0.04%
2054 1.02% -0.04%
2053 1.04% -0.02%
2052 1.05% -0.004%
2051 1.06% 0.01%
2050 1.08% 0.02%
2049 1.09% 0.04%
2048 1.11% 0.07%
2047 1.12% 0.1%
2046 1.14% 0.14%
2045 1.15% 0.13%
2044 1.17% 0.16%
2043 1.18% 0.18%
2042 1.2% 0.2%
2041 1.22% 0.22%
2040 1.23% 0.25%
2039 1.25% 0.26%
2038 1.27% 0.29%
2037 1.28% 0.29%
2036 1.3% 0.31%
2035 1.31% 0.33%
2034 1.33% 0.35%
2033 1.34% 0.37%
2032 1.36% 0.38%
2031 1.38% 0.41%
2030 1.51% 0.42%
2029 1.6% 0.45%
2028 1.67% 0.47%
2027 1.71% 0.5%
2026 1.76% 0.52%
2025 1.79% 0.57%
2024 4.74% -0.55%
2023 4.75% -0.65%
2022 4.52% 0.11%
2021 -2.43% 1.08%
2020 4.95% 0.53%
2019 -0.44% 0.61%
2018 -2.52% 1.01%
2017 0.07% 1.15%
2016 3.82% 1.14%
2015 5.32% 0.92%
2014 2.48% 0.94%
2013 5.56% -2.76%
2012 4.29% 0.76%
2011 4.64% 0.62%
2010 -0.99% 0.59%
2009 3.99% 0.62%
2008 4.11% 0.67%
2007 4.24% 0.69%
2006 4.37% 0.67%
2005 4.53% 0.64%
2004 4.7% 0.68%
2003 4.89% 0.74%
2002 5.1% 1.05%
2001 5.34% 1.59%
2000 4.56% 1.84%
1999 3.69% 1.88%
1998 3.81% 1.91%
1997 3.93% 1.92%
1996 4.08% 1.94%
1995 4.23% 1.67%
1994 4.37% 1.47%
1993 4.53% 1.71%
1992 4.71% 1.6%
1991 4.89% 0.75%
1990 5.06% 0.64%
1989 5.18% 1.06%
1988 5.47% 1.02%
1987 5.81% 1.18%
1986 5.85% 1.2%
1985 5.9% 0.66%
1984 6.13% 0.34%
1983 6.28% 0.67%
1982 6.29% 1.24%
1981 6.16% 1.69%
1980 6.04% 1.84%
1979 5.98% 1.88%
1978 5.88% 1.86%
1977 5.72% 1.83%
1976 5.52% 1.83%
1975 5.38% 1.83%
1974 5.29% 1.87%
1973 5.14% 1.97%
1972 4.88% 2.05%
1971 4.54% 2.16%
1970 4.25% 2.27%
1969 4.09% 2.37%
1968 3.97% 2.43%
1967 3.86% 2.44%
1966 3.79% 2.45%
1965 3.78% 2.47%
1964 3.77% 2.49%
1963 3.76% 2.48%
1962 3.74% 2.47%
1961 3.73% 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/saudi-arabia/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka
Current population
36734925
22185425
Population rank 44/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.27%
One net population change
19.7 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
57 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
6.66 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +4,377 -332
Annual growth/decline +1,597,549 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 188/197
One migration net change every
4.4 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +119,738 -30,724
Net migration rank 13/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 13,683,841 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 3/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 40.3% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 14/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 119,738 - -30,724
2024 - 122,170 - -27,245
2023 474,366 325,691 66,111 -28,011
2022 406,920 977,072 95,378 -27,435
2021 409,032 -106,287 121,858 -29,586
2020 447,036 -74,725 170,968 -29,875
2019 474,407 191,582 172,243 -28,426
2018 528,767 -988,751 183,610 -28,607
2017 546,751 -920,812 187,993 -22,324
2016 537,829 -26,997 194,232 -18,388
2015 511,023 465,292 201,815 -29,797
2014 493,431 469,144 211,541 -33,672
2013 475,299 485,794 221,021 -37,754
2012 465,649 479,206 229,138 -41,955
2011 443,675 491,253 224,461 -90,839
2010 418,641 504,955 224,325 -98,060
2009 438,557 496,229 200,175 -81,130
2008 433,457 491,337 232,225 -97,144
2007 425,199 489,136 248,287 -109,695
2006 399,333 504,661 248,706 -107,045
2005 375,938 518,565 248,683 -118,594
2004 362,843 523,472 212,527 -84,795
2003 364,520 514,606 252,008 -107,573
2002 372,099 500,508 252,840 -105,718
2001 382,153 484,252 244,377 19,273
2000 392,407 468,515 227,060 123,894
1999 390,112 160,263 206,876 138,799
1998 389,499 159,898 201,059 150,724
1997 385,033 160,066 208,193 135,636
1996 382,248 160,532 215,290 127,236
1995 380,231 160,512 221,957 117,416
1994 377,351 160,306 228,904 8,323
1993 372,621 158,074 226,257 36,232
1992 366,763 160,908 222,230 88,542
1991 361,329 162,857 218,117 -1,047
1990 355,495 160,416 224,454 -195,736
1989 349,399 159,273 212,401 -33,305
1988 342,865 146,918 219,184 -58,415
1987 333,088 175,075 226,414 -63,105
1986 322,340 172,606 233,782 -26,460
1985 310,558 148,208 247,836 -80,950
1984 296,615 153,562 263,175 -225,450
1983 280,616 157,930 277,768 -209,362
1982 264,831 153,528 300,030 -163,987
1981 249,156 140,355 328,096 -89,824
1980 234,372 121,220 328,155 -63,541
1979 220,186 112,826 329,791 -57,683
1978 205,331 105,263 317,055 -50,189
1977 191,103 96,015 300,038 -45,383
1976 178,024 85,083 291,816 -41,258
1975 166,223 73,960 282,496 -37,475
1974 155,478 69,653 275,521 -33,979
1973 145,450 63,995 278,577 -30,582
1972 136,360 55,439 282,494 -27,071
1971 127,600 43,989 281,200 -22,021
1970 120,440 31,097 286,719 -16,299
1969 113,859 25,312 286,218 -10,152
1968 108,281 21,366 286,642 -7,163
1967 103,343 17,947 284,738 -6,696
1966 98,361 15,054 275,549 -6,794
1965 93,820 15,000 272,422 -7,249
1964 89,776 15,000 269,584 -7,614
1963 85,480 15,000 262,880 -8,118
1962 81,393 15,000 256,719 -8,909
1961 77,743 15,000 251,087 -10,144
1960 74,143 15,000 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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, 13,683,841 residents or 40.3% of the population were not native-born in Saudi Arabia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K
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/saudi-arabia/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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