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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,009,151 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,503,678 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.08 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Somalia is ranked the 66th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.52% of the world: 0.25% for Somalia vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Somalia has had an average growth rate of +3.61% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.5M (86.8% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Somalia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia Sri Lanka
2100 68,384,185 20,270,496
2099 68,040,371 20,383,669
2098 67,702,230 20,498,567
2097 67,362,336 20,611,123
2096 66,972,933 20,723,560
2095 66,585,659 20,834,629
2094 66,179,819 20,943,809
2093 65,760,590 21,052,131
2092 65,324,261 21,158,833
2091 64,852,843 21,263,961
2090 64,362,727 21,371,263
2089 63,922,797 21,475,426
2088 63,464,036 21,577,177
2087 62,987,028 21,677,510
2086 62,447,029 21,777,420
2085 61,873,597 21,876,464
2084 61,318,916 21,970,336
2083 60,761,800 22,062,801
2082 60,187,980 22,151,745
2081 59,676,722 22,240,834
2080 59,100,915 22,326,555
2079 58,477,428 22,411,438
2078 57,852,528 22,489,772
2077 57,211,821 22,565,028
2076 56,602,463 22,637,463
2075 56,005,600 22,707,112
2074 55,330,165 22,778,489
2073 54,651,918 22,844,703
2072 53,978,548 22,905,707
2071 53,284,016 22,964,866
2070 52,573,210 23,022,515
2069 51,878,214 23,076,310
2068 51,197,653 23,129,541
2067 50,493,028 23,184,596
2066 49,779,172 23,234,419
2065 49,024,665 23,285,901
2064 48,265,876 23,331,390
2063 47,522,361 23,372,184
2062 46,785,920 23,409,522
2061 46,037,526 23,441,893
2060 45,220,507 23,474,032
2059 44,397,936 23,502,132
2058 43,659,021 23,528,076
2057 42,897,422 23,550,580
2056 42,121,542 23,570,923
2055 41,318,179 23,582,432
2054 40,513,141 23,591,414
2053 39,744,995 23,601,371
2052 38,992,177 23,605,361
2051 38,228,872 23,606,194
2050 37,471,735 23,603,330
2049 36,739,905 23,597,604
2048 35,984,999 23,587,307
2047 35,218,863 23,570,881
2046 34,462,403 23,547,409
2045 33,717,596 23,515,133
2044 32,977,674 23,483,546
2043 32,247,710 23,446,242
2042 31,537,272 23,404,983
2041 30,794,853 23,357,358
2040 30,032,324 23,306,148
2039 29,312,883 23,248,341
2038 28,583,386 23,187,512
2037 27,838,646 23,120,775
2036 27,114,453 23,053,427
2035 26,385,421 22,981,808
2034 25,687,629 22,906,587
2033 25,018,509 22,826,414
2032 24,338,597 22,742,267
2031 23,657,353 22,655,907
2030 22,965,742 22,564,038
2029 22,299,610 22,470,759
2028 21,651,582 22,370,999
2027 20,991,860 22,266,017
2026 20,322,668 22,155,543
2025 19,666,990 22,039,908
2024 19,009,151 21,916,000
2023 18,358,615 22,037,000
2022 17,801,897 22,181,000
2021 17,271,431 22,156,000
2020 16,651,191 21,919,000
2019 16,030,971 21,803,000
2018 15,452,487 21,670,000
2017 14,916,629 21,453,000
2016 14,348,740 21,209,000
2015 13,806,963 20,970,000
2014 13,339,491 20,778,000
2013 12,869,594 20,585,000
2012 12,461,160 21,169,458
2011 12,348,830 21,009,048
2010 12,261,756 20,879,089
2009 11,961,201 20,756,435
2008 11,663,084 20,629,378
2007 11,322,582 20,492,545
2006 10,975,502 20,352,411
2005 10,644,228 20,216,524
2004 10,280,998 20,087,605
2003 9,909,157 19,951,521
2002 9,550,063 19,805,752
2001 9,198,493 19,600,362
2000 8,838,713 19,293,054
1999 8,492,059 18,944,731
1998 8,155,417 18,596,003
1997 7,824,525 18,248,200
1996 7,554,474 17,905,018
1995 7,285,007 17,564,068
1994 7,026,797 17,275,773
1993 6,681,399 17,025,918
1992 6,495,107 16,739,284
1991 6,813,760 16,475,354
1990 7,082,811 16,352,458
1989 7,114,817 16,248,557
1988 7,235,360 16,078,621
1987 7,228,302 15,916,576
1986 6,974,788 15,731,256
1985 6,693,289 15,544,154
1984 6,428,389 15,441,860
1983 6,198,430 15,388,794
1982 6,003,840 15,286,567
1981 5,982,849 15,099,414
1980 5,936,154 14,847,974
1979 5,449,117 14,579,614
1978 4,814,892 14,310,128
1977 4,484,050 14,049,371
1976 4,365,812 13,796,770
1975 4,257,535 13,548,984
1974 4,151,842 13,305,693
1973 4,045,592 13,060,916
1972 3,939,436 12,809,205
1971 3,837,691 12,551,910
1970 3,738,448 12,287,110
1969 3,641,015 12,013,858
1968 3,546,590 11,736,088
1967 3,454,537 11,457,328
1966 3,365,106 11,183,928
1965 3,277,874 10,916,965
1964 3,192,796 10,653,397
1963 3,110,361 10,395,040
1962 3,030,091 10,143,754
1961 2,952,054 9,899,372
1960 2,876,331 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/somalia/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Somalia increased by 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Somalia gained 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Somalia was ranked 75th most populous country in 2006 and is 66th 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) Somalia's population will grow by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Somalia Sri Lanka
2100 0.51% -0.56%
2099 0.5% -0.56%
2098 0.5% -0.55%
2097 0.58% -0.54%
2096 0.58% -0.53%
2095 0.61% -0.52%
2094 0.64% -0.51%
2093 0.67% -0.5%
2092 0.73% -0.49%
2091 0.76% -0.5%
2090 0.69% -0.49%
2089 0.72% -0.47%
2088 0.76% -0.46%
2087 0.86% -0.46%
2086 0.93% -0.45%
2085 0.9% -0.43%
2084 0.92% -0.42%
2083 0.95% -0.4%
2082 0.86% -0.4%
2081 0.97% -0.38%
2080 1.07% -0.38%
2079 1.08% -0.35%
2078 1.12% -0.33%
2077 1.08% -0.32%
2076 1.07% -0.31%
2075 1.22% -0.31%
2074 1.24% -0.29%
2073 1.25% -0.27%
2072 1.3% -0.26%
2071 1.35% -0.25%
2070 1.34% -0.23%
2069 1.33% -0.23%
2068 1.4% -0.24%
2067 1.43% -0.21%
2066 1.54% -0.22%
2065 1.57% -0.19%
2064 1.56% -0.17%
2063 1.57% -0.16%
2062 1.63% -0.14%
2061 1.81% -0.14%
2060 1.85% -0.12%
2059 1.69% -0.11%
2058 1.78% -0.1%
2057 1.84% -0.09%
2056 1.94% -0.05%
2055 1.99% -0.04%
2054 1.93% -0.04%
2053 1.93% -0.02%
2052 2% -0.004%
2051 2.02% 0.01%
2050 1.99% 0.02%
2049 2.1% 0.04%
2048 2.18% 0.07%
2047 2.2% 0.1%
2046 2.21% 0.14%
2045 2.24% 0.13%
2044 2.26% 0.16%
2043 2.25% 0.18%
2042 2.41% 0.2%
2041 2.54% 0.22%
2040 2.45% 0.25%
2039 2.55% 0.26%
2038 2.68% 0.29%
2037 2.67% 0.29%
2036 2.76% 0.31%
2035 2.72% 0.33%
2034 2.67% 0.35%
2033 2.79% 0.37%
2032 2.88% 0.38%
2031 3.01% 0.41%
2030 2.99% 0.42%
2029 2.99% 0.45%
2028 3.14% 0.47%
2027 3.29% 0.5%
2026 3.33% 0.52%
2025 3.46% 0.57%
2024 3.54% -0.55%
2023 3.13% -0.65%
2022 3.07% 0.11%
2021 3.72% 1.08%
2020 3.87% 0.53%
2019 3.74% 0.61%
2018 3.59% 1.01%
2017 3.96% 1.15%
2016 3.92% 1.14%
2015 3.5% 0.92%
2014 3.65% 0.94%
2013 3.28% -2.76%
2012 0.91% 0.76%
2011 0.71% 0.62%
2010 2.51% 0.59%
2009 2.56% 0.62%
2008 3.01% 0.67%
2007 3.16% 0.69%
2006 3.11% 0.67%
2005 3.53% 0.64%
2004 3.75% 0.68%
2003 3.76% 0.74%
2002 3.82% 1.05%
2001 4.07% 1.59%
2000 4.08% 1.84%
1999 4.13% 1.88%
1998 4.23% 1.91%
1997 3.57% 1.92%
1996 3.7% 1.94%
1995 3.67% 1.67%
1994 5.17% 1.47%
1993 2.87% 1.71%
1992 -4.68% 1.6%
1991 -3.8% 0.75%
1990 -0.45% 0.64%
1989 -1.67% 1.06%
1988 0.1% 1.02%
1987 3.63% 1.18%
1986 4.21% 1.2%
1985 4.12% 0.66%
1984 3.71% 0.34%
1983 3.24% 0.67%
1982 0.35% 1.24%
1981 0.79% 1.69%
1980 8.94% 1.84%
1979 13.2% 1.88%
1978 7.38% 1.86%
1977 2.71% 1.83%
1976 2.54% 1.83%
1975 2.55% 1.83%
1974 2.63% 1.87%
1973 2.69% 1.97%
1972 2.65% 2.05%
1971 2.65% 2.16%
1970 2.68% 2.27%
1969 2.66% 2.37%
1968 2.66% 2.43%
1967 2.66% 2.44%
1966 2.66% 2.45%
1965 2.66% 2.47%
1964 2.65% 2.49%
1963 2.65% 2.48%
1962 2.64% 2.47%
1961 2.63% 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/somalia/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Somalia grew by 3.54%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Somalia Sri Lanka
Current population
20503678
22185425
Population rank 66/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.27%
One net population change
48.5 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
40 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,782 -332
Annual growth/decline +650,536 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +3.54% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 188/197
One migration net change every
43.6 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +12,077 -30,724
Net migration rank 40/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 77,972 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 140/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 180/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Somalia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Somalia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 12,077 - -30,724
2024 - 26,859 - -27,245
2023 608,203 46,217 66,111 -28,011
2022 551,450 -92,434 95,378 -27,435
2021 566,399 35,506 121,858 -29,586
2020 561,311 77,259 170,968 -29,875
2019 548,756 53,124 172,243 -28,426
2018 514,244 40,844 183,610 -28,607
2017 478,556 38,067 187,993 -22,324
2016 495,132 124,017 194,232 -18,388
2015 481,573 -17,178 201,815 -29,797
2014 464,481 6,065 211,541 -33,672
2013 448,518 20,723 221,021 -37,754
2012 399,468 -51,833 229,138 -41,955
2011 203,213 -326,192 224,461 -90,839
2010 385,571 -88,448 224,325 -98,060
2009 405,784 -101,795 200,175 -81,130
2008 394,258 -102,035 232,225 -97,144
2007 380,303 8,476 248,287 -109,695
2006 372,597 -67,200 248,706 -107,045
2005 363,117 -5,955 248,683 -118,594
2004 351,959 17,353 212,527 -84,795
2003 341,192 33,174 252,008 -107,573
2002 331,215 12,603 252,840 -105,718
2001 319,059 40,274 244,377 19,273
2000 306,651 53,580 227,060 123,894
1999 295,523 37,548 206,876 138,799
1998 284,779 55,426 201,059 150,724
1997 271,894 49,692 208,193 135,636
1996 264,807 -46,291 215,290 127,236
1995 254,509 65,888 221,957 117,416
1994 246,950 -50,921 228,904 8,323
1993 232,960 261,815 226,257 36,232
1992 57,495 -179,675 222,230 88,542
1991 53,052 -568,166 218,117 -1,047
1990 225,162 -248,155 224,454 -195,736
1989 225,255 -266,281 212,401 -33,305
1988 215,599 -415,660 219,184 -58,415
1987 231,580 -17,391 226,414 -63,105
1986 218,416 74,424 233,782 -26,460
1985 207,960 62,183 247,836 -80,950
1984 199,017 60,630 263,175 -225,450
1983 190,775 9,505 277,768 -209,362
1982 182,793 6,115 300,030 -163,987
1981 185,211 -332,129 328,096 -89,824
1980 174,790 65,519 328,155 -63,541
1979 151,016 582,746 329,791 -57,683
1978 132,689 402,005 317,055 -50,189
1977 124,818 2,170 300,038 -45,383
1976 113,319 -3,831 291,816 -41,258
1975 108,998 -1,934 282,496 -37,475
1974 104,813 -495 275,521 -33,979
1973 108,038 143 278,577 -30,582
1972 104,493 -351 282,494 -27,071
1971 101,196 -1,850 281,200 -22,021
1970 98,025 1,104 286,719 -16,299
1969 95,045 690 286,218 -10,152
1968 92,208 906 286,642 -7,163
1967 89,497 1,498 284,738 -6,696
1966 86,930 941 275,549 -6,794
1965 84,448 2,142 272,422 -7,249
1964 82,042 1,518 269,584 -7,614
1963 79,859 1,449 262,880 -8,118
1962 77,737 1,496 256,719 -8,909
1961 75,513 1,336 251,087 -10,144
1960 73,850 750 247,631 -12,610

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.4% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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, 77,972 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Somalia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K
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/somalia/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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