The current population of Sri Lanka is 22,185,425 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 21,916,000 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 20.4M people to 22.2M (9.01% growth in 20 years).
- Sri Lanka is ranked 63/197 by population and was ranked 55th in 2006.
- Sri Lanka is projected to reach 23.6M people in 2051.
- For the last 20 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of 0.45% per year.
- Sri Lanka accounts for 0.27% of the world's population.
Sri Lanka population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 20,270,496 | -0.56% |
| 2099 | 20,383,669 | -0.56% |
| 2098 | 20,498,567 | -0.55% |
| 2097 | 20,611,123 | -0.54% |
| 2096 | 20,723,560 | -0.53% |
| 2095 | 20,834,629 | -0.52% |
| 2094 | 20,943,809 | -0.51% |
| 2093 | 21,052,131 | -0.5% |
| 2092 | 21,158,833 | -0.49% |
| 2091 | 21,263,961 | -0.5% |
| 2090 | 21,371,263 | -0.49% |
| 2089 | 21,475,426 | -0.47% |
| 2088 | 21,577,177 | -0.46% |
| 2087 | 21,677,510 | -0.46% |
| 2086 | 21,777,420 | -0.45% |
| 2085 | 21,876,464 | -0.43% |
| 2084 | 21,970,336 | -0.42% |
| 2083 | 22,062,801 | -0.4% |
| 2082 | 22,151,745 | -0.4% |
| 2081 | 22,240,834 | -0.38% |
| 2080 | 22,326,555 | -0.38% |
| 2079 | 22,411,438 | -0.35% |
| 2078 | 22,489,772 | -0.33% |
| 2077 | 22,565,028 | -0.32% |
| 2076 | 22,637,463 | -0.31% |
| 2075 | 22,707,112 | -0.31% |
| 2074 | 22,778,489 | -0.29% |
| 2073 | 22,844,703 | -0.27% |
| 2072 | 22,905,707 | -0.26% |
| 2071 | 22,964,866 | -0.25% |
| 2070 | 23,022,515 | -0.23% |
| 2069 | 23,076,310 | -0.23% |
| 2068 | 23,129,541 | -0.24% |
| 2067 | 23,184,596 | -0.21% |
| 2066 | 23,234,419 | -0.22% |
| 2065 | 23,285,901 | -0.19% |
| 2064 | 23,331,390 | -0.17% |
| 2063 | 23,372,184 | -0.16% |
| 2062 | 23,409,522 | -0.14% |
| 2061 | 23,441,893 | -0.14% |
| 2060 | 23,474,032 | -0.12% |
| 2059 | 23,502,132 | -0.11% |
| 2058 | 23,528,076 | -0.1% |
| 2057 | 23,550,580 | -0.09% |
| 2056 | 23,570,923 | -0.05% |
| 2055 | 23,582,432 | -0.04% |
| 2054 | 23,591,414 | -0.04% |
| 2053 | 23,601,371 | -0.02% |
| 2052 | 23,605,361 | -0.004% |
| 2051 | 23,606,194 | 0.01% |
| 2050 | 23,603,330 | 0.02% |
| 2049 | 23,597,604 | 0.04% |
| 2048 | 23,587,307 | 0.07% |
| 2047 | 23,570,881 | 0.1% |
| 2046 | 23,547,409 | 0.14% |
| 2045 | 23,515,133 | 0.13% |
| 2044 | 23,483,546 | 0.16% |
| 2043 | 23,446,242 | 0.18% |
| 2042 | 23,404,983 | 0.2% |
| 2041 | 23,357,358 | 0.22% |
| 2040 | 23,306,148 | 0.25% |
| 2039 | 23,248,341 | 0.26% |
| 2038 | 23,187,512 | 0.29% |
| 2037 | 23,120,775 | 0.29% |
| 2036 | 23,053,427 | 0.31% |
| 2035 | 22,981,808 | 0.33% |
| 2034 | 22,906,587 | 0.35% |
| 2033 | 22,826,414 | 0.37% |
| 2032 | 22,742,267 | 0.38% |
| 2031 | 22,655,907 | 0.41% |
| 2030 | 22,564,038 | 0.42% |
| 2029 | 22,470,759 | 0.45% |
| 2028 | 22,370,999 | 0.47% |
| 2027 | 22,266,017 | 0.5% |
| 2026 | 22,155,543 | 0.52% |
| 2025 | 22,039,908 | 0.57% |
| 2024 | 21,916,000 | -0.55% |
| 2023 | 22,037,000 | -0.65% |
| 2022 | 22,181,000 | 0.11% |
| 2021 | 22,156,000 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 21,919,000 | 0.53% |
| 2019 | 21,803,000 | 0.61% |
| 2018 | 21,670,000 | 1.01% |
| 2017 | 21,453,000 | 1.15% |
| 2016 | 21,209,000 | 1.14% |
| 2015 | 20,970,000 | 0.92% |
| 2014 | 20,778,000 | 0.94% |
| 2013 | 20,585,000 | -2.76% |
| 2012 | 21,169,458 | 0.76% |
| 2011 | 21,009,048 | 0.62% |
| 2010 | 20,879,089 | 0.59% |
| 2009 | 20,756,435 | 0.62% |
| 2008 | 20,629,378 | 0.67% |
| 2007 | 20,492,545 | 0.69% |
| 2006 | 20,352,411 | 0.67% |
| 2005 | 20,216,524 | 0.64% |
| 2004 | 20,087,605 | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 19,951,521 | 0.74% |
| 2002 | 19,805,752 | 1.05% |
| 2001 | 19,600,362 | 1.59% |
| 2000 | 19,293,054 | 1.84% |
| 1999 | 18,944,731 | 1.88% |
| 1998 | 18,596,003 | 1.91% |
| 1997 | 18,248,200 | 1.92% |
| 1996 | 17,905,018 | 1.94% |
| 1995 | 17,564,068 | 1.67% |
| 1994 | 17,275,773 | 1.47% |
| 1993 | 17,025,918 | 1.71% |
| 1992 | 16,739,284 | 1.6% |
| 1991 | 16,475,354 | 0.75% |
| 1990 | 16,352,458 | 0.64% |
| 1989 | 16,248,557 | 1.06% |
| 1988 | 16,078,621 | 1.02% |
| 1987 | 15,916,576 | 1.18% |
| 1986 | 15,731,256 | 1.2% |
| 1985 | 15,544,154 | 0.66% |
| 1984 | 15,441,860 | 0.34% |
| 1983 | 15,388,794 | 0.67% |
| 1982 | 15,286,567 | 1.24% |
| 1981 | 15,099,414 | 1.69% |
| 1980 | 14,847,974 | 1.84% |
| 1979 | 14,579,614 | 1.88% |
| 1978 | 14,310,128 | 1.86% |
| 1977 | 14,049,371 | 1.83% |
| 1976 | 13,796,770 | 1.83% |
| 1975 | 13,548,984 | 1.83% |
| 1974 | 13,305,693 | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 13,060,916 | 1.97% |
| 1972 | 12,809,205 | 2.05% |
| 1971 | 12,551,910 | 2.16% |
| 1970 | 12,287,110 | 2.27% |
| 1969 | 12,013,858 | 2.37% |
| 1968 | 11,736,088 | 2.43% |
| 1967 | 11,457,328 | 2.44% |
| 1966 | 11,183,928 | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 10,916,965 | 2.47% |
| 1964 | 10,653,397 | 2.49% |
| 1963 | 10,395,040 | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 10,143,754 | 2.47% |
| 1961 | 9,899,372 | 2.46% |
| 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/sri-lanka | CC BY 
Sri Lanka has a population of 22.2M as of 2026, compared to 21.2M in 2016, 20.4M in 2006, and 17.9M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 0.46% per year. Sri Lanka is ranked 140th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Sri Lanka will have 23,547,409 people (6.14% growth) with a rank change from 63rd to 68th.
By the year 2100, Sri Lanka's population is projected to decline by 8.63% from its current level to 20.3M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -30,724 |
| 2024 | - | - | -27,245 |
| 2023 | 38,100 | 66,111 | -28,011 |
| 2022 | 67,943 | 95,378 | -27,435 |
| 2021 | 92,272 | 121,858 | -29,586 |
| 2020 | 141,093 | 170,968 | -29,875 |
| 2019 | 143,817 | 172,243 | -28,426 |
| 2018 | 155,003 | 183,610 | -28,607 |
| 2017 | 165,669 | 187,993 | -22,324 |
| 2016 | 175,844 | 194,232 | -18,388 |
| 2015 | 172,018 | 201,815 | -29,797 |
| 2014 | 177,869 | 211,541 | -33,672 |
| 2013 | 183,267 | 221,021 | -37,754 |
| 2012 | 187,183 | 229,138 | -41,955 |
| 2011 | 133,622 | 224,461 | -90,839 |
| 2010 | 126,265 | 224,325 | -98,060 |
| 2009 | 119,045 | 200,175 | -81,130 |
| 2008 | 135,081 | 232,225 | -97,144 |
| 2007 | 138,592 | 248,287 | -109,695 |
| 2006 | 141,661 | 248,706 | -107,045 |
| 2005 | 130,089 | 248,683 | -118,594 |
| 2004 | 127,732 | 212,527 | -84,795 |
| 2003 | 144,435 | 252,008 | -107,573 |
| 2002 | 147,122 | 252,840 | -105,718 |
| 2001 | 263,650 | 244,377 | 19,273 |
| 2000 | 350,954 | 227,060 | 123,894 |
| 1999 | 345,675 | 206,876 | 138,799 |
| 1998 | 351,783 | 201,059 | 150,724 |
| 1997 | 343,829 | 208,193 | 135,636 |
| 1996 | 342,526 | 215,290 | 127,236 |
| 1995 | 339,373 | 221,957 | 117,416 |
| 1994 | 237,227 | 228,904 | 8,323 |
| 1993 | 262,489 | 226,257 | 36,232 |
| 1992 | 310,772 | 222,230 | 88,542 |
| 1991 | 217,070 | 218,117 | -1,047 |
| 1990 | 28,718 | 224,454 | -195,736 |
| 1989 | 179,096 | 212,401 | -33,305 |
| 1988 | 160,769 | 219,184 | -58,415 |
| 1987 | 163,309 | 226,414 | -63,105 |
| 1986 | 207,322 | 233,782 | -26,460 |
| 1985 | 166,886 | 247,836 | -80,950 |
| 1984 | 37,725 | 263,175 | -225,450 |
| 1983 | 68,406 | 277,768 | -209,362 |
| 1982 | 136,043 | 300,030 | -163,987 |
| 1981 | 238,272 | 328,096 | -89,824 |
| 1980 | 264,614 | 328,155 | -63,541 |
| 1979 | 272,108 | 329,791 | -57,683 |
| 1978 | 266,866 | 317,055 | -50,189 |
| 1977 | 254,655 | 300,038 | -45,383 |
| 1976 | 250,558 | 291,816 | -41,258 |
| 1975 | 245,021 | 282,496 | -37,475 |
| 1974 | 241,542 | 275,521 | -33,979 |
| 1973 | 247,995 | 278,577 | -30,582 |
| 1972 | 255,423 | 282,494 | -27,071 |
| 1971 | 259,179 | 281,200 | -22,021 |
| 1970 | 270,420 | 286,719 | -16,299 |
| 1969 | 276,066 | 286,218 | -10,152 |
| 1968 | 279,479 | 286,642 | -7,163 |
| 1967 | 278,042 | 284,738 | -6,696 |
| 1966 | 268,755 | 275,549 | -6,794 |
| 1965 | 265,173 | 272,422 | -7,249 |
| 1964 | 261,970 | 269,584 | -7,614 |
| 1963 | 254,762 | 262,880 | -8,118 |
| 1962 | 247,810 | 256,719 | -8,909 |
| 1961 | 240,943 | 251,087 | -10,144 |
| 1960 | 235,021 | 247,631 | -12,610 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 85.3% of the population change in Sri Lanka 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, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 38,959 and 0.2% in 2010.
Sri Lanka population clock
Sri Lanka
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
22185425
|
63/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.27% | 63/197 |
| One net population change |
4.34 minutes
|
193/197 |
| One birth every |
2.13 minutes
|
79/196 |
| One death every |
2.91 minutes
|
61/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | -332 | 193/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | -121,000 | 193/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.55% | 188/197 |
| One migration net change every |
17.2 minutes
|
165/196 |
| Annual migration change | -30,724 | 165/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 40,698 | 156/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | 190/195 |
Largest cities by population
|
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
Sri Lanka population statistics
|
Sri Lanka
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 78 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 35.8 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 34.1 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.4:51.6 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.97 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 928 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sri-lanka | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.