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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,916,000 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 22,185,425 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 2.44 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.27% for Sri Lanka vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 22.2M (9.01% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Switzerland
2100 20,270,496 9,234,296
2099 20,383,669 9,226,472
2098 20,498,567 9,220,109
2097 20,611,123 9,212,728
2096 20,723,560 9,208,997
2095 20,834,629 9,203,477
2094 20,943,809 9,199,095
2093 21,052,131 9,196,672
2092 21,158,833 9,194,082
2091 21,263,961 9,191,145
2090 21,371,263 9,189,122
2089 21,475,426 9,188,754
2088 21,577,177 9,190,102
2087 21,677,510 9,189,763
2086 21,777,420 9,191,494
2085 21,876,464 9,195,728
2084 21,970,336 9,199,983
2083 22,062,801 9,204,908
2082 22,151,745 9,210,695
2081 22,240,834 9,217,065
2080 22,326,555 9,223,475
2079 22,411,438 9,230,920
2078 22,489,772 9,237,649
2077 22,565,028 9,245,300
2076 22,637,463 9,250,248
2075 22,707,112 9,255,753
2074 22,778,489 9,266,455
2073 22,844,703 9,275,439
2072 22,905,707 9,283,185
2071 22,964,866 9,292,913
2070 23,022,515 9,303,843
2069 23,076,310 9,311,935
2068 23,129,541 9,320,335
2067 23,184,596 9,327,741
2066 23,234,419 9,339,455
2065 23,285,901 9,351,481
2064 23,331,390 9,362,413
2063 23,372,184 9,372,441
2062 23,409,522 9,383,258
2061 23,441,893 9,395,036
2060 23,474,032 9,403,920
2059 23,502,132 9,414,241
2058 23,528,076 9,422,560
2057 23,550,580 9,428,212
2056 23,570,923 9,435,441
2055 23,582,432 9,443,890
2054 23,591,414 9,451,268
2053 23,601,371 9,456,389
2052 23,605,361 9,456,418
2051 23,606,194 9,456,395
2050 23,603,330 9,454,544
2049 23,597,604 9,451,083
2048 23,587,307 9,444,091
2047 23,570,881 9,437,061
2046 23,547,409 9,430,954
2045 23,515,133 9,425,155
2044 23,483,546 9,418,152
2043 23,446,242 9,410,763
2042 23,404,983 9,400,808
2041 23,357,358 9,393,857
2040 23,306,148 9,382,662
2039 23,248,341 9,373,984
2038 23,187,512 9,365,030
2037 23,120,775 9,354,254
2036 23,053,427 9,342,450
2035 22,981,808 9,328,907
2034 22,906,587 9,312,054
2033 22,826,414 9,294,881
2032 22,742,267 9,276,221
2031 22,655,907 9,253,034
2030 22,564,038 9,228,188
2029 22,470,759 9,201,743
2028 22,370,999 9,170,620
2027 22,266,017 9,135,740
2026 22,155,543 9,097,532
2025 22,039,908 9,053,983
2024 21,916,000 9,005,582
2023 22,037,000 8,888,822
2022 22,181,000 8,777,088
2021 22,156,000 8,704,546
2020 21,919,000 8,638,167
2019 21,803,000 8,575,280
2018 21,670,000 8,514,329
2017 21,453,000 8,451,840
2016 21,209,000 8,373,338
2015 20,970,000 8,282,396
2014 20,778,000 8,188,649
2013 20,585,000 8,089,346
2012 21,169,458 7,996,861
2011 21,009,048 7,912,398
2010 20,879,089 7,824,909
2009 20,756,435 7,743,831
2008 20,629,378 7,647,675
2007 20,492,545 7,551,117
2006 20,352,411 7,483,934
2005 20,216,524 7,437,115
2004 20,087,605 7,389,625
2003 19,951,521 7,339,001
2002 19,805,752 7,284,753
2001 19,600,362 7,229,854
2000 19,293,054 7,184,250
1999 18,944,731 7,143,991
1998 18,596,003 7,110,001
1997 18,248,200 7,088,906
1996 17,905,018 7,071,850
1995 17,564,068 7,040,687
1994 17,275,773 6,993,795
1993 17,025,918 6,938,265
1992 16,739,284 6,875,364
1991 16,475,354 6,799,978
1990 16,352,458 6,715,519
1989 16,248,557 6,646,912
1988 16,078,621 6,593,386
1987 15,916,576 6,545,106
1986 15,731,256 6,504,124
1985 15,544,154 6,470,365
1984 15,441,860 6,441,865
1983 15,388,794 6,418,773
1982 15,286,567 6,391,309
1981 15,099,414 6,354,074
1980 14,847,974 6,319,408
1979 14,579,614 6,294,365
1978 14,310,128 6,281,738
1977 14,049,371 6,281,174
1976 13,796,770 6,302,504
1975 13,548,984 6,338,632
1974 13,305,693 6,341,405
1973 13,060,916 6,307,347
1972 12,809,205 6,260,956
1971 12,551,910 6,213,399
1970 12,287,110 6,180,877
1969 12,013,858 6,136,387
1968 11,736,088 6,067,714
1967 11,457,328 5,991,785
1966 11,183,928 5,918,002
1965 10,916,965 5,856,472
1964 10,653,397 5,789,228
1963 10,395,040 5,694,247
1962 10,143,754 5,573,815
1961 9,899,372 5,434,294
1960 9,661,389 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sri Lanka's population will grow by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people with a rank change from 63rd to 70th. The population of Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka Switzerland
2100 -0.56% 0.08%
2099 -0.56% 0.07%
2098 -0.55% 0.08%
2097 -0.54% 0.04%
2096 -0.53% 0.06%
2095 -0.52% 0.05%
2094 -0.51% 0.03%
2093 -0.5% 0.03%
2092 -0.49% 0.03%
2091 -0.5% 0.02%
2090 -0.49% 0.004%
2089 -0.47% -0.01%
2088 -0.46% 0.004%
2087 -0.46% -0.02%
2086 -0.45% -0.05%
2085 -0.43% -0.05%
2084 -0.42% -0.05%
2083 -0.4% -0.06%
2082 -0.4% -0.07%
2081 -0.38% -0.07%
2080 -0.38% -0.08%
2079 -0.35% -0.07%
2078 -0.33% -0.08%
2077 -0.32% -0.05%
2076 -0.31% -0.06%
2075 -0.31% -0.12%
2074 -0.29% -0.1%
2073 -0.27% -0.08%
2072 -0.26% -0.1%
2071 -0.25% -0.12%
2070 -0.23% -0.09%
2069 -0.23% -0.09%
2068 -0.24% -0.08%
2067 -0.21% -0.13%
2066 -0.22% -0.13%
2065 -0.19% -0.12%
2064 -0.17% -0.11%
2063 -0.16% -0.12%
2062 -0.14% -0.13%
2061 -0.14% -0.09%
2060 -0.12% -0.11%
2059 -0.11% -0.09%
2058 -0.1% -0.06%
2057 -0.09% -0.08%
2056 -0.05% -0.09%
2055 -0.04% -0.08%
2054 -0.04% -0.05%
2053 -0.02% -0%
2052 -0.004% 0%
2051 0.01% 0.02%
2050 0.02% 0.04%
2049 0.04% 0.07%
2048 0.07% 0.07%
2047 0.1% 0.06%
2046 0.14% 0.06%
2045 0.13% 0.07%
2044 0.16% 0.08%
2043 0.18% 0.11%
2042 0.2% 0.07%
2041 0.22% 0.12%
2040 0.25% 0.09%
2039 0.26% 0.1%
2038 0.29% 0.12%
2037 0.29% 0.13%
2036 0.31% 0.15%
2035 0.33% 0.18%
2034 0.35% 0.18%
2033 0.37% 0.2%
2032 0.38% 0.25%
2031 0.41% 0.27%
2030 0.42% 0.29%
2029 0.45% 0.34%
2028 0.47% 0.38%
2027 0.5% 0.42%
2026 0.52% 0.48%
2025 0.57% 0.54%
2024 -0.55% 1.31%
2023 -0.65% 1.27%
2022 0.11% 0.83%
2021 1.08% 0.77%
2020 0.53% 0.73%
2019 0.61% 0.72%
2018 1.01% 0.74%
2017 1.15% 0.94%
2016 1.14% 1.1%
2015 0.92% 1.14%
2014 0.94% 1.23%
2013 -2.76% 1.16%
2012 0.76% 1.07%
2011 0.62% 1.12%
2010 0.59% 1.05%
2009 0.62% 1.26%
2008 0.67% 1.28%
2007 0.69% 0.9%
2006 0.67% 0.63%
2005 0.64% 0.64%
2004 0.68% 0.69%
2003 0.74% 0.74%
2002 1.05% 0.76%
2001 1.59% 0.63%
2000 1.84% 0.56%
1999 1.88% 0.48%
1998 1.91% 0.3%
1997 1.92% 0.24%
1996 1.94% 0.44%
1995 1.67% 0.67%
1994 1.47% 0.8%
1993 1.71% 0.91%
1992 1.6% 1.11%
1991 0.75% 1.26%
1990 0.64% 1.03%
1989 1.06% 0.81%
1988 1.02% 0.74%
1987 1.18% 0.63%
1986 1.2% 0.52%
1985 0.66% 0.44%
1984 0.34% 0.36%
1983 0.67% 0.43%
1982 1.24% 0.59%
1981 1.69% 0.55%
1980 1.84% 0.4%
1979 1.88% 0.2%
1978 1.86% 0.009%
1977 1.83% -0.34%
1976 1.83% -0.57%
1975 1.83% -0.04%
1974 1.87% 0.54%
1973 1.97% 0.74%
1972 2.05% 0.77%
1971 2.16% 0.53%
1970 2.27% 0.73%
1969 2.37% 1.13%
1968 2.43% 1.27%
1967 2.44% 1.25%
1966 2.45% 1.05%
1965 2.47% 1.16%
1964 2.49% 1.67%
1963 2.48% 2.16%
1962 2.47% 2.57%
1961 2.46% 2%

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/sri-lanka/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.55%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Switzerland
Current population
22185425
9107866
Population rank 63/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.11%
One net population change
4.34 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -332 +320
Annual growth/decline -121,000 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate -0.55% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 81/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -30,724 +37,253
Net migration rank 165/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 190/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - 37,253
2024 - -27,245 - 40,099
2023 66,111 -28,011 8,000 45,098
2022 95,378 -27,435 7,899 96,424
2021 121,858 -29,586 18,279 50,665
2020 170,968 -29,875 9,502 55,523
2019 172,243 -28,426 18,008 44,517
2018 183,610 -28,607 20,434 41,253
2017 187,993 -22,324 20,284 45,658
2016 194,232 -18,388 22,608 71,009
2015 201,815 -29,797 19,050 71,876
2014 211,541 -33,672 21,290 78,122
2013 221,021 -37,754 17,797 83,823
2012 229,138 -41,955 18,393 67,840
2011 224,461 -90,839 18,990 67,194
2010 224,325 -98,060 17,997 76,388
2009 200,175 -81,130 15,487 69,324
2008 232,225 -97,144 15,295 94,430
2007 248,287 -109,695 13,592 72,475
2006 248,706 -107,045 12,723 37,308
2005 248,683 -118,594 11,899 33,203
2004 212,527 -84,795 13,302 39,484
2003 252,008 -107,573 8,807 42,567
2002 252,840 -105,718 10,199 49,650
2001 244,377 19,273 10,845 35,420
2000 227,060 123,894 15,806 24,463
1999 206,876 138,799 16,431 25,599
1998 201,059 150,724 16,353 11,325
1997 208,193 135,636 17,722 -1,939
1996 215,290 127,236 19,801 -131
1995 221,957 117,416 19,010 25,343
1994 228,904 8,323 20,982 30,274
1993 226,257 36,232 21,509 40,267
1992 222,230 88,542 24,064 42,014
1991 218,117 -1,047 23,800 69,738
1990 224,454 -195,736 20,146 58,428
1989 212,401 -33,305 19,941 34,432
1988 219,184 -58,415 21,099 34,602
1987 226,414 -63,105 15,708 27,081
1986 233,782 -26,460 16,261 23,242
1985 247,836 -80,950 14,882 14,402
1984 263,175 -225,450 16,105 12,532
1983 277,768 -209,362 12,837 5,663
1982 300,030 -163,987 15,339 21,929
1981 328,096 -89,824 13,979 24,229
1980 328,155 -63,541 14,535 17,841
1979 329,791 -57,683 14,477 4,262
1978 317,055 -50,189 13,820 -6,552
1977 300,038 -45,383 16,959 -22,516
1976 291,816 -41,258 17,017 -54,255
1975 282,496 -37,475 22,820 -58,187
1974 275,521 -33,979 27,902 2,008
1973 278,577 -30,582 30,906 8,158
1972 282,494 -27,071 35,061 19,991
1971 281,200 -22,021 38,523 2,636
1970 286,719 -16,299 42,648 -18,326
1969 286,218 -10,152 44,182 20,754
1968 286,642 -7,163 47,328 25,828
1967 284,738 -6,696 52,128 27,697
1966 275,549 -6,794 53,854 14,979
1965 272,422 -7,249 56,222 -1,351
1964 269,584 -7,614 59,050 21,455
1963 262,880 -8,118 52,956 58,415
1962 256,719 -8,909 49,050 82,798
1961 251,087 -10,144 48,365 101,278
1960 247,631 -12,610 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/switzerland | 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). In Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest 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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/sri-lanka/switzerland | 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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