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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,756,000 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 21,926,160 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 1.23 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.26% for Sri Lanka vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.42% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 21.9M (7.73% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Syria
2100 20,009,380 44,500,028
2099 20,121,095 44,570,009
2098 20,234,513 44,629,837
2097 20,345,619 44,692,566
2096 20,456,607 44,747,012
2095 20,566,246 44,774,686
2094 20,674,019 44,824,294
2093 20,780,946 44,853,295
2092 20,886,274 44,882,700
2091 20,990,047 44,895,349
2090 21,095,968 44,926,869
2089 21,198,788 44,925,891
2088 21,299,229 44,920,667
2087 21,398,269 44,928,298
2086 21,496,892 44,947,658
2085 21,594,661 44,913,669
2084 21,687,323 44,878,845
2083 21,778,597 44,850,592
2082 21,866,395 44,790,014
2081 21,954,337 44,723,244
2080 22,038,953 44,624,321
2079 22,122,744 44,567,127
2078 22,200,069 44,529,618
2077 22,274,355 44,484,155
2076 22,345,857 44,400,339
2075 22,414,609 44,306,882
2074 22,485,066 44,209,517
2073 22,550,427 44,102,028
2072 22,610,645 43,965,642
2071 22,669,042 43,821,617
2070 22,725,948 43,678,154
2069 22,779,050 43,530,683
2068 22,831,596 43,348,487
2067 22,885,941 43,154,741
2066 22,935,123 42,944,885
2065 22,985,942 42,695,249
2064 23,030,844 42,445,036
2063 23,071,114 42,198,056
2062 23,107,970 41,949,014
2061 23,139,924 41,695,586
2060 23,171,649 41,410,547
2059 23,199,387 41,097,942
2058 23,224,997 40,815,606
2057 23,247,211 40,534,091
2056 23,267,292 40,224,053
2055 23,278,653 39,918,930
2054 23,287,520 39,584,624
2053 23,297,347 39,242,144
2052 23,301,287 38,940,206
2051 23,302,108 38,629,604
2050 23,299,282 38,307,069
2049 23,293,630 37,986,965
2048 23,283,465 37,682,780
2047 23,267,251 37,391,752
2046 23,244,081 37,081,479
2045 23,212,221 36,744,441
2044 23,181,041 36,428,225
2043 23,144,217 36,090,851
2042 23,103,489 35,729,021
2041 23,056,478 35,352,033
2040 23,005,928 34,947,817
2039 22,948,866 34,533,772
2038 22,888,821 34,091,760
2037 22,822,943 33,612,993
2036 22,756,462 33,134,445
2035 22,685,766 32,608,669
2034 22,611,514 32,062,309
2033 22,532,374 31,477,500
2032 22,449,310 30,883,996
2031 22,364,063 30,248,264
2030 22,273,377 29,592,787
2029 22,181,300 28,871,638
2028 22,082,826 28,141,821
2027 21,979,196 27,355,002
2026 21,870,145 26,535,554
2025 21,756,000 25,620,427
2024 21,916,000 24,672,760
2023 22,037,000 23,594,623
2022 22,181,000 22,462,173
2021 22,156,000 21,628,839
2020 21,919,000 21,049,429
2019 21,803,000 20,353,534
2018 21,670,000 19,577,845
2017 21,453,000 19,224,668
2016 21,209,000 19,193,834
2015 20,970,000 19,424,618
2014 20,778,000 20,273,659
2013 20,585,000 21,666,917
2012 21,169,458 22,759,763
2011 21,009,048 22,878,098
2010 20,879,089 22,482,421
2009 20,756,435 21,976,969
2008 20,629,378 21,636,564
2007 20,492,545 20,884,125
2006 20,352,411 19,637,022
2005 20,216,524 18,814,091
2004 20,087,605 18,336,875
2003 19,951,521 17,889,296
2002 19,805,752 17,468,332
2001 19,600,362 17,051,338
2000 19,293,054 16,637,888
1999 18,944,731 16,228,061
1998 18,596,003 15,820,413
1997 18,248,200 15,417,542
1996 17,905,018 15,018,104
1995 17,564,068 14,616,801
1994 17,275,773 14,208,583
1993 17,025,918 13,795,686
1992 16,739,284 13,385,571
1991 16,475,354 12,980,821
1990 16,352,458 12,579,208
1989 16,248,557 12,179,060
1988 16,078,621 11,782,264
1987 15,916,576 11,388,923
1986 15,731,256 11,002,844
1985 15,544,154 10,625,672
1984 15,441,860 10,258,398
1983 15,388,794 9,904,809
1982 15,286,567 9,572,511
1981 15,099,414 9,260,189
1980 14,847,974 8,957,663
1979 14,579,614 8,661,909
1978 14,310,128 8,372,759
1977 14,049,371 8,090,501
1976 13,796,770 7,817,320
1975 13,548,984 7,554,364
1974 13,305,693 7,302,160
1973 13,060,916 7,060,321
1972 12,809,205 6,826,024
1971 12,551,910 6,598,094
1970 12,287,110 6,380,609
1969 12,013,858 6,175,166
1968 11,736,088 5,978,742
1967 11,457,328 5,790,198
1966 11,183,928 5,609,047
1965 10,916,965 5,435,267
1964 10,653,397 5,269,087
1963 10,395,040 5,110,467
1962 10,143,754 4,959,340
1961 9,899,372 4,815,466
1960 9,661,389 4,673,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sri Lanka's population will grow by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people with a rank change from 63rd to 71st. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka Syria
2100 -0.56% -0.16%
2099 -0.56% -0.13%
2098 -0.55% -0.14%
2097 -0.54% -0.12%
2096 -0.53% -0.06%
2095 -0.52% -0.11%
2094 -0.51% -0.06%
2093 -0.5% -0.07%
2092 -0.49% -0.03%
2091 -0.5% -0.07%
2090 -0.49% 0.002%
2089 -0.47% 0.01%
2088 -0.46% -0.02%
2087 -0.46% -0.04%
2086 -0.45% 0.08%
2085 -0.43% 0.08%
2084 -0.42% 0.06%
2083 -0.4% 0.14%
2082 -0.4% 0.15%
2081 -0.38% 0.22%
2080 -0.38% 0.13%
2079 -0.35% 0.08%
2078 -0.33% 0.1%
2077 -0.32% 0.19%
2076 -0.31% 0.21%
2075 -0.31% 0.22%
2074 -0.29% 0.24%
2073 -0.27% 0.31%
2072 -0.26% 0.33%
2071 -0.25% 0.33%
2070 -0.23% 0.34%
2069 -0.23% 0.42%
2068 -0.24% 0.45%
2067 -0.21% 0.49%
2066 -0.22% 0.58%
2065 -0.19% 0.59%
2064 -0.17% 0.59%
2063 -0.16% 0.59%
2062 -0.14% 0.61%
2061 -0.14% 0.69%
2060 -0.12% 0.76%
2059 -0.11% 0.69%
2058 -0.1% 0.69%
2057 -0.09% 0.77%
2056 -0.05% 0.76%
2055 -0.04% 0.84%
2054 -0.04% 0.87%
2053 -0.02% 0.78%
2052 -0.004% 0.8%
2051 0.01% 0.84%
2050 0.02% 0.84%
2049 0.04% 0.81%
2048 0.07% 0.78%
2047 0.1% 0.84%
2046 0.14% 0.92%
2045 0.13% 0.87%
2044 0.16% 0.93%
2043 0.18% 1.01%
2042 0.2% 1.07%
2041 0.22% 1.16%
2040 0.25% 1.2%
2039 0.26% 1.3%
2038 0.29% 1.42%
2037 0.29% 1.44%
2036 0.31% 1.61%
2035 0.33% 1.7%
2034 0.35% 1.86%
2033 0.37% 1.92%
2032 0.38% 2.1%
2031 0.41% 2.21%
2030 0.42% 2.5%
2029 0.45% 2.59%
2028 0.47% 2.88%
2027 0.5% 3.09%
2026 0.52% 3.57%
2025 -0.73% 3.84%
2024 -0.55% 4.57%
2023 -0.65% 5.04%
2022 0.11% 3.85%
2021 1.08% 2.75%
2020 0.53% 3.42%
2019 0.61% 3.96%
2018 1.01% 1.84%
2017 1.15% 0.16%
2016 1.14% -1.19%
2015 0.92% -4.19%
2014 0.94% -6.43%
2013 -2.76% -4.8%
2012 0.76% -0.52%
2011 0.62% 1.76%
2010 0.59% 2.3%
2009 0.62% 1.57%
2008 0.67% 3.6%
2007 0.69% 6.35%
2006 0.67% 4.37%
2005 0.64% 2.6%
2004 0.68% 2.5%
2003 0.74% 2.41%
2002 1.05% 2.45%
2001 1.59% 2.48%
2000 1.84% 2.53%
1999 1.88% 2.58%
1998 1.91% 2.61%
1997 1.92% 2.66%
1996 1.94% 2.75%
1995 1.67% 2.87%
1994 1.47% 2.99%
1993 1.71% 3.06%
1992 1.6% 3.12%
1991 0.75% 3.19%
1990 0.64% 3.29%
1989 1.06% 3.37%
1988 1.02% 3.45%
1987 1.18% 3.51%
1986 1.2% 3.55%
1985 0.66% 3.58%
1984 0.34% 3.57%
1983 0.67% 3.47%
1982 1.24% 3.37%
1981 1.69% 3.38%
1980 1.84% 3.41%
1979 1.88% 3.45%
1978 1.86% 3.49%
1977 1.83% 3.49%
1976 1.83% 3.48%
1975 1.83% 3.45%
1974 1.87% 3.43%
1973 1.97% 3.43%
1972 2.05% 3.45%
1971 2.16% 3.41%
1970 2.27% 3.33%
1969 2.37% 3.29%
1968 2.43% 3.26%
1967 2.44% 3.23%
1966 2.45% 3.2%
1965 2.47% 3.15%
1964 2.49% 3.1%
1963 2.48% 3.05%
1962 2.47% 2.99%
1961 2.46% 3.04%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.73%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Syria
Current population
21926160
26956472
Population rank 63/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.26% 0.32%
One net population change
3.29 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
2.37 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
3.07 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline -438 +2,596
Annual growth/decline -160,000 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate -0.73% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 5/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -30,724 +421,693
Net migration rank 165/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 190/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - 421,693
2024 50,407 -27,245 449,784 546,494
2023 66,111 -28,011 402,713 757,309
2022 95,378 -27,435 369,750 735,142
2021 121,858 -29,586 350,560 211,220
2020 170,968 -29,875 327,992 269,050
2019 172,243 -28,426 293,762 500,985
2018 183,610 -28,607 242,530 514,102
2017 187,993 -22,324 237,214 -287,501
2016 194,232 -18,388 236,007 -124,063
2015 201,815 -29,797 253,977 -827,496
2014 211,541 -33,672 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 221,021 -37,754 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 229,138 -41,955 475,520 -999,267
2011 224,461 -90,839 543,950 -256,888
2010 224,325 -98,060 558,666 -54,359
2009 200,175 -81,130 559,314 -52,703
2008 232,225 -97,144 576,593 -402,393
2007 248,287 -109,695 529,162 801,514
2006 248,706 -107,045 480,616 682,911
2005 248,683 -118,594 468,960 13,382
2004 212,527 -84,795 461,209 10,881
2003 252,008 -107,573 457,000 -33,920
2002 252,840 -105,718 453,967 -35,096
2001 244,377 19,273 451,503 -36,383
2000 227,060 123,894 446,211 -34,425
1999 206,876 138,799 439,261 -31,394
1998 201,059 150,724 433,447 -26,025
1997 208,193 135,636 429,887 -31,571
1996 215,290 127,236 430,765 -30,197
1995 221,957 117,416 430,172 -28,122
1994 228,904 8,323 426,996 -12,630
1993 226,257 36,232 420,244 -8,828
1992 222,230 88,542 412,878 -4,063
1991 218,117 -1,047 410,830 -10,154
1990 224,454 -195,736 409,177 -6,620
1989 212,401 -33,305 406,111 -8,379
1988 219,184 -58,415 404,285 -8,426
1987 226,414 -63,105 399,159 -8,335
1986 233,782 -26,460 390,821 -9,485
1985 247,836 -80,950 379,231 -6,221
1984 263,175 -225,450 366,768 -5,245
1983 277,768 -209,362 355,375 -9,729
1982 300,030 -163,987 319,664 -721
1981 328,096 -89,824 330,237 -24,536
1980 328,155 -63,541 332,464 -33,114
1979 329,791 -57,683 324,943 -32,793
1978 317,055 -50,189 316,724 -30,567
1977 300,038 -45,383 306,630 -28,275
1976 291,816 -41,258 294,267 -26,268
1975 282,496 -37,475 282,299 -24,389
1974 275,521 -33,979 270,735 -24,242
1973 278,577 -30,582 254,687 -17,502
1972 282,494 -27,071 249,027 -17,610
1971 281,200 -22,021 239,610 -15,167
1970 286,719 -16,299 230,117 -19,594
1969 286,218 -10,152 219,114 -18,749
1968 286,642 -7,163 209,454 -16,968
1967 284,738 -6,696 199,223 -14,618
1966 275,549 -6,794 191,122 -13,434
1965 272,422 -7,249 182,560 -12,704
1964 269,584 -7,614 174,549 -12,044
1963 262,880 -8,118 166,555 -11,817
1962 256,719 -8,909 159,155 -11,641
1961 251,087 -10,144 151,485 -11,237
1960 247,631 -12,610 143,687 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 84.3% of the population change in Sri Lanka is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people). In Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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