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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,916,000 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 22,185,425 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 1.21 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: 0.27% for Sri Lanka vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 22.2M (9.01% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Syria
2100 20,270,496 44,620,090
2099 20,383,669 44,690,260
2098 20,498,567 44,750,249
2097 20,611,123 44,813,148
2096 20,723,560 44,867,740
2095 20,834,629 44,895,489
2094 20,943,809 44,945,231
2093 21,052,131 44,974,311
2092 21,158,833 45,003,795
2091 21,263,961 45,016,478
2090 21,371,263 45,048,083
2089 21,475,426 45,047,102
2088 21,577,177 45,041,864
2087 21,677,510 45,049,516
2086 21,777,420 45,068,928
2085 21,876,464 45,034,847
2084 21,970,336 44,999,929
2083 22,062,801 44,971,600
2082 22,151,745 44,910,859
2081 22,240,834 44,843,908
2080 22,326,555 44,744,718
2079 22,411,438 44,687,371
2078 22,489,772 44,649,760
2077 22,565,028 44,604,175
2076 22,637,463 44,520,132
2075 22,707,112 44,426,423
2074 22,778,489 44,328,795
2073 22,844,703 44,221,016
2072 22,905,707 44,084,262
2071 22,964,866 43,939,848
2070 23,022,515 43,795,999
2069 23,076,310 43,648,130
2068 23,129,541 43,465,442
2067 23,184,596 43,271,173
2066 23,234,419 43,060,752
2065 23,285,901 42,810,442
2064 23,331,390 42,559,554
2063 23,372,184 42,311,907
2062 23,409,522 42,062,193
2061 23,441,893 41,808,082
2060 23,474,032 41,522,274
2059 23,502,132 41,208,825
2058 23,528,076 40,925,728
2057 23,550,580 40,643,453
2056 23,570,923 40,332,578
2055 23,582,432 40,026,632
2054 23,591,414 39,691,425
2053 23,601,371 39,348,020
2052 23,605,361 39,045,268
2051 23,606,194 38,733,827
2050 23,603,330 38,410,423
2049 23,597,604 38,089,455
2048 23,587,307 37,784,449
2047 23,570,881 37,492,636
2046 23,547,409 37,181,526
2045 23,515,133 36,843,579
2044 23,483,546 36,526,509
2043 23,446,242 36,188,225
2042 23,404,983 35,825,419
2041 23,357,358 35,447,414
2040 23,306,148 35,042,107
2039 23,248,341 34,626,945
2038 23,187,512 34,183,740
2037 23,120,775 33,703,682
2036 23,053,427 33,223,843
2035 22,981,808 32,696,648
2034 22,906,587 32,148,814
2033 22,826,414 31,562,427
2032 22,742,267 30,967,322
2031 22,655,907 30,329,874
2030 22,564,038 29,672,629
2029 22,470,759 28,949,535
2028 22,370,999 28,217,748
2027 22,266,017 27,428,807
2026 22,155,543 26,607,148
2025 22,039,908 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% 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 6.39% to 23,603,330 people with a rank change from 63rd to 70th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M people compared to the peak of 45.1M 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 0.57% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.55%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Syria
Current population
22185425
26829400
Population rank 63/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.32%
One net population change
4.34 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline -332 +2,954
Annual growth/decline -121,000 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate -0.55% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 6/197
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 - -27,245 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 (1960–2024, 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/syria | 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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