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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,756,000 in 2025 vs 70,545,865 people in Tanzania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 21,926,160 people compared to 73,639,263 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 3.36 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 1.15% of the world: 0.26% for Sri Lanka vs 0.89% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.42% per year vs +3.11% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 21.9M (7.73% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.6M (82.8% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Tanzania
2100 20,009,380 265,471,550
2099 20,121,095 263,137,702
2098 20,234,513 260,784,676
2097 20,345,619 258,387,890
2096 20,456,607 255,972,277
2095 20,566,246 253,543,248
2094 20,674,019 251,095,452
2093 20,780,946 248,605,184
2092 20,886,274 246,083,651
2091 20,990,047 243,533,968
2090 21,095,968 240,979,094
2089 21,198,788 238,393,867
2088 21,299,229 235,775,056
2087 21,398,269 233,145,231
2086 21,496,892 230,474,072
2085 21,594,661 227,778,580
2084 21,687,323 225,090,075
2083 21,778,597 222,400,079
2082 21,866,395 219,697,321
2081 21,954,337 216,974,796
2080 22,038,953 214,235,505
2079 22,122,744 211,466,096
2078 22,200,069 208,688,171
2077 22,274,355 205,898,494
2076 22,345,857 203,086,766
2075 22,414,609 200,278,383
2074 22,485,066 197,449,196
2073 22,550,427 194,624,081
2072 22,610,645 191,805,820
2071 22,669,042 188,974,004
2070 22,725,948 186,134,634
2069 22,779,050 183,293,747
2068 22,831,596 180,458,385
2067 22,885,941 177,622,538
2066 22,935,123 174,786,430
2065 22,985,942 171,897,059
2064 23,030,844 169,048,435
2063 23,071,114 166,202,091
2062 23,107,970 163,354,473
2061 23,139,924 160,521,858
2060 23,171,649 157,707,240
2059 23,199,387 154,905,240
2058 23,224,997 152,106,040
2057 23,247,211 149,311,257
2056 23,267,292 146,505,507
2055 23,278,653 143,722,840
2054 23,287,520 140,970,467
2053 23,297,347 138,249,490
2052 23,301,287 135,540,803
2051 23,302,108 132,838,721
2050 23,299,282 130,145,345
2049 23,293,630 127,483,126
2048 23,283,465 124,809,212
2047 23,267,251 122,146,647
2046 23,244,081 119,511,124
2045 23,212,221 116,903,642
2044 23,181,041 114,318,843
2043 23,144,217 111,765,580
2042 23,103,489 109,231,423
2041 23,056,478 106,738,458
2040 23,005,928 104,262,479
2039 22,948,866 101,804,600
2038 22,888,821 99,370,760
2037 22,822,943 96,974,485
2036 22,756,462 94,592,848
2035 22,685,766 92,248,476
2034 22,611,514 89,920,872
2033 22,532,374 87,646,627
2032 22,449,310 85,401,853
2031 22,364,063 83,172,579
2030 22,273,377 80,989,443
2029 22,181,300 78,830,947
2028 22,082,826 76,723,335
2027 21,979,196 74,639,948
2026 21,870,145 72,582,361
2025 21,756,000 70,545,865
2024 21,916,000 68,560,157
2023 22,037,000 66,617,606
2022 22,181,000 64,711,821
2021 22,156,000 62,830,412
2020 21,919,000 60,972,798
2019 21,803,000 59,174,891
2018 21,670,000 57,437,145
2017 21,453,000 55,652,890
2016 21,209,000 53,824,013
2015 20,970,000 52,020,962
2014 20,778,000 50,351,512
2013 20,585,000 48,824,128
2012 21,169,458 47,374,260
2011 21,009,048 46,029,367
2010 20,879,089 44,758,488
2009 20,756,435 43,633,982
2008 20,629,378 42,570,728
2007 20,492,545 41,435,512
2006 20,352,411 40,294,902
2005 20,216,524 39,182,076
2004 20,087,605 38,109,668
2003 19,951,521 37,089,555
2002 19,805,752 36,121,304
2001 19,600,362 35,198,299
2000 19,293,054 34,260,139
1999 18,944,731 33,300,330
1998 18,596,003 32,420,458
1997 18,248,200 31,578,089
1996 17,905,018 30,945,762
1995 17,564,068 30,383,497
1994 17,275,773 29,442,356
1993 17,025,918 28,332,692
1992 16,739,284 27,457,588
1991 16,475,354 26,780,436
1990 16,352,458 26,110,207
1989 16,248,557 25,438,759
1988 16,078,621 24,769,686
1987 15,916,576 24,030,378
1986 15,731,256 23,258,959
1985 15,544,154 22,501,693
1984 15,441,860 21,779,066
1983 15,388,794 21,079,874
1982 15,286,567 20,398,571
1981 15,099,414 19,784,703
1980 14,847,974 19,189,769
1979 14,579,614 18,592,038
1978 14,310,128 17,976,566
1977 14,049,371 17,352,929
1976 13,796,770 16,736,211
1975 13,548,984 16,138,361
1974 13,305,693 15,561,630
1973 13,060,916 15,010,101
1972 12,809,205 14,479,308
1971 12,551,910 13,971,451
1970 12,287,110 13,492,677
1969 12,013,858 13,036,700
1968 11,736,088 12,602,076
1967 11,457,328 12,200,109
1966 11,183,928 11,827,459
1965 10,916,965 11,470,728
1964 10,653,397 11,127,826
1963 10,395,040 10,799,528
1962 10,143,754 10,487,756
1961 9,899,372 10,187,886
1960 9,661,389 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,815,250 people (a 36.8% growth).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 76.7% to 130,145,345 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka Tanzania
2100 -0.56% 0.89%
2099 -0.56% 0.9%
2098 -0.55% 0.93%
2097 -0.54% 0.94%
2096 -0.53% 0.96%
2095 -0.52% 0.97%
2094 -0.51% 1%
2093 -0.5% 1.02%
2092 -0.49% 1.05%
2091 -0.5% 1.06%
2090 -0.49% 1.08%
2089 -0.47% 1.11%
2088 -0.46% 1.13%
2087 -0.46% 1.16%
2086 -0.45% 1.18%
2085 -0.43% 1.19%
2084 -0.42% 1.21%
2083 -0.4% 1.23%
2082 -0.4% 1.25%
2081 -0.38% 1.28%
2080 -0.38% 1.31%
2079 -0.35% 1.33%
2078 -0.33% 1.35%
2077 -0.32% 1.38%
2076 -0.31% 1.4%
2075 -0.31% 1.43%
2074 -0.29% 1.45%
2073 -0.27% 1.47%
2072 -0.26% 1.5%
2071 -0.25% 1.53%
2070 -0.23% 1.55%
2069 -0.23% 1.57%
2068 -0.24% 1.6%
2067 -0.21% 1.62%
2066 -0.22% 1.68%
2065 -0.19% 1.69%
2064 -0.17% 1.71%
2063 -0.16% 1.74%
2062 -0.14% 1.76%
2061 -0.14% 1.78%
2060 -0.12% 1.81%
2059 -0.11% 1.84%
2058 -0.1% 1.87%
2057 -0.09% 1.92%
2056 -0.05% 1.94%
2055 -0.04% 1.95%
2054 -0.04% 1.97%
2053 -0.02% 2%
2052 -0.004% 2.03%
2051 0.01% 2.07%
2050 0.02% 2.09%
2049 0.04% 2.14%
2048 0.07% 2.18%
2047 0.1% 2.21%
2046 0.14% 2.23%
2045 0.13% 2.26%
2044 0.16% 2.28%
2043 0.18% 2.32%
2042 0.2% 2.34%
2041 0.22% 2.37%
2040 0.25% 2.41%
2039 0.26% 2.45%
2038 0.29% 2.47%
2037 0.29% 2.52%
2036 0.31% 2.54%
2035 0.33% 2.59%
2034 0.35% 2.59%
2033 0.37% 2.63%
2032 0.38% 2.68%
2031 0.41% 2.7%
2030 0.42% 2.74%
2029 0.45% 2.75%
2028 0.47% 2.79%
2027 0.5% 2.83%
2026 0.52% 2.89%
2025 -0.73% 2.9%
2024 -0.55% 2.92%
2023 -0.65% 2.95%
2022 0.11% 2.99%
2021 1.08% 3.05%
2020 0.53% 3.04%
2019 0.61% 3.03%
2018 1.01% 3.21%
2017 1.15% 3.4%
2016 1.14% 3.47%
2015 0.92% 3.32%
2014 0.94% 3.13%
2013 -2.76% 3.06%
2012 0.76% 2.92%
2011 0.62% 2.84%
2010 0.59% 2.58%
2009 0.62% 2.5%
2008 0.67% 2.74%
2007 0.69% 2.83%
2006 0.67% 2.84%
2005 0.64% 2.81%
2004 0.68% 2.75%
2003 0.74% 2.68%
2002 1.05% 2.62%
2001 1.59% 2.74%
2000 1.84% 2.88%
1999 1.88% 2.71%
1998 1.91% 2.67%
1997 1.92% 2.04%
1996 1.94% 1.85%
1995 1.67% 3.2%
1994 1.47% 3.92%
1993 1.71% 3.19%
1992 1.6% 2.53%
1991 0.75% 2.57%
1990 0.64% 2.64%
1989 1.06% 2.7%
1988 1.02% 3.08%
1987 1.18% 3.32%
1986 1.2% 3.37%
1985 0.66% 3.32%
1984 0.34% 3.32%
1983 0.67% 3.34%
1982 1.24% 3.1%
1981 1.69% 3.1%
1980 1.84% 3.21%
1979 1.88% 3.42%
1978 1.86% 3.59%
1977 1.83% 3.68%
1976 1.83% 3.7%
1975 1.83% 3.71%
1974 1.87% 3.67%
1973 1.97% 3.67%
1972 2.05% 3.63%
1971 2.16% 3.55%
1970 2.27% 3.5%
1969 2.37% 3.45%
1968 2.43% 3.29%
1967 2.44% 3.15%
1966 2.45% 3.11%
1965 2.47% 3.08%
1964 2.49% 3.04%
1963 2.48% 2.97%
1962 2.47% 2.94%
1961 2.46% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.73%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.9%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Tanzania
Current population
21926160
73639263
Population rank 63/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.26% 0.89%
One net population change
3.29 minutes
15.9 seconds
One birth every
2.37 minutes
13.2 seconds
One death every
3.07 minutes
1.34 minutes
Daily growth/decline -438 +5,440
Annual growth/decline -160,000 +1,985,708
Annual growth/decline rate -0.73% +2.9%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 16/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change -30,724 -12,730
Net migration rank 165/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 190/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - -12,730
2024 50,407 -27,245 1,993,730 -29,865
2023 66,111 -28,011 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 95,378 -27,435 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 121,858 -29,586 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 170,968 -29,875 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 172,243 -28,426 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 183,610 -28,607 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 187,993 -22,324 1,726,909 119,142
2016 194,232 -18,388 1,659,502 152,194
2015 201,815 -29,797 1,592,882 201,495
2014 211,541 -33,672 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 221,021 -37,754 1,509,008 1,241
2012 229,138 -41,955 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 224,461 -90,839 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 224,325 -98,060 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 200,175 -81,130 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 232,225 -97,144 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 248,287 -109,695 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 248,706 -107,045 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 248,683 -118,594 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 212,527 -84,795 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 252,008 -107,573 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 252,840 -105,718 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 244,377 19,273 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 227,060 123,894 985,185 -9,701
1999 206,876 138,799 948,659 -4,489
1998 201,059 150,724 920,806 -105,184
1997 208,193 135,636 882,544 -13,400
1996 215,290 127,236 868,524 -473,007
1995 221,957 117,416 838,980 -109,971
1994 228,904 8,323 803,953 349,348
1993 226,257 36,232 778,044 288,004
1992 222,230 88,542 767,961 -83,825
1991 218,117 -1,047 762,011 -91,851
1990 224,454 -195,736 750,825 -80,529
1989 212,401 -33,305 743,854 -71,268
1988 219,184 -58,415 736,551 -71,012
1987 226,414 -63,105 718,580 94,498
1986 233,782 -26,460 705,677 24,101
1985 247,836 -80,950 697,867 86,864
1984 263,175 -225,450 687,435 -26,938
1983 277,768 -209,362 679,720 58,161
1982 300,030 -163,987 662,627 -37,883
1981 328,096 -89,824 645,496 -42,485
1980 328,155 -63,541 629,444 -42,588
1979 329,791 -57,683 613,388 -4,792
1978 317,055 -50,189 595,024 27,307
1977 300,038 -45,383 574,938 49,997
1976 291,816 -41,258 553,617 54,875
1975 282,496 -37,475 533,906 53,290
1974 275,521 -33,979 515,152 51,127
1973 278,577 -30,582 488,429 48,363
1972 282,494 -27,071 467,305 57,489
1971 281,200 -22,021 449,014 41,900
1970 286,719 -16,299 427,988 38,635
1969 286,218 -10,152 408,322 37,006
1968 286,642 -7,163 389,467 34,455
1967 284,738 -6,696 374,763 5,265
1966 275,549 -6,794 360,229 5,049
1965 272,422 -7,249 343,456 4,742
1964 269,584 -7,614 328,527 9,090
1963 262,880 -8,118 314,644 4,333
1962 256,719 -8,909 300,663 3,916
1961 251,087 -10,144 286,839 8,338
1960 247,631 -12,610 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,197,641 people) and 1.2% is from migration (a gain of 220,684 people).

As of 2024, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

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
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Morogoro 471K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Moshi 145K

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/tanzania | 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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