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Population in Sri Lanka compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,916,000 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 22,185,425 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.9 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.27% for Sri Lanka vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 22.2M (9.01% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Sri Lanka vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka UAE
2100 20,270,496 26,368,750
2099 20,383,669 26,130,374
2098 20,498,567 25,894,010
2097 20,611,123 25,660,062
2096 20,723,560 25,427,961
2095 20,834,629 25,197,670
2094 20,943,809 24,968,891
2093 21,052,131 24,741,434
2092 21,158,833 24,515,086
2091 21,263,961 24,289,496
2090 21,371,263 24,064,404
2089 21,475,426 23,839,033
2088 21,577,177 23,613,963
2087 21,677,510 23,388,786
2086 21,777,420 23,163,641
2085 21,876,464 22,938,169
2084 21,970,336 22,711,804
2083 22,062,801 22,484,154
2082 22,151,745 22,255,625
2081 22,240,834 22,026,183
2080 22,326,555 21,796,073
2079 22,411,438 21,565,118
2078 22,489,772 21,333,574
2077 22,565,028 21,101,274
2076 22,637,463 20,868,733
2075 22,707,112 20,636,203
2074 22,778,489 20,404,044
2073 22,844,703 20,171,659
2072 22,905,707 19,940,853
2071 22,964,866 19,710,934
2070 23,022,515 19,483,026
2069 23,076,310 19,256,572
2068 23,129,541 19,032,681
2067 23,184,596 18,811,331
2066 23,234,419 18,593,017
2065 23,285,901 18,377,364
2064 23,331,390 18,164,584
2063 23,372,184 17,955,352
2062 23,409,522 17,749,596
2061 23,441,893 17,547,827
2060 23,474,032 17,349,620
2059 23,502,132 17,153,273
2058 23,528,076 16,959,263
2057 23,550,580 16,767,893
2056 23,570,923 16,579,195
2055 23,582,432 16,392,558
2054 23,591,414 16,207,309
2053 23,601,371 16,024,789
2052 23,605,361 15,844,357
2051 23,606,194 15,665,362
2050 23,603,330 15,487,008
2049 23,597,604 15,309,031
2048 23,587,307 15,132,784
2047 23,570,881 14,958,209
2046 23,547,409 14,788,046
2045 23,515,133 14,620,902
2044 23,483,546 14,454,466
2043 23,446,242 14,289,021
2042 23,404,983 14,124,515
2041 23,357,358 13,961,010
2040 23,306,148 13,798,651
2039 23,248,341 13,637,499
2038 23,187,512 13,477,450
2037 23,120,775 13,319,346
2036 23,053,427 13,163,073
2035 22,981,808 13,009,160
2034 22,906,587 12,857,729
2033 22,826,414 12,709,520
2032 22,742,267 12,564,906
2031 22,655,907 12,424,286
2030 22,564,038 12,288,186
2029 22,470,759 12,148,661
2028 22,370,999 11,999,549
2027 22,266,017 11,831,082
2026 22,155,543 11,632,806
2025 22,039,908 11,367,504
2024 21,916,000 10,986,400
2023 22,037,000 10,483,751
2022 22,181,000 10,074,977
2021 22,156,000 9,575,152
2020 21,919,000 9,401,038
2019 21,803,000 9,445,785
2018 21,670,000 9,346,701
2017 21,453,000 9,223,225
2016 21,209,000 8,935,095
2015 20,970,000 8,505,237
2014 20,778,000 8,059,440
2013 20,585,000 7,693,031
2012 21,169,458 7,391,448
2011 21,009,048 7,104,538
2010 20,879,089 6,869,838
2009 20,756,435 6,707,058
2008 20,629,378 6,302,664
2007 20,492,545 5,624,635
2006 20,352,411 5,009,100
2005 20,216,524 4,664,790
2004 20,087,605 4,428,967
2003 19,951,521 4,192,457
2002 19,805,752 3,956,826
2001 19,600,362 3,723,590
2000 19,293,054 3,493,575
1999 18,944,731 3,266,009
1998 18,596,003 3,040,421
1997 18,248,200 2,817,410
1996 17,905,018 2,597,564
1995 17,564,068 2,434,662
1994 17,275,773 2,328,188
1993 17,025,918 2,222,093
1992 16,739,284 2,114,730
1991 16,475,354 2,006,626
1990 16,352,458 1,898,220
1989 16,248,557 1,789,851
1988 16,078,621 1,681,788
1987 15,916,576 1,574,244
1986 15,731,256 1,467,383
1985 15,544,154 1,377,911
1984 15,441,860 1,305,996
1983 15,388,794 1,235,305
1982 15,286,567 1,166,370
1981 15,099,414 1,099,855
1980 14,847,974 1,015,700
1979 14,579,614 912,010
1978 14,310,128 809,274
1977 14,049,371 710,209
1976 13,796,770 615,866
1975 13,548,984 542,856
1974 13,305,693 489,087
1973 13,060,916 436,399
1972 12,809,205 385,014
1971 12,551,910 335,027
1970 12,287,110 286,536
1969 12,013,858 239,660
1968 11,736,088 199,416
1967 11,457,328 179,700
1966 11,183,928 173,976
1965 10,916,965 167,103
1964 10,653,397 159,692
1963 10,395,040 152,211
1962 10,143,754 144,946
1961 9,899,372 137,989
1960 9,661,389 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka UAE
2100 -0.56% 0.91%
2099 -0.56% 0.91%
2098 -0.55% 0.91%
2097 -0.54% 0.91%
2096 -0.53% 0.91%
2095 -0.52% 0.92%
2094 -0.51% 0.92%
2093 -0.5% 0.92%
2092 -0.49% 0.93%
2091 -0.5% 0.94%
2090 -0.49% 0.95%
2089 -0.47% 0.95%
2088 -0.46% 0.96%
2087 -0.46% 0.97%
2086 -0.45% 0.98%
2085 -0.43% 1%
2084 -0.42% 1.01%
2083 -0.4% 1.03%
2082 -0.4% 1.04%
2081 -0.38% 1.06%
2080 -0.38% 1.07%
2079 -0.35% 1.09%
2078 -0.33% 1.1%
2077 -0.32% 1.11%
2076 -0.31% 1.13%
2075 -0.31% 1.14%
2074 -0.29% 1.15%
2073 -0.27% 1.16%
2072 -0.26% 1.17%
2071 -0.25% 1.17%
2070 -0.23% 1.18%
2069 -0.23% 1.18%
2068 -0.24% 1.18%
2067 -0.21% 1.17%
2066 -0.22% 1.17%
2065 -0.19% 1.17%
2064 -0.17% 1.17%
2063 -0.16% 1.16%
2062 -0.14% 1.15%
2061 -0.14% 1.14%
2060 -0.12% 1.14%
2059 -0.11% 1.14%
2058 -0.1% 1.14%
2057 -0.09% 1.14%
2056 -0.05% 1.14%
2055 -0.04% 1.14%
2054 -0.04% 1.14%
2053 -0.02% 1.14%
2052 -0.004% 1.14%
2051 0.01% 1.15%
2050 0.02% 1.16%
2049 0.04% 1.16%
2048 0.07% 1.17%
2047 0.1% 1.15%
2046 0.14% 1.14%
2045 0.13% 1.15%
2044 0.16% 1.16%
2043 0.18% 1.16%
2042 0.2% 1.17%
2041 0.22% 1.18%
2040 0.25% 1.18%
2039 0.26% 1.19%
2038 0.29% 1.19%
2037 0.29% 1.19%
2036 0.31% 1.18%
2035 0.33% 1.18%
2034 0.35% 1.17%
2033 0.37% 1.15%
2032 0.38% 1.13%
2031 0.41% 1.11%
2030 0.42% 1.15%
2029 0.45% 1.24%
2028 0.47% 1.42%
2027 0.5% 1.7%
2026 0.52% 2.33%
2025 0.57% 3.47%
2024 -0.55% 4.79%
2023 -0.65% 4.06%
2022 0.11% 5.22%
2021 1.08% 1.85%
2020 0.53% -0.47%
2019 0.61% 1.06%
2018 1.01% 1.34%
2017 1.15% 3.22%
2016 1.14% 5.05%
2015 0.92% 5.53%
2014 0.94% 4.76%
2013 -2.76% 4.08%
2012 0.76% 4.04%
2011 0.62% 3.42%
2010 0.59% 2.43%
2009 0.62% 6.42%
2008 0.67% 12.1%
2007 0.69% 12.3%
2006 0.67% 7.38%
2005 0.64% 5.32%
2004 0.68% 5.64%
2003 0.74% 5.96%
2002 1.05% 6.26%
2001 1.59% 6.58%
2000 1.84% 6.97%
1999 1.88% 7.42%
1998 1.91% 7.92%
1997 1.92% 8.46%
1996 1.94% 6.69%
1995 1.67% 4.57%
1994 1.47% 4.77%
1993 1.71% 5.08%
1992 1.6% 5.39%
1991 0.75% 5.71%
1990 0.64% 6.05%
1989 1.06% 6.43%
1988 1.02% 6.83%
1987 1.18% 7.28%
1986 1.2% 6.49%
1985 0.66% 5.51%
1984 0.34% 5.72%
1983 0.67% 5.91%
1982 1.24% 6.05%
1981 1.69% 8.29%
1980 1.84% 11.4%
1979 1.88% 12.7%
1978 1.86% 13.9%
1977 1.83% 15.3%
1976 1.83% 13.4%
1975 1.83% 11%
1974 1.87% 12.1%
1973 1.97% 13.3%
1972 2.05% 14.9%
1971 2.16% 16.9%
1970 2.27% 19.6%
1969 2.37% 20.2%
1968 2.43% 11%
1967 2.44% 3.29%
1966 2.45% 4.11%
1965 2.47% 4.64%
1964 2.49% 4.91%
1963 2.48% 5.01%
1962 2.47% 5.04%
1961 2.46% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.55%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka UAE
Current population
22185425
11686438
Population rank 63/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.14%
One net population change
4.34 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -332 +1,377
Annual growth/decline -121,000 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate -0.55% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 3/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -30,724 +158,634
Net migration rank 165/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 190/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - 158,634
2024 - -27,245 - 278,439
2023 66,111 -28,011 92,698 300,004
2022 95,378 -27,435 81,758 322,773
2021 121,858 -29,586 76,802 421,663
2020 170,968 -29,875 87,871 92,541
2019 172,243 -28,426 86,296 -125,186
2018 183,610 -28,607 86,840 14,611
2017 187,993 -22,324 89,382 34,155
2016 194,232 -18,388 87,028 195,317
2015 201,815 -29,797 85,044 342,468
2014 211,541 -33,672 84,277 360,174
2013 221,021 -37,754 82,977 279,269
2012 229,138 -41,955 78,682 225,921
2011 224,461 -90,839 73,496 215,183
2010 224,325 -98,060 69,907 161,842
2009 200,175 -81,130 66,521 163,643
2008 232,225 -97,144 55,426 523,207
2007 248,287 -109,695 55,048 722,380
2006 248,706 -107,045 54,338 399,306
2005 248,683 -118,594 60,046 174,926
2004 212,527 -84,795 60,344 176,319
2003 252,008 -107,573 59,118 177,237
2002 252,840 -105,718 55,922 178,988
2001 244,377 19,273 52,789 178,779
2000 227,060 123,894 49,993 178,469
1999 206,876 138,799 46,198 180,469
1998 201,059 150,724 41,176 183,329
1997 208,193 135,636 38,207 183,310
1996 215,290 127,236 37,886 180,296
1995 221,957 117,416 38,685 68,938
1994 228,904 8,323 42,976 62,352
1993 226,257 36,232 41,324 65,545
1992 222,230 88,542 42,119 65,739
1991 218,117 -1,047 41,409 66,943
1990 224,454 -195,736 41,339 67,118
1989 212,401 -33,305 40,148 68,132
1988 219,184 -58,415 38,861 68,991
1987 226,414 -63,105 37,741 69,493
1986 233,782 -26,460 36,829 69,655
1985 247,836 -80,950 34,855 37,605
1984 263,175 -225,450 33,250 38,124
1983 277,768 -209,362 31,480 38,536
1982 300,030 -163,987 29,585 38,276
1981 328,096 -89,824 27,560 37,600
1980 328,155 -63,541 25,005 78,148
1979 329,791 -57,683 21,987 82,238
1978 317,055 -50,189 18,879 82,359
1977 300,038 -45,383 15,787 81,111
1976 291,816 -41,258 12,876 78,903
1975 282,496 -37,475 11,859 42,380
1974 275,521 -33,979 10,835 42,474
1973 278,577 -30,582 9,822 42,243
1972 282,494 -27,071 8,818 41,888
1971 281,200 -22,021 7,839 41,425
1970 286,719 -16,299 6,922 40,792
1969 286,218 -10,152 6,138 39,902
1968 286,642 -7,163 5,588 28,866
1967 284,738 -6,696 5,264 -283
1966 275,549 -6,794 4,955 1,516
1965 272,422 -7,249 4,675 2,598
1964 269,584 -7,614 4,410 3,126
1963 262,880 -8,118 4,157 3,264
1962 256,719 -8,909 3,901 3,212
1961 251,087 -10,144 3,657 3,141
1960 247,631 -12,610 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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