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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,756,000 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 21,926,160 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.84 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: 0.26% 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 +0.42% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 21.9M (7.73% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 20,009,380 26,706,595
2099 20,121,095 26,465,166
2098 20,234,513 26,225,773
2097 20,345,619 25,988,828
2096 20,456,607 25,753,753
2095 20,566,246 25,520,511
2094 20,674,019 25,288,801
2093 20,780,946 25,058,430
2092 20,886,274 24,829,182
2091 20,990,047 24,600,702
2090 21,095,968 24,372,725
2089 21,198,788 24,144,467
2088 21,299,229 23,916,513
2087 21,398,269 23,688,452
2086 21,496,892 23,460,422
2085 21,594,661 23,232,061
2084 21,687,323 23,002,795
2083 21,778,597 22,772,229
2082 21,866,395 22,540,771
2081 21,954,337 22,308,390
2080 22,038,953 22,075,331
2079 22,122,744 21,841,417
2078 22,200,069 21,606,907
2077 22,274,355 21,371,631
2076 22,345,857 21,136,110
2075 22,414,609 20,900,601
2074 22,485,066 20,665,468
2073 22,550,427 20,430,105
2072 22,610,645 20,196,342
2071 22,669,042 19,963,477
2070 22,725,948 19,732,649
2069 22,779,050 19,503,294
2068 22,831,596 19,276,535
2067 22,885,941 19,052,348
2066 22,935,123 18,831,237
2065 22,985,942 18,612,821
2064 23,030,844 18,397,315
2063 23,071,114 18,185,402
2062 23,107,970 17,977,010
2061 23,139,924 17,772,656
2060 23,171,649 17,571,910
2059 23,199,387 17,373,047
2058 23,224,997 17,176,551
2057 23,247,211 16,982,730
2056 23,267,292 16,791,613
2055 23,278,653 16,602,585
2054 23,287,520 16,414,963
2053 23,297,347 16,230,105
2052 23,301,287 16,047,360
2051 23,302,108 15,866,073
2050 23,299,282 15,685,433
2049 23,293,630 15,505,176
2048 23,283,465 15,326,671
2047 23,267,251 15,149,859
2046 23,244,081 14,977,516
2045 23,212,221 14,808,230
2044 23,181,041 14,639,661
2043 23,144,217 14,472,097
2042 23,103,489 14,305,483
2041 23,056,478 14,139,883
2040 23,005,928 13,975,444
2039 22,948,866 13,812,227
2038 22,888,821 13,650,128
2037 22,822,943 13,489,998
2036 22,756,462 13,331,723
2035 22,685,766 13,175,838
2034 22,611,514 13,022,467
2033 22,532,374 12,872,359
2032 22,449,310 12,725,892
2031 22,364,063 12,583,470
2030 22,273,377 12,445,626
2029 22,181,300 12,304,314
2028 22,082,826 12,153,292
2027 21,979,196 11,982,666
2026 21,870,145 11,781,850
2025 21,756,000 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% 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 6.26% to 23,299,282 people with a rank change from 63rd to 71st. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M people compared to the peak of 26.7M 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 -0.73% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.73%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka UAE
Current population
21926160
11885001
Population rank 63/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.26% 0.14%
One net population change
3.29 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
2.37 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
3.07 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline -438 +1,443
Annual growth/decline -160,000 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate -0.73% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 1/197
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 50,407 -27,245 97,197 278,439
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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