Skip to content

Population in Sri Lanka compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,916,000 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 22,185,425 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 23,702 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.27% for Sri Lanka vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 22.2M (9.01% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Vatican
2100 20,270,496 2,521
2099 20,383,669 2,506
2098 20,498,567 2,497
2097 20,611,123 2,482
2096 20,723,560 2,469
2095 20,834,629 2,452
2094 20,943,809 2,435
2093 21,052,131 2,421
2092 21,158,833 2,400
2091 21,263,961 2,384
2090 21,371,263 2,359
2089 21,475,426 2,337
2088 21,577,177 2,319
2087 21,677,510 2,291
2086 21,777,420 2,269
2085 21,876,464 2,248
2084 21,970,336 2,217
2083 22,062,801 2,183
2082 22,151,745 2,159
2081 22,240,834 2,129
2080 22,326,555 2,105
2079 22,411,438 2,089
2078 22,489,772 2,068
2077 22,565,028 2,050
2076 22,637,463 2,025
2075 22,707,112 2,001
2074 22,778,489 1,970
2073 22,844,703 1,944
2072 22,905,707 1,912
2071 22,964,866 1,866
2070 23,022,515 1,829
2069 23,076,310 1,795
2068 23,129,541 1,777
2067 23,184,596 1,755
2066 23,234,419 1,729
2065 23,285,901 1,701
2064 23,331,390 1,679
2063 23,372,184 1,651
2062 23,409,522 1,623
2061 23,441,893 1,595
2060 23,474,032 1,556
2059 23,502,132 1,530
2058 23,528,076 1,512
2057 23,550,580 1,493
2056 23,570,923 1,469
2055 23,582,432 1,441
2054 23,591,414 1,419
2053 23,601,371 1,382
2052 23,605,361 1,358
2051 23,606,194 1,335
2050 23,603,330 1,311
2049 23,597,604 1,283
2048 23,587,307 1,256
2047 23,570,881 1,237
2046 23,547,409 1,215
2045 23,515,133 1,192
2044 23,483,546 1,174
2043 23,446,242 1,152
2042 23,404,983 1,135
2041 23,357,358 1,105
2040 23,306,148 1,070
2039 23,248,341 1,033
2038 23,187,512 1,001
2037 23,120,775 996
2036 23,053,427 1,001
2035 22,981,808 988
2034 22,906,587 988
2033 22,826,414 974
2032 22,742,267 964
2031 22,655,907 977
2030 22,564,038 979
2029 22,470,759 985
2028 22,370,999 983
2027 22,266,017 946
2026 22,155,543 933
2025 22,039,908 927
2024 21,916,000 910
2023 22,037,000 927
2022 22,181,000 951
2021 22,156,000 972
2020 21,919,000 987
2019 21,803,000 1,000
2018 21,670,000 -
2017 21,453,000 1,000
2016 21,209,000 -
2015 20,970,000 1,000
2014 20,778,000 842
2013 20,585,000 839
2012 21,169,458 836
2011 21,009,048 832
2010 20,879,089 829
2009 20,756,435 826
2008 20,629,378 824
2007 20,492,545 821
2006 20,352,411 932
2005 20,216,524 921
2004 20,087,605 921
2003 19,951,521 911
2002 19,805,752 900
2001 19,600,362 890
2000 19,293,054 880
1999 18,944,731 -
1998 18,596,003 -
1997 18,248,200 -
1996 17,905,018 -
1995 17,564,068 -
1994 17,275,773 -
1993 17,025,918 -
1992 16,739,284 -
1991 16,475,354 -
1990 16,352,458 -
1989 16,248,557 -
1988 16,078,621 -
1987 15,916,576 -
1986 15,731,256 -
1985 15,544,154 -
1984 15,441,860 -
1983 15,388,794 -
1982 15,286,567 -
1981 15,099,414 -
1980 14,847,974 -
1979 14,579,614 -
1978 14,310,128 -
1977 14,049,371 -
1976 13,796,770 -
1975 13,548,984 -
1974 13,305,693 -
1973 13,060,916 -
1972 12,809,205 -
1971 12,551,910 -
1970 12,287,110 -
1969 12,013,858 -
1968 11,736,088 -
1967 11,457,328 -
1966 11,183,928 -
1965 10,916,965 -
1964 10,653,397 -
1963 10,395,040 -
1962 10,143,754 -
1961 9,899,372 -
1960 9,661,389 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka Vatican
2100 -0.56% 0.59%
2099 -0.56% 0.37%
2098 -0.55% 0.6%
2097 -0.54% 0.53%
2096 -0.53% 0.68%
2095 -0.52% 0.69%
2094 -0.51% 0.61%
2093 -0.5% 0.85%
2092 -0.49% 0.7%
2091 -0.5% 1.02%
2090 -0.49% 0.95%
2089 -0.47% 0.8%
2088 -0.46% 1.21%
2087 -0.46% 0.98%
2086 -0.45% 0.91%
2085 -0.43% 1.42%
2084 -0.42% 1.53%
2083 -0.4% 1.12%
2082 -0.4% 1.39%
2081 -0.38% 1.15%
2080 -0.38% 0.8%
2079 -0.35% 0.99%
2078 -0.33% 0.9%
2077 -0.32% 1.19%
2076 -0.31% 1.2%
2075 -0.31% 1.6%
2074 -0.29% 1.34%
2073 -0.27% 1.65%
2072 -0.26% 2.49%
2071 -0.25% 2.03%
2070 -0.23% 1.86%
2069 -0.23% 1.04%
2068 -0.24% 1.27%
2067 -0.21% 1.5%
2066 -0.22% 1.64%
2065 -0.19% 1.33%
2064 -0.17% 1.69%
2063 -0.16% 1.71%
2062 -0.14% 1.74%
2061 -0.14% 2.5%
2060 -0.12% 1.7%
2059 -0.11% 1.23%
2058 -0.1% 1.24%
2057 -0.09% 1.64%
2056 -0.05% 1.93%
2055 -0.04% 1.57%
2054 -0.04% 2.68%
2053 -0.02% 1.78%
2052 -0.004% 1.67%
2051 0.01% 1.84%
2050 0.02% 2.17%
2049 0.04% 2.22%
2048 0.07% 1.5%
2047 0.1% 1.83%
2046 0.14% 1.87%
2045 0.13% 1.58%
2044 0.16% 1.93%
2043 0.18% 1.47%
2042 0.2% 2.68%
2041 0.22% 3.29%
2040 0.25% 3.59%
2039 0.26% 3.15%
2038 0.29% 0.56%
2037 0.29% -0.56%
2036 0.31% 1.31%
2035 0.33% 0%
2034 0.35% 1.52%
2033 0.37% 0.96%
2032 0.38% -1.33%
2031 0.41% -0.19%
2030 0.42% -0.56%
2029 0.45% 0.19%
2028 0.47% 3.92%
2027 0.5% 1.39%
2026 0.52% 0.6%
2025 0.57% 1.83%
2024 -0.55% -1.8%
2023 -0.65% -2.53%
2022 0.11% -2.1%
2021 1.08% -1.5%
2020 0.53% -1.3%
2019 0.61% 0%
2018 1.01% 0%
2017 1.15% 0%
2016 1.14% 0%
2015 0.92% 18.8%
2014 0.94% 0.36%
2013 -2.76% 0.36%
2012 0.76% 0.48%
2011 0.62% 0.36%
2010 0.59% 0.36%
2009 0.62% 0.24%
2008 0.67% 0.37%
2007 0.69% -11.9%
2006 0.67% 1.19%
2005 0.64% 0%
2004 0.68% 1.1%
2003 0.74% 1.22%
2002 1.05% 1.12%
2001 1.59% 1.14%
2000 1.84% -
1999 1.88% -
1998 1.91% -
1997 1.92% -
1996 1.94% -
1995 1.67% -
1994 1.47% -
1993 1.71% -
1992 1.6% -
1991 0.75% -
1990 0.64% -
1989 1.06% -
1988 1.02% -
1987 1.18% -
1986 1.2% -
1985 0.66% -
1984 0.34% -
1983 0.67% -
1982 1.24% -
1981 1.69% -
1980 1.84% -
1979 1.88% -
1978 1.86% -
1977 1.83% -
1976 1.83% -
1975 1.83% -
1974 1.87% -
1973 1.97% -
1972 2.05% -
1971 2.16% -
1970 2.27% -
1969 2.37% -
1968 2.43% -
1967 2.44% -
1966 2.45% -
1965 2.47% -
1964 2.49% -
1963 2.48% -
1962 2.47% -
1961 2.46% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.55%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Vatican
Current population
22185425
936
Population rank 63/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.00001%
One net population change
4.34 minutes
1 month
One birth every
2.13 minutes
n/a
One death every
2.91 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline -332 +0
Annual growth/decline -121,000 +0
Annual growth/decline rate -0.55% +0%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 163/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change -30,724 n/a
Net migration rank 165/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - -
2024 - -27,245 - -
2023 66,111 -28,011 - -
2022 95,378 -27,435 - -
2021 121,858 -29,586 - -
2020 170,968 -29,875 - -
2019 172,243 -28,426 - -
2018 183,610 -28,607 - -
2017 187,993 -22,324 - -
2016 194,232 -18,388 - -
2015 201,815 -29,797 - -
2014 211,541 -33,672 - -
2013 221,021 -37,754 - -
2012 229,138 -41,955 - -
2011 224,461 -90,839 - -
2010 224,325 -98,060 - -
2009 200,175 -81,130 - -
2008 232,225 -97,144 - -
2007 248,287 -109,695 - -
2006 248,706 -107,045 - -
2005 248,683 -118,594 - -
2004 212,527 -84,795 - -
2003 252,008 -107,573 - -
2002 252,840 -105,718 - -
2001 244,377 19,273 - -
2000 227,060 123,894 - -
1999 206,876 138,799 - -
1998 201,059 150,724 - -
1997 208,193 135,636 - -
1996 215,290 127,236 - -
1995 221,957 117,416 - -
1994 228,904 8,323 - -
1993 226,257 36,232 - -
1992 222,230 88,542 - -
1991 218,117 -1,047 - -
1990 224,454 -195,736 - -
1989 212,401 -33,305 - -
1988 219,184 -58,415 - -
1987 226,414 -63,105 - -
1986 233,782 -26,460 - -
1985 247,836 -80,950 - -
1984 263,175 -225,450 - -
1983 277,768 -209,362 - -
1982 300,030 -163,987 - -
1981 328,096 -89,824 - -
1980 328,155 -63,541 - -
1979 329,791 -57,683 - -
1978 317,055 -50,189 - -
1977 300,038 -45,383 - -
1976 291,816 -41,258 - -
1975 282,496 -37,475 - -
1974 275,521 -33,979 - -
1973 278,577 -30,582 - -
1972 282,494 -27,071 - -
1971 281,200 -22,021 - -
1970 286,719 -16,299 - -
1969 286,218 -10,152 - -
1968 286,642 -7,163 - -
1967 284,738 -6,696 - -
1966 275,549 -6,794 - -
1965 272,422 -7,249 - -
1964 269,584 -7,614 - -
1963 262,880 -8,118 - -
1962 256,719 -8,909 - -
1961 251,087 -10,144 - -
1960 247,631 -12,610 - -

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

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

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Sri Lanka and the Vatican

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/vatican | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.