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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,916,000 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 22,185,425 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.02 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.54% of the world: 0.27% for Sri Lanka vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 22.2M (9.01% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Zambia
2100 20,270,496 65,217,429
2099 20,383,669 64,871,545
2098 20,498,567 64,515,891
2097 20,611,123 64,148,736
2096 20,723,560 63,777,313
2095 20,834,629 63,393,169
2094 20,943,809 62,992,652
2093 21,052,131 62,590,327
2092 21,158,833 62,175,930
2091 21,263,961 61,750,591
2090 21,371,263 61,321,399
2089 21,475,426 60,880,148
2088 21,577,177 60,434,676
2087 21,677,510 59,970,107
2086 21,777,420 59,499,234
2085 21,876,464 59,023,040
2084 21,970,336 58,535,857
2083 22,062,801 58,040,512
2082 22,151,745 57,538,672
2081 22,240,834 57,027,491
2080 22,326,555 56,506,421
2079 22,411,438 55,983,242
2078 22,489,772 55,449,777
2077 22,565,028 54,906,771
2076 22,637,463 54,361,075
2075 22,707,112 53,806,856
2074 22,778,489 53,246,777
2073 22,844,703 52,677,348
2072 22,905,707 52,101,139
2071 22,964,866 51,519,691
2070 23,022,515 50,931,614
2069 23,076,310 50,334,700
2068 23,129,541 49,737,479
2067 23,184,596 49,135,488
2066 23,234,419 48,530,443
2065 23,285,901 47,918,592
2064 23,331,390 47,299,740
2063 23,372,184 46,677,439
2062 23,409,522 46,048,819
2061 23,441,893 45,416,657
2060 23,474,032 44,777,347
2059 23,502,132 44,137,306
2058 23,528,076 43,494,451
2057 23,550,580 42,851,923
2056 23,570,923 42,206,898
2055 23,582,432 41,558,284
2054 23,591,414 40,906,492
2053 23,601,371 40,255,629
2052 23,605,361 39,603,888
2051 23,606,194 38,949,958
2050 23,603,330 38,294,607
2049 23,597,604 37,634,194
2048 23,587,307 36,971,309
2047 23,570,881 36,309,749
2046 23,547,409 35,645,868
2045 23,515,133 34,981,812
2044 23,483,546 34,316,981
2043 23,446,242 33,652,420
2042 23,404,983 32,990,657
2041 23,357,358 32,329,447
2040 23,306,148 31,664,262
2039 23,248,341 31,001,305
2038 23,187,512 30,335,662
2037 23,120,775 29,668,561
2036 23,053,427 29,000,264
2035 22,981,808 28,333,498
2034 22,906,587 27,671,195
2033 22,826,414 27,011,974
2032 22,742,267 26,356,580
2031 22,655,907 25,702,812
2030 22,564,038 25,055,216
2029 22,470,759 24,414,405
2028 22,370,999 23,780,809
2027 22,266,017 23,151,479
2026 22,155,543 22,529,742
2025 22,039,908 21,918,187
2024 21,916,000 21,314,956
2023 22,037,000 20,723,965
2022 22,181,000 20,152,938
2021 22,156,000 19,603,607
2020 21,919,000 19,059,395
2019 21,803,000 18,513,839
2018 21,670,000 17,973,569
2017 21,453,000 17,441,320
2016 21,209,000 16,914,423
2015 20,970,000 16,399,089
2014 20,778,000 15,895,315
2013 20,585,000 15,398,997
2012 21,169,458 14,913,629
2011 21,009,048 14,437,796
2010 20,879,089 13,965,594
2009 20,756,435 13,490,389
2008 20,629,378 13,021,324
2007 20,492,545 12,565,085
2006 20,352,411 12,129,553
2005 20,216,524 11,718,819
2004 20,087,605 11,338,198
2003 19,951,521 10,983,595
2002 19,805,752 10,647,949
2001 19,600,362 10,325,185
2000 19,293,054 10,017,631
1999 18,944,731 9,740,005
1998 18,596,003 9,482,408
1997 18,248,200 9,237,063
1996 17,905,018 9,004,053
1995 17,564,068 8,785,763
1994 17,275,773 8,576,269
1993 17,025,918 8,373,921
1992 16,739,284 8,176,680
1991 16,475,354 7,981,650
1990 16,352,458 7,786,169
1989 16,248,557 7,589,216
1988 16,078,621 7,391,440
1987 15,916,576 7,191,282
1986 15,731,256 6,986,471
1985 15,544,154 6,780,953
1984 15,441,860 6,580,490
1983 15,388,794 6,381,038
1982 15,286,567 6,178,637
1981 15,099,414 5,983,289
1980 14,847,974 5,802,833
1979 14,579,614 5,631,728
1978 14,310,128 5,465,374
1977 14,049,371 5,302,480
1976 13,796,770 5,143,842
1975 13,548,984 4,990,086
1974 13,305,693 4,842,746
1973 13,060,916 4,702,693
1972 12,809,205 4,569,309
1971 12,551,910 4,442,525
1970 12,287,110 4,321,718
1969 12,013,858 4,197,116
1968 11,736,088 4,065,593
1967 11,457,328 3,936,343
1966 11,183,928 3,812,003
1965 10,916,965 3,692,086
1964 10,653,397 3,577,017
1963 10,395,040 3,465,907
1962 10,143,754 3,358,099
1961 9,899,372 3,254,086
1960 9,661,389 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka Zambia
2100 -0.56% 0.53%
2099 -0.56% 0.55%
2098 -0.55% 0.57%
2097 -0.54% 0.58%
2096 -0.53% 0.61%
2095 -0.52% 0.64%
2094 -0.51% 0.64%
2093 -0.5% 0.67%
2092 -0.49% 0.69%
2091 -0.5% 0.7%
2090 -0.49% 0.72%
2089 -0.47% 0.74%
2088 -0.46% 0.77%
2087 -0.46% 0.79%
2086 -0.45% 0.81%
2085 -0.43% 0.83%
2084 -0.42% 0.85%
2083 -0.4% 0.87%
2082 -0.4% 0.9%
2081 -0.38% 0.92%
2080 -0.38% 0.93%
2079 -0.35% 0.96%
2078 -0.33% 0.99%
2077 -0.32% 1%
2076 -0.31% 1.03%
2075 -0.31% 1.05%
2074 -0.29% 1.08%
2073 -0.27% 1.11%
2072 -0.26% 1.13%
2071 -0.25% 1.15%
2070 -0.23% 1.19%
2069 -0.23% 1.2%
2068 -0.24% 1.23%
2067 -0.21% 1.25%
2066 -0.22% 1.28%
2065 -0.19% 1.31%
2064 -0.17% 1.33%
2063 -0.16% 1.37%
2062 -0.14% 1.39%
2061 -0.14% 1.43%
2060 -0.12% 1.45%
2059 -0.11% 1.48%
2058 -0.1% 1.5%
2057 -0.09% 1.53%
2056 -0.05% 1.56%
2055 -0.04% 1.59%
2054 -0.04% 1.62%
2053 -0.02% 1.65%
2052 -0.004% 1.68%
2051 0.01% 1.71%
2050 0.02% 1.75%
2049 0.04% 1.79%
2048 0.07% 1.82%
2047 0.1% 1.86%
2046 0.14% 1.9%
2045 0.13% 1.94%
2044 0.16% 1.97%
2043 0.18% 2.01%
2042 0.2% 2.05%
2041 0.22% 2.1%
2040 0.25% 2.14%
2039 0.26% 2.19%
2038 0.29% 2.25%
2037 0.29% 2.3%
2036 0.31% 2.35%
2035 0.33% 2.39%
2034 0.35% 2.44%
2033 0.37% 2.49%
2032 0.38% 2.54%
2031 0.41% 2.58%
2030 0.42% 2.62%
2029 0.45% 2.66%
2028 0.47% 2.72%
2027 0.5% 2.76%
2026 0.52% 2.79%
2025 0.57% 2.83%
2024 -0.55% 2.85%
2023 -0.65% 2.83%
2022 0.11% 2.8%
2021 1.08% 2.86%
2020 0.53% 2.95%
2019 0.61% 3.01%
2018 1.01% 3.05%
2017 1.15% 3.12%
2016 1.14% 3.14%
2015 0.92% 3.17%
2014 0.94% 3.22%
2013 -2.76% 3.25%
2012 0.76% 3.3%
2011 0.62% 3.38%
2010 0.59% 3.52%
2009 0.62% 3.6%
2008 0.67% 3.63%
2007 0.69% 3.59%
2006 0.67% 3.5%
2005 0.64% 3.36%
2004 0.68% 3.23%
2003 0.74% 3.15%
2002 1.05% 3.13%
2001 1.59% 3.07%
2000 1.84% 2.85%
1999 1.88% 2.72%
1998 1.91% 2.66%
1997 1.92% 2.59%
1996 1.94% 2.48%
1995 1.67% 2.44%
1994 1.47% 2.42%
1993 1.71% 2.41%
1992 1.6% 2.44%
1991 0.75% 2.51%
1990 0.64% 2.6%
1989 1.06% 2.68%
1988 1.02% 2.78%
1987 1.18% 2.93%
1986 1.2% 3.03%
1985 0.66% 3.05%
1984 0.34% 3.13%
1983 0.67% 3.28%
1982 1.24% 3.26%
1981 1.69% 3.11%
1980 1.84% 3.04%
1979 1.88% 3.04%
1978 1.86% 3.07%
1977 1.83% 3.08%
1976 1.83% 3.08%
1975 1.83% 3.04%
1974 1.87% 2.98%
1973 1.97% 2.92%
1972 2.05% 2.85%
1971 2.16% 2.8%
1970 2.27% 2.97%
1969 2.37% 3.24%
1968 2.43% 3.28%
1967 2.44% 3.26%
1966 2.45% 3.25%
1965 2.47% 3.22%
1964 2.49% 3.21%
1963 2.48% 3.21%
1962 2.47% 3.2%
1961 2.46% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.55%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Zambia
Current population
22185425
22697916
Population rank 63/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.27%
One net population change
4.34 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
2.91 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline -332 +1,619
Annual growth/decline -121,000 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate -0.55% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 21/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -30,724 +6,562
Net migration rank 165/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 190/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - 6,562
2024 - -27,245 - 7,381
2023 66,111 -28,011 577,660 9,521
2022 95,378 -27,435 563,456 -8,566
2021 121,858 -29,586 535,629 8,143
2020 170,968 -29,875 536,484 8,156
2019 172,243 -28,426 528,089 18,385
2018 183,610 -28,607 515,644 18,431
2017 187,993 -22,324 504,630 25,789
2016 194,232 -18,388 497,521 25,860
2015 201,815 -29,797 491,021 16,261
2014 211,541 -33,672 483,663 16,574
2013 221,021 -37,754 476,846 15,542
2012 229,138 -41,955 469,406 8,958
2011 224,461 -90,839 459,743 13,569
2010 224,325 -98,060 448,337 22,761
2009 200,175 -81,130 434,458 44,867
2008 232,225 -97,144 419,560 39,249
2007 248,287 -109,695 403,729 49,945
2006 248,706 -107,045 387,891 29,517
2005 248,683 -118,594 368,756 35,316
2004 212,527 -84,795 349,352 7,819
2003 252,008 -107,573 331,189 20,845
2002 252,840 -105,718 316,041 3,206
2001 244,377 19,273 302,682 23,582
2000 227,060 123,894 293,186 -4,338
1999 206,876 138,799 283,297 -16,888
1998 201,059 150,724 275,568 -26,796
1997 208,193 135,636 268,198 -26,276
1996 215,290 127,236 262,468 -38,358
1995 221,957 117,416 257,897 -45,423
1994 228,904 8,323 252,023 -45,504
1993 226,257 36,232 245,917 -47,739
1992 222,230 88,542 239,953 -43,656
1991 218,117 -1,047 237,957 -44,203
1990 224,454 -195,736 235,835 -38,619
1989 212,401 -33,305 233,429 -36,736
1988 219,184 -58,415 230,118 -31,270
1987 226,414 -63,105 227,813 -26,338
1986 233,782 -26,460 224,768 -16,610
1985 247,836 -80,950 221,351 -18,474
1984 263,175 -225,450 216,695 -18,652
1983 277,768 -209,362 212,712 -11,849
1982 300,030 -163,987 207,621 -3,676
1981 328,096 -89,824 202,822 -16,072
1980 328,155 -63,541 198,817 -24,664
1979 329,791 -57,683 197,578 -29,515
1978 317,055 -50,189 194,933 -30,284
1977 300,038 -45,383 191,557 -30,423
1976 291,816 -41,258 186,762 -30,612
1975 282,496 -37,475 182,258 -30,886
1974 275,521 -33,979 174,484 -31,178
1973 278,577 -30,582 168,258 -31,472
1972 282,494 -27,071 161,648 -31,672
1971 281,200 -22,021 155,249 -31,651
1970 286,719 -16,299 149,380 -31,370
1969 286,218 -10,152 142,660 -11,469
1968 286,642 -7,163 137,315 -5,447
1967 284,738 -6,696 131,938 -5,298
1966 275,549 -6,794 127,164 -5,129
1965 272,422 -7,249 122,814 -5,023
1964 269,584 -7,614 117,197 -4,851
1963 262,880 -8,118 114,555 -4,676
1962 256,719 -8,909 110,173 -4,428
1961 251,087 -10,144 106,318 -4,043
1960 247,631 -12,610 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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