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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,916,000 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 22,185,425 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.28 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.27% for Sri Lanka vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.57% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 22.2M (9.01% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Zimbabwe
2100 20,270,496 37,483,053
2099 20,383,669 37,412,398
2098 20,498,567 37,328,255
2097 20,611,123 37,235,542
2096 20,723,560 37,142,915
2095 20,834,629 37,032,129
2094 20,943,809 36,912,747
2093 21,052,131 36,810,893
2092 21,158,833 36,688,511
2091 21,263,961 36,567,262
2090 21,371,263 36,425,606
2089 21,475,426 36,280,973
2088 21,577,177 36,141,446
2087 21,677,510 35,977,638
2086 21,777,420 35,808,135
2085 21,876,464 35,637,092
2084 21,970,336 35,456,207
2083 22,062,801 35,268,035
2082 22,151,745 35,078,904
2081 22,240,834 34,873,129
2080 22,326,555 34,658,962
2079 22,411,438 34,439,720
2078 22,489,772 34,217,295
2077 22,565,028 33,982,909
2076 22,637,463 33,739,228
2075 22,707,112 33,495,867
2074 22,778,489 33,244,838
2073 22,844,703 32,978,488
2072 22,905,707 32,706,059
2071 22,964,866 32,445,747
2070 23,022,515 32,181,119
2069 23,076,310 31,906,793
2068 23,129,541 31,631,000
2067 23,184,596 31,345,338
2066 23,234,419 31,062,884
2065 23,285,901 30,766,830
2064 23,331,390 30,479,939
2063 23,372,184 30,176,104
2062 23,409,522 29,867,679
2061 23,441,893 29,557,068
2060 23,474,032 29,252,423
2059 23,502,132 28,945,088
2058 23,528,076 28,631,679
2057 23,550,580 28,307,305
2056 23,570,923 27,990,713
2055 23,582,432 27,658,887
2054 23,591,414 27,331,920
2053 23,601,371 26,986,935
2052 23,605,361 26,643,553
2051 23,606,194 26,287,592
2050 23,603,330 25,934,893
2049 23,597,604 25,585,239
2048 23,587,307 25,228,082
2047 23,570,881 24,874,649
2046 23,547,409 24,513,443
2045 23,515,133 24,147,637
2044 23,483,546 23,783,088
2043 23,446,242 23,401,965
2042 23,404,983 23,035,288
2041 23,357,358 22,647,950
2040 23,306,148 22,273,520
2039 23,248,341 21,902,980
2038 23,187,512 21,530,130
2037 23,120,775 21,159,664
2036 23,053,427 20,791,034
2035 22,981,808 20,413,656
2034 22,906,587 20,048,019
2033 22,826,414 19,676,339
2032 22,742,267 19,311,985
2031 22,655,907 18,959,300
2030 22,564,038 18,613,738
2029 22,470,759 18,270,049
2028 22,370,999 17,933,466
2027 22,266,017 17,600,984
2026 22,155,543 17,273,208
2025 22,039,908 16,949,303
2024 21,916,000 16,634,373
2023 22,037,000 16,340,822
2022 22,181,000 16,069,056
2021 22,156,000 15,797,210
2020 21,919,000 15,526,888
2019 21,803,000 15,271,368
2018 21,670,000 15,034,452
2017 21,453,000 14,812,482
2016 21,209,000 14,600,294
2015 20,970,000 14,399,013
2014 20,778,000 14,207,359
2013 20,585,000 14,013,808
2012 21,169,458 13,817,887
2011 21,009,048 13,595,424
2010 20,879,089 13,356,548
2009 20,756,435 13,142,790
2008 20,629,378 12,959,149
2007 20,492,545 12,804,058
2006 20,352,411 12,636,445
2005 20,216,524 12,483,432
2004 20,087,605 12,365,896
2003 19,951,521 12,232,323
2002 19,805,752 12,087,653
2001 19,600,362 11,971,901
2000 19,293,054 11,892,055
1999 18,944,731 11,783,458
1998 18,596,003 11,594,297
1997 18,248,200 11,369,827
1996 17,905,018 11,158,360
1995 17,564,068 10,974,599
1994 17,275,773 10,873,148
1993 17,025,918 10,860,288
1992 16,739,284 10,702,700
1991 16,475,354 10,404,816
1990 16,352,458 10,137,281
1989 16,248,557 9,864,798
1988 16,078,621 9,583,094
1987 15,916,576 9,284,644
1986 15,731,256 8,982,578
1985 15,544,154 8,686,813
1984 15,441,860 8,391,488
1983 15,388,794 8,098,404
1982 15,286,567 7,796,496
1981 15,099,414 7,498,635
1980 14,847,974 7,041,303
1979 14,579,614 6,647,556
1978 14,310,128 6,543,575
1977 14,049,371 6,449,512
1976 13,796,770 6,287,105
1975 13,548,984 6,098,658
1974 13,305,693 5,908,328
1973 13,060,916 5,720,404
1972 12,809,205 5,542,445
1971 12,551,910 5,374,712
1970 12,287,110 5,215,918
1969 12,013,858 5,058,181
1968 11,736,088 4,900,440
1967 11,457,328 4,748,307
1966 11,183,928 4,601,217
1965 10,916,965 4,458,462
1964 10,653,397 4,320,006
1963 10,395,040 4,185,877
1962 10,143,754 4,055,959
1961 9,899,372 3,930,401
1960 9,661,389 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka Zimbabwe
2100 -0.56% 0.19%
2099 -0.56% 0.23%
2098 -0.55% 0.25%
2097 -0.54% 0.25%
2096 -0.53% 0.3%
2095 -0.52% 0.32%
2094 -0.51% 0.28%
2093 -0.5% 0.33%
2092 -0.49% 0.33%
2091 -0.5% 0.39%
2090 -0.49% 0.4%
2089 -0.47% 0.39%
2088 -0.46% 0.46%
2087 -0.46% 0.47%
2086 -0.45% 0.48%
2085 -0.43% 0.51%
2084 -0.42% 0.53%
2083 -0.4% 0.54%
2082 -0.4% 0.59%
2081 -0.38% 0.62%
2080 -0.38% 0.64%
2079 -0.35% 0.65%
2078 -0.33% 0.69%
2077 -0.32% 0.72%
2076 -0.31% 0.73%
2075 -0.31% 0.76%
2074 -0.29% 0.81%
2073 -0.27% 0.83%
2072 -0.26% 0.8%
2071 -0.25% 0.82%
2070 -0.23% 0.86%
2069 -0.23% 0.87%
2068 -0.24% 0.91%
2067 -0.21% 0.91%
2066 -0.22% 0.96%
2065 -0.19% 0.94%
2064 -0.17% 1.01%
2063 -0.16% 1.03%
2062 -0.14% 1.05%
2061 -0.14% 1.04%
2060 -0.12% 1.06%
2059 -0.11% 1.09%
2058 -0.1% 1.15%
2057 -0.09% 1.13%
2056 -0.05% 1.2%
2055 -0.04% 1.2%
2054 -0.04% 1.28%
2053 -0.02% 1.29%
2052 -0.004% 1.35%
2051 0.01% 1.36%
2050 0.02% 1.37%
2049 0.04% 1.42%
2048 0.07% 1.42%
2047 0.1% 1.47%
2046 0.14% 1.51%
2045 0.13% 1.53%
2044 0.16% 1.63%
2043 0.18% 1.59%
2042 0.2% 1.71%
2041 0.22% 1.68%
2040 0.25% 1.69%
2039 0.26% 1.73%
2038 0.29% 1.75%
2037 0.29% 1.77%
2036 0.31% 1.85%
2035 0.33% 1.82%
2034 0.35% 1.89%
2033 0.37% 1.89%
2032 0.38% 1.86%
2031 0.41% 1.86%
2030 0.42% 1.88%
2029 0.45% 1.88%
2028 0.47% 1.89%
2027 0.5% 1.9%
2026 0.52% 1.91%
2025 0.57% 1.89%
2024 -0.55% 1.8%
2023 -0.65% 1.69%
2022 0.11% 1.72%
2021 1.08% 1.74%
2020 0.53% 1.67%
2019 0.61% 1.58%
2018 1.01% 1.5%
2017 1.15% 1.45%
2016 1.14% 1.4%
2015 0.92% 1.35%
2014 0.94% 1.38%
2013 -2.76% 1.42%
2012 0.76% 1.64%
2011 0.62% 1.79%
2010 0.59% 1.63%
2009 0.62% 1.42%
2008 0.67% 1.21%
2007 0.69% 1.33%
2006 0.67% 1.23%
2005 0.64% 0.95%
2004 0.68% 1.09%
2003 0.74% 1.2%
2002 1.05% 0.97%
2001 1.59% 0.67%
2000 1.84% 0.92%
1999 1.88% 1.63%
1998 1.91% 1.97%
1997 1.92% 1.9%
1996 1.94% 1.67%
1995 1.67% 0.93%
1994 1.47% 0.12%
1993 1.71% 1.47%
1992 1.6% 2.86%
1991 0.75% 2.64%
1990 0.64% 2.76%
1989 1.06% 2.94%
1988 1.02% 3.21%
1987 1.18% 3.36%
1986 1.2% 3.4%
1985 0.66% 3.52%
1984 0.34% 3.62%
1983 0.67% 3.87%
1982 1.24% 3.97%
1981 1.69% 6.49%
1980 1.84% 5.92%
1979 1.88% 1.59%
1978 1.86% 1.46%
1977 1.83% 2.58%
1976 1.83% 3.09%
1975 1.83% 3.22%
1974 1.87% 3.29%
1973 1.97% 3.21%
1972 2.05% 3.12%
1971 2.16% 3.04%
1970 2.27% 3.12%
1969 2.37% 3.22%
1968 2.43% 3.2%
1967 2.44% 3.2%
1966 2.45% 3.2%
1965 2.47% 3.2%
1964 2.49% 3.2%
1963 2.48% 3.2%
1962 2.47% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.55%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Zimbabwe
Current population
22185425
17361868
Population rank 63/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.21%
One net population change
4.34 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline -332 +804
Annual growth/decline -121,000 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate -0.55% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 60/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -30,724 -54,555
Net migration rank 165/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 190/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - -54,555
2024 - -27,245 - -60,528
2023 66,111 -28,011 372,505 -97,380
2022 95,378 -27,435 371,243 -102,828
2021 121,858 -29,586 349,908 -74,623
2020 170,968 -29,875 354,790 -89,440
2019 172,243 -28,426 348,798 -103,107
2018 183,610 -28,607 345,883 -117,758
2017 187,993 -22,324 344,035 -128,241
2016 194,232 -18,388 348,772 -140,181
2015 201,815 -29,797 356,203 -162,220
2014 211,541 -33,672 366,350 -177,029
2013 221,021 -37,754 374,757 -176,972
2012 229,138 -41,955 371,135 -177,061
2011 224,461 -90,839 359,572 -108,714
2010 224,325 -98,060 335,570 -108,671
2009 200,175 -81,130 309,316 -108,689
2008 232,225 -97,144 280,527 -113,858
2007 248,287 -109,695 261,805 -118,299
2006 248,706 -107,045 248,963 -57,257
2005 248,683 -118,594 248,545 -134,212
2004 212,527 -84,795 248,307 -127,550
2003 252,008 -107,573 243,057 -96,667
2002 252,840 -105,718 244,170 -101,212
2001 244,377 19,273 227,909 -139,361
2000 227,060 123,894 236,343 -165,181
1999 206,876 138,799 232,393 -86,343
1998 201,059 150,724 225,614 6,645
1997 208,193 135,636 216,288 395
1996 215,290 127,236 205,269 978
1995 221,957 117,416 206,695 -45,428
1994 228,904 8,323 216,343 -174,723
1993 226,257 36,232 228,045 -243,947
1992 222,230 88,542 255,291 75,788
1991 218,117 -1,047 260,943 3,749
1990 224,454 -195,736 265,444 4,948
1989 212,401 -33,305 270,838 3,736
1988 219,184 -58,415 277,498 11,327
1987 226,414 -63,105 286,766 21,308
1986 233,782 -26,460 289,894 6,154
1985 247,836 -80,950 290,756 4,718
1984 263,175 -225,450 290,052 5,124
1983 277,768 -209,362 286,545 4,456
1982 300,030 -163,987 279,934 32,899
1981 328,096 -89,824 271,361 11,523
1980 328,155 -63,541 241,179 390,593
1979 329,791 -57,683 223,657 -67,937
1978 317,055 -50,189 222,979 -170,727
1977 300,038 -45,383 225,139 -89,270
1976 291,816 -41,258 221,419 -32,495
1975 282,496 -37,475 216,947 -28,988
1974 275,521 -33,979 208,806 -16,105
1973 278,577 -30,582 201,885 -18,733
1972 282,494 -27,071 193,725 -20,959
1971 281,200 -22,021 185,427 -22,719
1970 286,719 -16,299 178,979 -24,102
1969 286,218 -10,152 172,626 -12,028
1968 286,642 -7,163 166,865 -11,997
1967 284,738 -6,696 161,205 -11,814
1966 275,549 -6,794 156,014 -11,211
1965 272,422 -7,249 151,164 -10,465
1964 269,584 -7,614 145,848 -9,631
1963 262,880 -8,118 140,984 -8,936
1962 256,719 -8,909 136,317 -8,529
1961 251,087 -10,144 131,531 -8,204
1960 247,631 -12,610 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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