Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Internally displaced persons was 182,958 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka, 2009–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka is 182,958, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3,197.1% on the previous year and up 316.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka peaked at 400,000 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 5,549, in 2024.
That places Sri Lanka 39th out of 104 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 400,000 | — |
| 2010 | 327,000 | -18.2% |
| 2011 | 125,000 | -61.8% |
| 2012 | 93,000 | -25.6% |
| 2013 | 90,000 | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 90,000 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 43,977 | -51.1% |
| 2016 | 43,607 | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 41,938 | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 37,064 | -11.6% |
| 2019 | 30,851 | -16.8% |
| 2020 | 27,591 | -10.6% |
| 2021 | 10,937 | -60.4% |
| 2022 | 11,086 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 12,434 | +12.2% |
| 2024 | 5,549 | -55.4% |
| 2025 | 182,958 | +3197.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 182,958 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 100,580, 1.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +3197.1% | 5,549 | 182,958 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 400,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 1 |
| 2010s | 92,244 | 30,851 | 327,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 41,759 | 5,549 | 182,958 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 21,815 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0083 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka?
- Internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka was 182,958 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest internally displaced persons recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 400,000 in 2009.
- What is the lowest internally displaced persons recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,549 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for internally displaced persons?
- Sri Lanka ranks 39th out of 104 countries with data for 2025.
- Is internally displaced persons rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 316.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Internally displaced persons (IDPs). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).