Net migration metrics in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Net migration metrics was -28,011 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-28,011
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
206th
of 236 countries
All-time high
150,724
in 1998
All-time low
-225,450
in 1984
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in Sri Lanka, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration metrics in Sri Lanka is -28,011, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in Sri Lanka peaked at 150,724 in 1998 and was at its lowest, -225,450, in 1984.
That places Sri Lanka 206th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration metrics in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7,785 | — |
| 1951 | 3,218 | -58.7% |
| 1952 | -1,169 | -136.3% |
| 1953 | -5,301 | +353.5% |
| 1954 | -8,834 | +66.6% |
| 1955 | -11,698 | +32.4% |
| 1956 | -13,735 | +17.4% |
| 1957 | -14,836 | +8.0% |
| 1958 | -14,903 | +0.5% |
| 1959 | -14,024 | -5.9% |
| 1960 | -12,610 | -10.1% |
| 1961 | -10,144 | -19.6% |
| 1962 | -8,909 | -12.2% |
| 1963 | -8,118 | -8.9% |
| 1964 | -7,614 | -6.2% |
| 1965 | -7,249 | -4.8% |
| 1966 | -6,794 | -6.3% |
| 1967 | -6,696 | -1.4% |
| 1968 | -7,163 | +7.0% |
| 1969 | -10,152 | +41.7% |
| 1970 | -16,299 | +60.5% |
| 1971 | -22,021 | +35.1% |
| 1972 | -27,071 | +22.9% |
| 1973 | -30,582 | +13.0% |
| 1974 | -33,979 | +11.1% |
| 1975 | -37,475 | +10.3% |
| 1976 | -41,258 | +10.1% |
| 1977 | -45,383 | +10.0% |
| 1978 | -50,189 | +10.6% |
| 1979 | -57,683 | +14.9% |
| 1980 | -63,541 | +10.2% |
| 1981 | -89,824 | +41.4% |
| 1982 | -163,987 | +82.6% |
| 1983 | -209,362 | +27.7% |
| 1984 | -225,450 | +7.7% |
| 1985 | -80,950 | -64.1% |
| 1986 | -26,460 | -67.3% |
| 1987 | -63,105 | +138.5% |
| 1988 | -58,415 | -7.4% |
| 1989 | -33,305 | -43.0% |
| 1990 | -195,736 | +487.7% |
| 1991 | -1,047 | -99.5% |
| 1992 | 88,542 | -8556.7% |
| 1993 | 36,232 | -59.1% |
| 1994 | 8,323 | -77.0% |
| 1995 | 117,416 | +1310.7% |
| 1996 | 127,236 | +8.4% |
| 1997 | 135,636 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 150,724 | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 138,799 | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 123,894 | -10.7% |
| 2001 | 19,273 | -84.4% |
| 2002 | -105,718 | -648.5% |
| 2003 | -107,573 | +1.8% |
| 2004 | -84,795 | -21.2% |
| 2005 | -118,594 | +39.9% |
| 2006 | -107,045 | -9.7% |
| 2007 | -109,695 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | -97,144 | -11.4% |
| 2009 | -81,130 | -16.5% |
| 2010 | -98,060 | +20.9% |
| 2011 | -90,839 | -7.4% |
| 2012 | -41,955 | -53.8% |
| 2013 | -37,754 | -10.0% |
| 2014 | -33,672 | -10.8% |
| 2015 | -29,797 | -11.5% |
| 2016 | -18,388 | -38.3% |
| 2017 | -22,324 | +21.4% |
| 2018 | -28,607 | +28.1% |
| 2019 | -28,426 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | -29,875 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | -29,586 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | -27,435 | -7.3% |
| 2023 | -28,011 | +2.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's -28,011 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,817, 9.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's -28,011 is above the median for South Asia, which is -218,896, 13% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +8556.7% | -1,047 | 88,542 |
| 1995 | +1310.7% | 8,323 | 117,416 |
| 2002 | -648.5% | 19,273 | -105,718 |
| 1990 | -487.7% | -33,305 | -195,736 |
| 1953 | -353.5% | -1,169 | -5,301 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -7,350 | -14,903 | 7,785 | 10 |
| 1960s | -8,545 | -12,610 | -6,696 | 10 |
| 1970s | -36,194 | -57,683 | -16,299 | 10 |
| 1980s | -101,440 | -225,450 | -26,460 | 10 |
| 1990s | 60,612 | -195,736 | 150,724 | 10 |
| 2000s | -66,853 | -118,594 | 123,894 | 10 |
| 2010s | -42,982 | -98,060 | -18,388 | 10 |
| 2020s | -28,727 | -29,875 | -27,435 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More population data for Sri Lanka
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 21,815 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1332 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.558 (2100)
- Population density 343.51 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 901,396 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration metrics in Sri Lanka?
- Net migration metrics in Sri Lanka was -28,011 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 150,724 in 1998.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -225,450 in 1984.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for net migration metrics?
- Sri Lanka ranks 206th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).