Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 213 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sri Lanka is 213, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.2% on the previous year and down 72.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sri Lanka peaked at 1,041 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 11, in 1994.
Sri Lanka ranks 139th of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15 | — |
| 1992 | 21 | +40.0% |
| 1993 | 19 | -9.5% |
| 1994 | 11 | -42.1% |
| 1995 | 12 | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 11 | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 21 | +90.9% |
| 1998 | 25 | +19.0% |
| 1999 | 18 | -28.0% |
| 2000 | 12 | -33.3% |
| 2001 | 13 | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 22 | +69.2% |
| 2003 | 26 | +18.2% |
| 2004 | 60 | +130.8% |
| 2005 | 106 | +76.7% |
| 2006 | 162 | +52.8% |
| 2007 | 184 | +13.6% |
| 2008 | 271 | +47.3% |
| 2009 | 251 | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 224 | -10.8% |
| 2011 | 187 | -16.5% |
| 2012 | 109 | -41.7% |
| 2013 | 143 | +31.2% |
| 2014 | 508 | +255.2% |
| 2015 | 781 | +53.7% |
| 2016 | 602 | -22.9% |
| 2017 | 820 | +36.2% |
| 2018 | 796 | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 1,041 | +30.8% |
| 2020 | 1,008 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 907 | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 504 | -44.4% |
| 2023 | 377 | -25.2% |
| 2024 | 232 | -38.5% |
| 2025 | 213 | -8.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 213 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 5% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +255.2% | 143 | 508 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17 | 11 | 25 | 9 |
| 2000s | 110.7 | 12 | 271 | 10 |
| 2010s | 521.1 | 109 | 1,041 | 10 |
| 2020s | 540.17 | 213 | 1,008 | 6 |
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 refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sri Lanka?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sri Lanka was 213 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1,041 in 2019.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 11 in 1994.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Sri Lanka ranks 139th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 72.7%. 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 Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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