Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 148,369 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sri Lanka, 1985–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sri Lanka is 148,369, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sri Lanka peaked at 209,349 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 160, in 1985.
That places Sri Lanka 24th out of 205 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 160 | — |
| 1986 | 315 | +96.9% |
| 1987 | 219 | -30.5% |
| 1988 | 3,388 | +1447.0% |
| 1989 | 7,692 | +127.0% |
| 1990 | 208,271 | +2607.6% |
| 1991 | 209,349 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 128,115 | -38.8% |
| 1993 | 91,837 | -28.3% |
| 1994 | 114,454 | +24.6% |
| 1995 | 107,587 | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 109,576 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 122,277 | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 114,971 | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 116,698 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 124,156 | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 122,414 | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 133,240 | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 122,005 | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 114,050 | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 108,132 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 116,948 | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 134,945 | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 137,742 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 145,711 | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 141,064 | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 136,602 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 132,720 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 123,074 | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 121,991 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 121,427 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 117,472 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 115,632 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 113,955 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 110,341 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 142,664 | +29.3% |
| 2021 | 151,112 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 148,144 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 145,319 | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 147,033 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 148,369 | +0.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 148,369 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,477, 59.9× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 148,369 is above the median for South Asia, which is 19,940, 7.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +2607.6% | 7,692 | 208,271 |
| 1988 | +1447.0% | 219 | 3,388 |
| 1989 | +127.0% | 3,388 | 7,692 |
| 1986 | +96.9% | 160 | 315 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,355 | 160 | 7,692 | 5 |
| 1990s | 132,314 | 91,837 | 209,349 | 10 |
| 2000s | 125,934 | 108,132 | 145,711 | 10 |
| 2010s | 123,428 | 110,341 | 141,064 | 10 |
| 2020s | 147,107 | 142,664 | 151,112 | 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 origin in Sri Lanka?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Sri Lanka was 148,369 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 209,349 in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 160 in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Sri Lanka ranks 24th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).