Refugees by country of origin in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Refugees by country of origin was 147,033 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Refugees by country of origin in Sri Lanka, 1985–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of origin in Sri Lanka is 147,033 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Sri Lanka peaked at 209,349 people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 160 people, in 1985.
That places Sri Lanka 24th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Refugees by country of origin in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 160 people | — |
| 1986 | 315 people | +96.9% |
| 1987 | 219 people | -30.5% |
| 1988 | 3,388 people | +1447.0% |
| 1989 | 7,692 people | +127.0% |
| 1990 | 208,271 people | +2607.6% |
| 1991 | 209,349 people | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 128,115 people | -38.8% |
| 1993 | 91,837 people | -28.3% |
| 1994 | 114,454 people | +24.6% |
| 1995 | 107,587 people | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 109,576 people | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 122,277 people | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 114,971 people | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 116,698 people | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 124,156 people | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 122,414 people | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 133,240 people | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 122,005 people | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 114,050 people | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 108,132 people | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 116,948 people | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 134,945 people | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 137,742 people | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 145,711 people | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 141,064 people | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 136,602 people | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 132,720 people | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 123,074 people | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 121,991 people | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 121,427 people | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 117,472 people | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 115,632 people | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 113,955 people | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 110,341 people | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 142,664 people | +29.3% |
| 2021 | 151,112 people | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 148,144 people | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 145,319 people | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 147,033 people | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,355 people | 160 people | 7,692 people | 5 |
| 1990s | 132,314 people | 91,837 people | 209,349 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 125,934 people | 108,132 people | 145,711 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 123,428 people | 110,341 people | 141,064 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 146,854 people | 142,664 people | 151,112 people | 5 |
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)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 343.51 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 901,396 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Sri Lanka?
- Refugees by country of origin in Sri Lanka was 147,033 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 209,349 people in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 160 people in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Sri Lanka ranks 24th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees, not just those who fled that year.