Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled was 147,033 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Sri Lanka, 1985–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Sri Lanka stood at 147,033.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Sri Lanka peaked at 209,349 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 160, 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 147,033 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,552, 57.6× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 147,033 is above the median for South Asia, which is 18,156, 8.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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 | 146,854 | 142,664 | 151,112 | 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 refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Sri Lanka?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Sri Lanka was 147,033 in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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, gaps filled 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, gaps filled?
- Sri Lanka ranks 24th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Refugees by country of origin UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.