Net migration, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Net migration, annual growth rate was -12.77 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-12.77 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 566.9%
World rank
139th
of 216 countries
All-time high
99.47 % change on previous year
in 1991
All-time low
-648.53 % change on previous year
in 2002
Years of data
63
1961–2025
Net migration, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka stood at -12.77 % change on previous year.
The figure is down 566.9% on the previous year and down 211.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 99.47 % change on previous year in 1991 and was at its lowest, -648.53 % change on previous year, in 2002.
That places Sri Lanka 139th out of 216 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 19.56 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 12.17 % change on previous year | -37.7% |
| 1963 | 8.88 % change on previous year | -27.1% |
| 1964 | 6.21 % change on previous year | -30.1% |
| 1965 | 4.79 % change on previous year | -22.8% |
| 1966 | 6.28 % change on previous year | +30.9% |
| 1967 | 1.44 % change on previous year | -77.0% |
| 1968 | -6.97 % change on previous year | -583.5% |
| 1969 | -41.73 % change on previous year | +498.3% |
| 1970 | -60.55 % change on previous year | +45.1% |
| 1971 | -35.11 % change on previous year | -42.0% |
| 1972 | -22.93 % change on previous year | -34.7% |
| 1973 | -12.97 % change on previous year | -43.4% |
| 1974 | -11.11 % change on previous year | -14.4% |
| 1975 | -10.29 % change on previous year | -7.4% |
| 1976 | -10.09 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1977 | -10 % change on previous year | -1.0% |
| 1978 | -10.59 % change on previous year | +5.9% |
| 1979 | -14.93 % change on previous year | +41.0% |
| 1980 | -10.16 % change on previous year | -32.0% |
| 1981 | -41.36 % change on previous year | +307.3% |
| 1982 | -82.56 % change on previous year | +99.6% |
| 1983 | -27.67 % change on previous year | -66.5% |
| 1984 | -7.68 % change on previous year | -72.2% |
| 1985 | 64.09 % change on previous year | -934.1% |
| 1986 | 67.31 % change on previous year | +5.0% |
| 1987 | -138.49 % change on previous year | -305.7% |
| 1988 | 7.43 % change on previous year | -105.4% |
| 1989 | 42.99 % change on previous year | +478.4% |
| 1990 | -487.71 % change on previous year | -1234.6% |
| 1991 | 99.47 % change on previous year | -120.4% |
| 1993 | -59.08 % change on previous year | -159.4% |
| 1994 | -77.03 % change on previous year | +30.4% |
| 1996 | 8.36 % change on previous year | -110.9% |
| 1997 | 6.6 % change on previous year | -21.1% |
| 1998 | 11.12 % change on previous year | +68.5% |
| 1999 | -7.91 % change on previous year | -171.1% |
| 2000 | -10.74 % change on previous year | +35.7% |
| 2001 | -84.44 % change on previous year | +686.4% |
| 2002 | -648.53 % change on previous year | +668.0% |
| 2003 | -1.75 % change on previous year | -99.7% |
| 2004 | 21.17 % change on previous year | -1306.8% |
| 2005 | -39.86 % change on previous year | -288.2% |
| 2006 | 9.74 % change on previous year | -124.4% |
| 2007 | -2.48 % change on previous year | -125.4% |
| 2008 | 11.44 % change on previous year | -562.2% |
| 2009 | 16.48 % change on previous year | +44.1% |
| 2010 | -20.87 % change on previous year | -226.6% |
| 2011 | 7.36 % change on previous year | -135.3% |
| 2012 | 53.81 % change on previous year | +630.8% |
| 2013 | 10.01 % change on previous year | -81.4% |
| 2014 | 10.81 % change on previous year | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 11.51 % change on previous year | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 38.29 % change on previous year | +232.7% |
| 2017 | -21.41 % change on previous year | -155.9% |
| 2018 | -28.14 % change on previous year | +31.5% |
| 2019 | 0.6327 % change on previous year | -102.2% |
| 2020 | -5.1 % change on previous year | -905.7% |
| 2021 | 0.9674 % change on previous year | -119.0% |
| 2022 | 7.27 % change on previous year | +651.6% |
| 2023 | -2.1 % change on previous year | -128.9% |
| 2024 | 2.73 % change on previous year | -230.3% |
| 2025 | -12.77 % change on previous year | -566.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's -12.77 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -1.9 % change on previous year, 6.7× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's -12.77 % change on previous year is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.09 % change on previous year. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +1306.8% | -1.75 % change on previous year | 21.17 % change on previous year |
| 1990 | -1234.6% | 42.99 % change on previous year | -487.71 % change on previous year |
| 1985 | +934.1% | -7.68 % change on previous year | 64.09 % change on previous year |
| 2020 | -905.7% | 0.6327 % change on previous year | -5.1 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.18 % change on previous year | -41.73 % change on previous year | 19.56 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | -19.86 % change on previous year | -60.55 % change on previous year | -10 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -12.61 % change on previous year | -138.49 % change on previous year | 67.31 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -63.27 % change on previous year | -487.71 % change on previous year | 99.47 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 2000s | -72.9 % change on previous year | -648.53 % change on previous year | 21.17 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2 % change on previous year | -28.14 % change on previous year | 53.81 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.5 % change on previous year | -12.77 % change on previous year | 7.27 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 136 Belgium -11.74 % change on previous year compare
- 137 South Africa -12.34 % change on previous year compare
- 138 North Korea -12.7 % change on previous year compare
- 140 South Korea -13.47 % change on previous year compare
- 141 Spain -13.47 % change on previous year compare
- 142 Denmark -13.79 % change on previous year compare
More financial sector data for Sri Lanka
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.1797 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.1312 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.1797 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka?
- Net migration, annual growth rate in Sri Lanka was -12.77 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest net migration, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 99.47 % change on previous year in 1991.
- What is the lowest net migration, annual growth rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -648.53 % change on previous year in 2002.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for net migration, annual growth rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 139th out of 216 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration, annual growth rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 211.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Net migration, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Net migration. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Net migration World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
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
The year-on-year percentage change in Net migration. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.