Net migration in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Net migration was -30,724 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Sri Lanka stood at -30,724.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.8% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Sri Lanka peaked at 150,724 in 1998 and was at its lowest, -225,450, in 1984.
That places Sri Lanka 187th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -12,610 | — |
| 1961 | -10,144 | -19.6% |
| 1962 | -8,909 | -12.2% |
| 1963 | -8,118 | -8.9% |
| 1964 | -7,614 | -6.2% |
| 1965 | -7,249 | -4.8% |
| 1966 | -6,794 | -6.3% |
| 1967 | -6,696 | -1.4% |
| 1968 | -7,163 | +7.0% |
| 1969 | -10,152 | +41.7% |
| 1970 | -16,299 | +60.5% |
| 1971 | -22,021 | +35.1% |
| 1972 | -27,071 | +22.9% |
| 1973 | -30,582 | +13.0% |
| 1974 | -33,979 | +11.1% |
| 1975 | -37,475 | +10.3% |
| 1976 | -41,258 | +10.1% |
| 1977 | -45,383 | +10.0% |
| 1978 | -50,189 | +10.6% |
| 1979 | -57,683 | +14.9% |
| 1980 | -63,541 | +10.2% |
| 1981 | -89,824 | +41.4% |
| 1982 | -163,987 | +82.6% |
| 1983 | -209,362 | +27.7% |
| 1984 | -225,450 | +7.7% |
| 1985 | -80,950 | -64.1% |
| 1986 | -26,460 | -67.3% |
| 1987 | -63,105 | +138.5% |
| 1988 | -58,415 | -7.4% |
| 1989 | -33,305 | -43.0% |
| 1990 | -195,736 | +487.7% |
| 1991 | -1,047 | -99.5% |
| 1992 | 88,542 | -8556.7% |
| 1993 | 36,232 | -59.1% |
| 1994 | 8,323 | -77.0% |
| 1995 | 117,416 | +1310.7% |
| 1996 | 127,236 | +8.4% |
| 1997 | 135,636 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 150,724 | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 138,799 | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 123,894 | -10.7% |
| 2001 | 19,273 | -84.4% |
| 2002 | -105,718 | -648.5% |
| 2003 | -107,573 | +1.8% |
| 2004 | -84,795 | -21.2% |
| 2005 | -118,594 | +39.9% |
| 2006 | -107,045 | -9.7% |
| 2007 | -109,695 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | -97,144 | -11.4% |
| 2009 | -81,130 | -16.5% |
| 2010 | -98,060 | +20.9% |
| 2011 | -90,839 | -7.4% |
| 2012 | -41,955 | -53.8% |
| 2013 | -37,754 | -10.0% |
| 2014 | -33,672 | -10.8% |
| 2015 | -29,797 | -11.5% |
| 2016 | -18,388 | -38.3% |
| 2017 | -22,324 | +21.4% |
| 2018 | -28,607 | +28.1% |
| 2019 | -28,426 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | -29,875 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | -29,586 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | -27,435 | -7.3% |
| 2023 | -28,011 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | -27,245 | -2.7% |
| 2025 | -30,724 | +12.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's -30,724 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,815, 10.9× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's -30,724 is above the median for South Asia, which is -197,712, 16% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +8556.7% | -1,047 | 88,542 |
| 1995 | +1310.7% | 8,323 | 117,416 |
| 2002 | -648.5% | 19,273 | -105,718 |
| 1990 | -487.7% | -33,305 | -195,736 |
| 1987 | -138.5% | -26,460 | -63,105 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -8,545 | -12,610 | -6,696 | 10 |
| 1970s | -36,194 | -57,683 | -16,299 | 10 |
| 1980s | -101,440 | -225,450 | -26,460 | 10 |
| 1990s | 60,612 | -195,736 | 150,724 | 10 |
| 2000s | -66,853 | -118,594 | 123,894 | 10 |
| 2010s | -42,982 | -98,060 | -18,388 | 10 |
| 2020s | -28,813 | -30,724 | -27,245 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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 in Sri Lanka?
- Net migration in Sri Lanka was -30,724 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 150,724 in 1998.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -225,450 in 1984.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for net migration?
- Sri Lanka ranks 187th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.