Migration trends in Sri Lanka

Asia

Sri Lanka loses more people than it takes in: 1.5M emigrants against 38.7K immigrants. Net balance −1.5M — 7% of the country's population

21.9M

Population

38.7K

Immigrants

1.5M

Emigrants

−1.5M

Outflow

1 in 566 residents of Sri Lanka was born abroad — and 1 in 16 people born in Sri Lanka lives abroad

#53 in the world by net migration loss

Top corridors

The largest migration flows in Sri Lanka

Where people move to

253.9K17.0%

161.7K10.8%

160.2K10.7%

Where people come from

1India

11K28.3%

2Italy

5.2K13.5%

3China

2.5K6.5%

Immigrants in Sri Lanka

Key moments

How migration has changed since 1990

1990

39.9K immigrants · 843.5K emigrants

2010

The diaspora passed 1M people

2020

Surge of departures to Qatar — 83.2K people left

Today

Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and 648.6K more emigrants

Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)

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