MigrantoMigration trends in Sri Lanka
Asia
1.5M people from Sri Lanka have built lives abroad. That's 6.8% of the country population, spread across 59 different countries
21.9M
Population
38.7K
Immigrants
1.5M
Emigrants
−1.5M
Outflow
1 in every 16 people born in Sri Lanka now lives abroad
The #53 largest source of emigrants worldwide
Top corridors
The largest migration routes in Sri Lanka
Where people move to
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
39.9K immigrants · 843.5K emigrants
2010
- The diaspora abroad 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 citizens living abroad
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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