Nepal vs Sri Lanka
Nepal vs Sri Lanka: Safe drinking water
Safe drinking water in 2022: 16.1% in Nepal and 47.1% in Sri Lanka, by WHO/UNICEF estimates. In 2022 the value was higher in Sri Lanka, by 31 percentage points, or 2.92 times that in Nepal.
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
What the numbers say
- Sri Lanka has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2000.
- In 2022, Nepal ranked 127 and Sri Lanka ranked 104 of 135 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 72.9% in 2022.
Every year
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
| Year | Nepal | Sri Lanka | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 16.1 | 47.1 | 72.9 |
| 2021 | 16.1 | 47.4 | 72.5 |
| 2020 | 17.7 | 47.6 | 72.3 |
| 2019 | 19.3 | 47.8 | 71.7 |
| 2018 | 20.9 | 48 | 71 |
| 2017 | 22.5 | 47.8 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 24 | 47.5 | 69.7 |
| 2015 | 25.5 | 47.3 | 69.1 |
| 2014 | 27 | 47.1 | 68.4 |
| 2013 | 28.4 | 46.9 | 67.7 |
| 2012 | 29.9 | 46.7 | 67.1 |
| 2011 | 29.6 | 46.5 | 66.4 |
| 2010 | 29.4 | 46.3 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 29.1 | 46.1 | 65.4 |
| 2008 | 28.9 | 45.9 | 64.9 |
| 2007 | 28.6 | 45.7 | 64.6 |
| 2006 | 28.3 | 45.5 | 64 |
| 2005 | 28.1 | 45.3 | 63.7 |
| 2004 | 27.8 | 45.2 | 63 |
| 2003 | 27.6 | 45.1 | 62.4 |
| 2002 | 27.3 | 45 | 61.8 |
| 2001 | 27 | 44.8 | 61.1 |
| 2000 | 26.7 | 44.7 | 60.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people whose drinking water comes from an improved source at home, there when needed and free of contamination.
- Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 135 countries with a value in 2022, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Nepal vs Sri Lanka
Health
- Life expectancyNepal: 70.4 years in 2023Sri Lanka: 77.5 years in 2023
- Child mortalityNepal: 2.5 per 100 live births in 2024Sri Lanka: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNepal: 21.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023Sri Lanka: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionNepal: 3.61% in 2017Sri Lanka: 3.44% in 2017
- Suicide rateNepal: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017Sri Lanka: 19.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationNepal: 29.7 million people in 2023Sri Lanka: 23 million people in 2023
- Population growthNepal: -0.14% a year in 2023Sri Lanka: 0.58% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNepal: 1.98 births per woman in 2023Sri Lanka: 1.97 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNepal: 67% in 2025Sri Lanka: 20.5% in 2025
- Median ageNepal: 24.7 years in 2023Sri Lanka: 32.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overNepal: 6.4% in 2023Sri Lanka: 11.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateNepal: -13.8 per 1,000 people in 2023Sri Lanka: -1.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingNepal: 0.97% of GDP in 2025Sri Lanka: 1.31% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsNepal: $429M in 2025Sri Lanka: $1.36B in 2025
- Military spending per personNepal: $14 in 2025Sri Lanka: $60 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingNepal: 4.5% of government spending in 2025Sri Lanka: 4.9% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNepal: 112,000 people in 2020Sri Lanka: 317,000 people in 2020
- National powerNepal: 0.18% of world capability in 2022Sri Lanka: 0.31% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNepal: 1.4% of the labour force in 2020Sri Lanka: 3.74% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNepal: 6 million TIV in 2025Sri Lanka: 11 million TIV in 2025