Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 8,471 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sri Lanka is 8,471, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sri Lanka peaked at 8,670 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 5,580, in 1992.
That places Sri Lanka 62nd out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5,641 | — |
| 1992 | 5,580 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 5,774 | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 6,011 | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 5,987 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 6,275 | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 6,473 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 7,175 | +10.8% |
| 1999 | 7,182 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 7,221 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 7,330 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 7,338 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 7,426 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 7,449 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 7,535 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 7,660 | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 7,732 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 7,821 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 7,792 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 7,902 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 7,954 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 8,004 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 7,987 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 8,006 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 8,386 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 8,513 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 8,670 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 8,375 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 8,522 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 8,265 | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 8,275 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 8,381 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 8,071 | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 8,384 | +3.9% |
| 2025 | 8,471 | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6,233 | 5,580 | 7,182 | 9 |
| 2000s | 7,530 | 7,221 | 7,821 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,232 | 7,902 | 8,670 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,308 | 8,071 | 8,471 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More work & labour data for Sri Lanka
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5555 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5407 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5702 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.6 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,575 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,218 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 10,672 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 10,578 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 21,249 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sri Lanka?
- Employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sri Lanka was 8,471 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 8,670 in 2017.
- What is the lowest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,580 in 1992.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for employment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 62nd out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by status in employment are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ICSE. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.