Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 46.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
46.6%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
155th
of 186 countries
All-time high
53.4%
in 1998
All-time low
45.3%
in 2023
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 46.6% for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Sri Lanka peaked at 53.4% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 45.3%, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 155th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 50.4% | — |
| 1992 | 48.6% | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 49.6% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 48.1% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 49.1% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 49.4% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 53.4% | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 52.2% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 51.3% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 51.0% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 50.3% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 50.4% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 50.1% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 50.3% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 50.7% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 50.8% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 50.9% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 50.4% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 50.7% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 50.7% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 50.5% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 49.9% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 49.5% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 51.2% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 51.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 51.8% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 49.5% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 49.8% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 47.8% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 47.4% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 47.5% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 45.3% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 46.5% | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 46.6% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.0% | 48.1% | 53.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 50.6% | 50.1% | 51.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.5% | 49.5% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.8% | 45.3% | 47.8% | 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 to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Sri Lanka?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Sri Lanka was 46.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 53.4% in 1998.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.3% in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 155th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.