Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) was 20.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 20.2% for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Sri Lanka peaked at 36.5% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 19.5%, in 2021.
Sri Lanka ranks 162nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 32.1% | — |
| 1992 | 31.1% | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 30.9% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 33.1% | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 28.6% | -13.6% |
| 1996 | 29.6% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 30.0% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 36.5% | +21.6% |
| 1999 | 34.9% | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 33.1% | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 31.9% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 29.8% | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 29.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 28.6% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 28.2% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 29.7% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 29.3% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 29.6% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 28.1% | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 28.3% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 28.1% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 27.8% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 27.0% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 25.5% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 27.0% | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 26.0% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 27.1% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 23.8% | -12.2% |
| 2019 | 24.3% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | -11.2% |
| 2021 | 19.5% | -9.4% |
| 2022 | 19.7% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 20.0% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 20.3% | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 20.2% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.9% | 28.6% | 36.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.8% | 28.1% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.5% | 23.8% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 19.5% | 21.6% | 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, ages 15-24, total (%) in Sri Lanka?
- Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Sri Lanka was 20.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 1998.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.5% in 2021.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 162nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, ages 15-24, 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.