Employment rate, men vs. women in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Employment rate, men vs. women was 65.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
65.9%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
90th
of 186 countries
All-time high
72.3%
in 1999
All-time low
64.6%
in 2023
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate, men vs. women in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate, men vs. women in Sri Lanka stood at 65.9%.
The figure is down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Sri Lanka peaked at 72.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 64.6%, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 90th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 69.1% | — |
| 1992 | 68.6% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 68.4% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 69.3% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 67.8% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 69.4% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 69.7% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 71.6% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 72.3% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 70.9% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 70.6% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 70.1% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 70.5% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 70.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 70.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 71.0% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 71.2% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 71.6% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 71.0% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 71.6% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 71.5% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 72.2% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 69.7% | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 69.5% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 71.5% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 71.8% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 71.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 70.0% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 69.8% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 68.3% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 67.6% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 67.1% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 64.6% | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 65.9% | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 65.9% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 69.6% | 67.8% | 72.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 70.8% | 70.1% | 71.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.9% | 69.5% | 72.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.6% | 64.6% | 68.3% | 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 rate, men vs. women in Sri Lanka?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Sri Lanka was 65.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 72.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.6% in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Sri Lanka ranks 90th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.