Employment to population ratio in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Employment to population ratio was 46.57 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
46.57
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
155th
of 186 countries
All-time high
53.43
in 1998
All-time low
45.25
in 2023
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment to population ratio in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 46.57 for employment to population ratio in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio in Sri Lanka peaked at 53.43 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 45.25, 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 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 50.4 | — |
| 1992 | 48.57 | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 48.88 | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 49.61 | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 48.15 | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 49.11 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 49.38 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 53.43 | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 52.22 | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 51.27 | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 50.97 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 50.29 | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 50.38 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 50.08 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 50.26 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 50.68 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 50.76 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 50.95 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 50.39 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 50.74 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 50.69 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 50.53 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 49.87 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 49.45 | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 51.24 | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 51.45 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 51.81 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 49.49 | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 49.81 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 47.79 | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 47.35 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 47.48 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 45.25 | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 46.54 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 46.57 | +0.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 46.57 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.68, 84% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 46.57 is below the median for South Asia, which is 54.94, 85% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.97 | 48.15 | 53.43 | 9 |
| 2000s | 50.6 | 50.08 | 51.27 | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.51 | 49.45 | 51.81 | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.83 | 45.25 | 47.79 | 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 in Sri Lanka?
- Employment to population ratio in Sri Lanka was 46.57 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment to population ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 53.43 in 1998.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.25 in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for employment to population ratio?
- Sri Lanka ranks 155th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Employment to population ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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