Female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Female labor force participation rate by age was 17.6 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
17.6
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
164th
of 188 countries
All-time high
46.25
in 1990
All-time low
17.28
in 2023
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka, 1990–2024

010203040501990200720241990: 46.21991: 41.41992: 36.71993: 39.41994: 40.31995: 34.81996: 33.81997: 33.31998: 41.51999: 35.62000: 30.92001: 30.22002: 29.62003: 292004: 28.42005: 27.82006: 27.22007: 26.62008: 262009: 25.42010: 24.72011: 23.32012: 22.72013: 23.22014: 22.22015: 24.72016: 22.92017: 23.82018: 20.52019: 21.52020: 19.42021: 17.62022: 17.62023: 17.32024: 17.6

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka is 17.6, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka peaked at 46.25 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 17.28, in 2023.

Sri Lanka ranks 164th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

Female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka, 1990 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1990 46.25 —
1991 41.45 -10.4%
1992 36.7 -11.5%
1993 39.37 +7.3%
1994 40.31 +2.4%
1995 34.8 -13.7%
1996 33.76 -3.0%
1997 33.25 -1.5%
1998 41.52 +24.9%
1999 35.61 -14.2%
2000 30.88 -13.3%
2001 30.22 -2.1%
2002 29.58 -2.1%
2003 28.96 -2.1%
2004 28.37 -2.1%
2005 27.78 -2.1%
2006 27.2 -2.1%
2007 26.61 -2.2%
2008 26 -2.3%
2009 25.38 -2.4%
2010 24.73 -2.6%
2011 23.29 -5.8%
2012 22.73 -2.4%
2013 23.17 +1.9%
2014 22.18 -4.3%
2015 24.75 +11.6%
2016 22.91 -7.4%
2017 23.79 +3.9%
2018 20.53 -13.7%
2019 21.54 +4.9%
2020 19.45 -9.7%
2021 17.64 -9.3%
2022 17.58 -0.3%
2023 17.28 -1.7%
2024 17.6 +1.9%

Sri Lanka compared with similar countries

  • Sri Lanka's 17.6 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.58, 52% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • Sri Lanka's 17.6 is below the median for South Asia, which is 25.14, 70% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 38.3 33.25 46.25 10
2000s 28.1 25.38 30.88 10
2010s 22.96 20.53 24.75 10
2020s 17.91 17.28 19.45 5

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 161 Senegal 19.12 compare
  2. 162 Venezuela 18.82 compare
  3. 163 Bosnia and Herzegovina 18.49 compare
  4. 165 Saudi Arabia 16.52 compare
  5. 166 Puerto Rico 16.02 compare
  6. 167 India 15.84 compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More work & labour data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka?
Female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka was 17.6 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 46.25 in 1990.
What is the lowest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 17.28 in 2023.
How does Sri Lanka rank for female labor force participation rate by age?
Sri Lanka ranks 164th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
Is female labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/female-labor-force-participation-rate-by-age/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Female labor force participation rate by age
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
195 places, 6,816 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed