Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 29.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka, 1963–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka stood at 29.8%.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka peaked at 45.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 178th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 23.6% | — |
| 1970 | 13.1% | -44.3% |
| 1971 | 30.7% | +134.1% |
| 1981 | 20.8% | -32.2% |
| 1985 | 37.4% | +79.9% |
| 1986 | 36.2% | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 45.3% | +25.1% |
| 1992 | 36.9% | -18.5% |
| 1993 | 37.9% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 38.1% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 35.8% | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 35.5% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 35.3% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 41.4% | +17.2% |
| 1999 | 37.6% | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 36.5% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 31.9% | -12.6% |
| 2002 | 33.6% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 35.6% | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 34.7% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 34.5% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 33.4% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 32.8% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 34.3% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 34.2% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 33.0% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 34.2% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 33.6% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 35.8% | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 35.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 36.5% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 33.5% | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 34.4% | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 32.0% | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 31.7% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 32.0% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 31.2% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 29.8% | -4.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 29.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.2%, 57% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 29.8% is below the median for South Asia, which is 36.2%, 82% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +134.1% | 13.1% | 30.7% |
| 1985 | +79.9% | 20.8% | 37.4% |
| 1970 | -44.3% | 23.6% | 13.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 23.6% | 23.6% | 23.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 21.9% | 13.1% | 30.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 31.5% | 20.8% | 37.4% | 3 |
| 1990s | 38.2% | 35.3% | 45.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.1% | 31.9% | 36.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 34.5% | 33.0% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.3% | 29.8% | 32.0% | 5 |
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 female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Sri Lanka was 29.8% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Sri Lanka ranks 178th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.