Female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Female labor force participation rate was 29.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate 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 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 in Sri Lanka peaked at 45.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 1970.
That places Sri Lanka 178th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 48.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 45.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 31.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 53.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 35.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka?
- Female labor force participation rate 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 recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 178th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.