Labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Labor force participation rate by age was 25.05 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
25.05
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
169th
of 188 countries
All-time high
52.44
in 1990
All-time low
25.05
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka is 25.05, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka peaked at 52.44 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 25.05, in 2024.
That places Sri Lanka 169th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 52.44 | — |
| 1991 | 50.2 | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 47.97 | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 47.26 | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 49.93 | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 43.17 | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 43.89 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 43.83 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 49.14 | +12.1% |
| 1999 | 47.35 | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 43.48 | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 42.58 | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 41.69 | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 40.81 | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 39.93 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 39.06 | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 38.19 | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 37.34 | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 36.48 | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 35.64 | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 34.8 | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 33.74 | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 33.4 | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 32.88 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 31.35 | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 33.4 | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 32.51 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 32.77 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 29.9 | -8.8% |
| 2019 | 30.5 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 28.91 | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 26.18 | -9.4% |
| 2022 | 25.14 | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 25.12 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 25.05 | -0.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 25.05 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.94, 64% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 25.05 is below the median for South Asia, which is 31.03, 81% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.52 | 43.17 | 52.44 | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.52 | 35.64 | 43.48 | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.52 | 29.9 | 34.8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.08 | 25.05 | 28.91 | 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 labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Sri Lanka was 25.05 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 52.44 in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.05 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Sri Lanka ranks 169th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. 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 Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).