Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 35.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Sri Lanka, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Sri Lanka is 35.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Sri Lanka peaked at 48.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 33.6%, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 163rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.8% | — |
| 1991 | 44.3% | -9.1% |
| 1992 | 39.9% | -10.0% |
| 1993 | 40.8% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 41.0% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 38.5% | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 38.4% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 38.1% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 44.8% | +17.5% |
| 1999 | 40.8% | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 39.4% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 39.1% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 38.9% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 38.6% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 38.4% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 38.2% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 38.0% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 37.7% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 37.5% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 37.3% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 37.1% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 37.0% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 35.7% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 37.0% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 36.6% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 39.1% | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 39.0% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 40.0% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 36.9% | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 38.0% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 35.5% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 35.7% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 33.6% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 35.3% | +5.1% |
| 2025 | 35.4% | +0.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 35.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.9%, 63% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 35.4% is below the median for South Asia, which is 38.5%, 92% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.5% | 38.1% | 48.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.3% | 37.3% | 39.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.6% | 35.7% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 33.6% | 35.7% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Sri Lanka?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Sri Lanka was 35.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 48.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.6% in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 163rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.