Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 73.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Sri Lanka, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Sri Lanka stood at 73.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Sri Lanka peaked at 81.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 71.9%, in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 131st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 81.0% | — |
| 1991 | 80.5% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 79.8% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 79.2% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 79.8% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 77.7% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 79.1% | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 79.0% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 80.2% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 81.0% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 78.8% | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 78.6% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 78.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 78.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 78.3% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 78.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 78.2% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 78.0% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 78.0% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 77.5% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 78.3% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 75.9% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 76.0% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 77.9% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 78.2% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 77.9% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 76.8% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 76.7% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 75.8% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 75.0% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 74.6% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 71.9% | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 73.1% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 73.0% | -0.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 73.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 78.6%, 93% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 73.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 76.8%, 95% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.7% | 77.7% | 81.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.3% | 78.0% | 78.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.3% | 75.9% | 78.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.9% | 71.9% | 75.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 128 Morocco 73.5% compare
- 129 Croatia 73.4% compare
- 130 Iran, Islamic Republic of 73.3% compare
- 132 Republic of Moldova 72.9% compare
- 133 Lao People's Democratic Republic 72.7% compare
- 134 Timor-Leste 72.6% compare
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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Sri Lanka?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Sri Lanka was 73.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.9% in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 131st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. 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, male (% of male 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.