Labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Labor force participation rate was 48.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka is 48.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 61.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 47.4%, in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 162nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.3% | 54.9% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.5% | 53.5% | 55.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.8% | 51.6% | 54.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.1% | 47.4% | 50.5% | 6 |
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 labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka?
- Labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka was 48.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.4% in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for labor force participation rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 162nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).