LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for was 3.54 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
3.54
Change on year
down 21.1%
World rank
56th
of 65 countries
All-time high
4.67
in 2020
All-time low
2.56
in 2013
Years of data
14
2010–2024

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka, 2010–2024

0123452010201720242010: 3.22011: 2.82013: 2.62014: 2.62015: 3.22016: 3.62017: 4.42018: 3.82019: 4.32020: 4.72021: 3.82022: 3.92023: 4.52024: 3.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka is 3.54, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.1% on the previous year and up 35.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka peaked at 4.67 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.56, in 2013.

That places Sri Lanka 56th out of 65 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for persons ages 25 to 54 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sri Lanka, 2010 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2010 3.23
2011 2.75 -14.9%
2013 2.56 -6.9%
2014 2.61 +2.0%
2015 3.19 +22.3%
2016 3.65 +14.2%
2017 4.36 +19.4%
2018 3.78 -13.2%
2019 4.25 +12.5%
2020 4.67 +9.7%
2021 3.81 -18.4%
2022 3.9 +2.6%
2023 4.49 +14.9%
2024 3.54 -21.1%

Sri Lanka compared with similar countries

  • Sri Lanka's 3.54 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.22, 43% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 3.38 2.56 4.36 9
2020s 4.08 3.54 4.67 5

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 53 Pakistan 4.13 compare
  2. 54 United States 3.86 compare
  3. 55 United Kingdom 3.83 compare
  4. 57 Philippines 3.48 compare
  5. 58 Slovenia 3.42 compare
  6. 59 Malta 3.03 compare

See the full ranking of 65 places →

More work & labour data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka was 3.54 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 4.67 in 2020.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 2.56 in 2013.
How does Sri Lanka rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for?
Sri Lanka ranks 56th out of 65 countries with data for 2024.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 35.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for persons ages 25 to 54 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-for-persons-ages-25-to-54/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force for persons ages 25 to 54 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
65 places, 981 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force, in this case for persons of prime age (i.e., persons ages 25 to 54), that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Indicators (GEND) database description.