LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 5.68 in 2024. ▲ Rising
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Sri Lanka, 2010–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Sri Lanka is 5.68, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 14.7% on the previous year and up 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Sri Lanka peaked at 7.59 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.34, in 2011.
Sri Lanka ranks 67th of 89 countries on this measure, 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 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.05 | — |
| 2011 | 4.34 | -14.1% |
| 2013 | 4.51 | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 4.38 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 4.76 | +8.5% |
| 2016 | 5.78 | +21.5% |
| 2017 | 5.91 | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 6.1 | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 6.32 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 7.59 | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 7.05 | -7.0% |
| 2022 | 6.2 | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 6.66 | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 5.68 | -14.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.68 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.28, 61% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.24 | 4.34 | 6.32 | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.63 | 5.68 | 7.59 | 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 lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Sri Lanka?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Sri Lanka was 5.68 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 7.59 in 2020.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.34 in 2011.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- Sri Lanka ranks 67th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.6%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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 that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.