LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) was 7.6 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
7.6
Change on year
down 24.5%
World rank
58th
of 75 countries
All-time high
10.07
in 2023
All-time low
6.29
in 2014
Years of data
14
2010–2024

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Sri Lanka, 2010–2024

02.557.5102010201720242010: 82011: 6.92013: 6.82014: 6.32015: 7.22016: 7.92017: 8.52018: 8.42019: 8.72020: 9.92021: 9.22022: 8.62023: 10.12024: 7.6

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Sri Lanka recorded 7.6 for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.5% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Sri Lanka peaked at 10.07 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.29, in 2014.

That places Sri Lanka 58th out of 75 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.

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Sri Lanka, 2010 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2010 8.01
2011 6.91 -13.8%
2013 6.83 -1.2%
2014 6.29 -7.9%
2015 7.23 +15.0%
2016 7.94 +9.9%
2017 8.47 +6.7%
2018 8.45 -0.3%
2019 8.7 +3.0%
2020 9.9 +13.7%
2021 9.23 -6.8%
2022 8.63 -6.5%
2023 10.07 +16.7%
2024 7.6 -24.5%

Sri Lanka compared with similar countries

  • Sri Lanka's 7.6 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.16, 58% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 7.65 6.29 8.7 9
2020s 9.08 7.6 10.07 5

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 55 Romania 8.8 compare
  2. 56 Slovenia 8.21 compare
  3. 57 Bangladesh 7.8 compare
  4. 59 Mongolia 7.49 compare
  5. 60 Slovakia 7.3 compare
  6. 61 Malta 7.18 compare

See the full ranking of 75 places →

More work & labour data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Sri Lanka?
Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Sri Lanka was 7.6 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 10.07 in 2023.
What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 6.29 in 2014.
How does Sri Lanka rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo)?
Sri Lanka ranks 58th out of 75 countries with data for 2024.
Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. 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 LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu4-composite-rate-of-labour-underutilization-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
75 places, 1,249 data points, 1991–2025
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. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment 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.