Number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Number of strikes and lockouts was 13 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
13
Change on year
up 85.7%
World rank
43rd
of 99 countries
All-time high
187
in 1972
All-time low
7
in 2023
Years of data
18
1971–2024

Number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka, 1971–2024

0501001502001971199720241971: 1651972: 1872008: 512009: 82010: 152011: 212012: 342013: 402014: 382016: 522017: 352018: 502019: 222020: 302021: 212022: 222023: 72024: 13

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka is 13, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 85.7% on the previous year and down 65.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka peaked at 187 in 1972 and was at its lowest, 7, in 2023.

That places Sri Lanka 43rd out of 99 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka, 1971 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1971 165
1972 187 +13.3%
2008 51 -72.7%
2009 8 -84.3%
2010 15 +87.5%
2011 21 +40.0%
2012 34 +61.9%
2013 40 +17.6%
2014 38 -5.0%
2016 52 +36.8%
2017 35 -32.7%
2018 50 +42.9%
2019 22 -56.0%
2020 30 +36.4%
2021 21 -30.0%
2022 22 +4.8%
2023 7 -68.2%
2024 13 +85.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 176 165 187 2
2000s 29.5 8 51 2
2010s 34.11 15 52 9
2020s 18.6 7 30 5

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 40 Guatemala 18 compare
  2. 41 Pakistan 17 compare
  3. 42 Poland 14 compare
  4. 44 Ecuador 12 compare
  5. 44 Republic of Korea 12 compare
  6. 46 Cameroon 11 compare
  7. 46 Ukraine 11 compare

See the full ranking of 99 places →

More work & labour data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka?
Number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka was 13 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 187 in 1972.
What is the lowest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 7 in 2023.
How does Sri Lanka rank for number of strikes and lockouts?
Sri Lanka ranks 43rd out of 99 countries with data for 2024.
Is number of strikes and lockouts rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Number of strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of strikes and lockouts in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-strikes-and-lockouts/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of strikes and lockouts
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
99 places, 2,354 data points, 1969–2024
Last refreshed

A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the hindering of the normal work activities of employees, by one or more employers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other employers in their demands or grievances. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.