Own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Own-account workers, total was 31.8% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
31.8%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
64th
of 186 countries
All-time high
32.4%
in 2013
All-time low
26.9%
in 1996
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka, 1991–2016

01020301991200320161991: 27.5 % of total employment1992: 27.3 % of total employment1993: 27.7 % of total employment1994: 27.2 % of total employment1995: 28.5 % of total employment1996: 26.9 % of total employment1997: 29 % of total employment1998: 29 % of total employment1999: 28.5 % of total employment2000: 28.5 % of total employment2001: 28.6 % of total employment2002: 28.8 % of total employment2003: 29.4 % of total employment2004: 28.2 % of total employment2005: 29.6 % of total employment2006: 31.1 % of total employment2007: 30.5 % of total employment2008: 30.5 % of total employment2009: 29.3 % of total employment2010: 31.7 % of total employment2011: 31.6 % of total employment2012: 32 % of total employment2013: 32.4 % of total employment2014: 32.1 % of total employment2015: 32 % of total employment2016: 31.8 % of total employment

Source: World Bank. Measured in % of total employment.

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka stood at 31.8%.

The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka peaked at 32.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 26.9%, in 1996.

Sri Lanka ranks 64th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, total (% of total employment) in Sri Lanka, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of total employment Change
1991 27.5%
1992 27.3% -0.5%
1993 27.7% +1.3%
1994 27.2% -1.9%
1995 28.5% +4.8%
1996 26.9% -5.4%
1997 29.0% +7.7%
1998 29.0% -0.1%
1999 28.5% -1.7%
2000 28.5% +0.2%
2001 28.6% +0.1%
2002 28.8% +0.7%
2003 29.4% +2.4%
2004 28.2% -4.1%
2005 29.6% +4.9%
2006 31.1% +5.1%
2007 30.5% -1.9%
2008 30.5% -0.1%
2009 29.3% -3.8%
2010 31.7% +7.9%
2011 31.6% -0.1%
2012 32.0% +1.3%
2013 32.4% +1.0%
2014 32.1% -0.9%
2015 32.0% -0.2%
2016 31.8% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 27.9% 26.9% 29.0% 9
2000s 29.5% 28.2% 31.1% 10
2010s 31.9% 31.6% 32.4% 7

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 61 Thailand 32.0% compare
  2. 62 Syrian Arab Republic 32.0% compare
  3. 63 Ethiopia 31.9% compare
  4. 65 Paraguay 31.6% compare
  5. 66 Gabon 31.3% compare
  6. 67 Palestine, State of 31.0% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More work & labour data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka?
Own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka was 31.8% in 2016, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest own-account workers, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 32.4% in 2013.
What is the lowest own-account workers, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 26.9% in 1996.
How does Sri Lanka rank for own-account workers, total?
Sri Lanka ranks 64th out of 186 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, total rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Own-account workers, total (% of total employment). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Own-account workers, total in Sri Lanka. Statizoid. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-total-percent-of-total-employment/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, total (% of total employment)
Unit
% of total employment
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed