Population by labor force status in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Population by labor force status was 5.04 million people in 2025. ▬ Flat
Population by labor force status in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 5.04 million people for population by labor force status in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Sri Lanka peaked at 5.37 million people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.04 million people, in 2025.
That places Sri Lanka 71st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.18 million people | 5.13 million people | 5.28 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.24 million people | 5.21 million people | 5.29 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.34 million people | 5.30 million people | 5.37 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.16 million people | 5.04 million people | 5.27 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 68 Rwanda 5.39 million people compare
- 69 South Korea 5.27 million people compare
- 70 Cambodia 5.26 million people compare
- 72 North Korea 5.03 million people compare
- 73 Australia 4.77 million people compare
- 74 South Sudan 4.58 million people compare
More work & labour data for Sri Lanka
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 48.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 45.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 31.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 53.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 35.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in Sri Lanka?
- Population by labor force status in Sri Lanka was 5.04 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 5.37 million people in 2015.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.04 million people in 2025.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for population by labor force status?
- Sri Lanka ranks 71st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).