Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 11.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Sri Lanka, 2000–2016
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public sector employment as a share of total employment in Sri Lanka is 11.9%, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Sri Lanka peaked at 13.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 2006.
Sri Lanka ranks 58th of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.4% | — |
| 2001 | 13.9% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 13.5% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 13.5% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 13.0% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -21.2% |
| 2007 | 10.7% | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 11.9% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 11.4% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 11.7% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 12.6% | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 11.9% | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.4% | 10.3% | 13.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 11.9% | 11.4% | 12.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 55 United States of America 12.9% compare
- 56 Romania 12.7% compare
- 57 Brazil 12.5% compare
- 59 Paraguay 9.6% compare
- 60 Philippines 9.1% compare
- 61 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 8.9% compare
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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in Sri Lanka?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Sri Lanka was 11.9% in 2016, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 13.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 2006.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Sri Lanka ranks 58th out of 79 countries with data for 2016.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.