Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 45.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sri Lanka, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 45.7% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sri Lanka peaked at 58.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 43.9%, in 2012.
Sri Lanka ranks 167th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.2% | — |
| 1991 | 53.2% | -8.5% |
| 1992 | 48.3% | -9.2% |
| 1993 | 49.7% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 49.6% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 47.8% | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 46.9% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 46.6% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 53.9% | +15.5% |
| 1999 | 48.6% | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 48.2% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 48.0% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 47.7% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 47.5% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 47.2% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 47.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 46.7% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 46.5% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 46.3% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 46.0% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 45.8% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 46.2% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 43.9% | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 47.1% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 46.3% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 47.9% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 47.7% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 49.1% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 45.9% | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 47.2% | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 44.5% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 44.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 45.4% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 44.2% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 45.6% | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 45.7% | +0.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 45.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.8%, 64% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 45.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 50.0%, 91% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.3% | 46.6% | 58.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.1% | 46.0% | 48.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.7% | 43.9% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.0% | 44.2% | 45.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sri Lanka?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sri Lanka was 45.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 58.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.9% in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.