Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 45.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Sri Lanka, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 45.7% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025.
That represents a change of 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 rates in Sri Lanka peaked at 58.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 43.9%, in 2012.
Sri Lanka ranks 166th of 186 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 rates in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | 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% |
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 rates in Sri Lanka?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Sri Lanka was 45.7% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates 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 rates 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 rates?
- Sri Lanka ranks 166th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates 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 International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).