Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 3.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka, 1981–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka stood at 3.0%.
The figure is down 15.4% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka peaked at 12.2% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2011.
Sri Lanka ranks 134th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 12.2% | — |
| 1985 | 9.4% | -23.5% |
| 1993 | 9.8% | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 9.2% | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 9.1% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | -7.9% |
| 1997 | 8.1% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 6.4% | -20.6% |
| 1999 | 6.7% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 5.9% | -11.7% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 6.1% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 5.6% | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -16.0% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | -16.0% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +19.2% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -20.9% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -22.2% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | +10.5% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +20.4% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 3.0% | -15.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 3.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.4%, 56% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 3.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.1%, 72% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.8% | 9.4% | 12.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 8.2% | 6.4% | 9.8% | 7 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 3.6% | 6.2% | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.0% | 3.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 131 Dominican Republic 3.0% compare
- 132 Isle of Man 3.0% compare
- 133 Mali 3.0% compare
- 135 Madagascar 2.9% compare
- 136 Ethiopia 2.9% compare
- 137 San Marino 2.9% 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka was 3.0% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 1981.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2011.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 134th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.