Unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Unemployment of previously employed persons was 85.25 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
85.25
Change on year
down 38.6%
World rank
69th
of 106 countries
All-time high
493.4
in 2006
All-time low
85.25
in 2024
Years of data
14
2006–2024

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka, 2006–2024

1002003004005002006201520242006: 493.42007: 4472008: 3942009: 471.32012: 3362016: 104.92017: 121.82018: 1122019: 133.42020: 144.52021: 117.42022: 119.42023: 138.92024: 85.2

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2024, unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka stood at 85.25. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.

The figure is down 38.6% on the previous year and down 74.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka peaked at 493.4 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 85.25, in 2024.

That places Sri Lanka 69th out of 106 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sri Lanka, 2006 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2006 493.4
2007 447 -9.4%
2008 394 -11.9%
2009 471.25 +19.6%
2012 336 -28.7%
2016 104.85 -68.8%
2017 121.81 +16.2%
2018 111.99 -8.1%
2019 133.42 +19.1%
2020 144.54 +8.3%
2021 117.44 -18.7%
2022 119.37 +1.6%
2023 138.89 +16.4%
2024 85.25 -38.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 451.41 394 493.4 4
2010s 161.61 104.85 336 5
2020s 121.1 85.25 144.54 5

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 66 Thailand 100.34 compare
  2. 67 Norway 95.58 compare
  3. 68 Ireland 89.78 compare
  4. 70 Bosnia and Herzegovina 80.93 compare
  5. 71 Georgia 72.34 compare
  6. 72 Croatia 69.14 compare

See the full ranking of 106 places →

More work & labour data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka?
Unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka was 85.25 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 493.4 in 2006.
What is the lowest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 85.25 in 2024.
How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment of previously employed persons?
Sri Lanka ranks 69th out of 106 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment of previously employed persons rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 74.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment of previously employed persons in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-of-previously-employed-persons-previous-ilo-definition-icls13/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
106 places, 2,348 data points, 1976–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.