Unemployment in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment was 358.65 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment in Sri Lanka, 2018–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment in Sri Lanka is 358.65, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 8.5% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Sri Lanka ranks 24th of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 361.7 | — |
| 2019 | 400.75 | +10.8% |
| 2020 | 453.43 | +13.1% |
| 2021 | 425.29 | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 386.45 | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 391.98 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 358.65 | -8.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 358.65 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 320.73, 1.1× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 381.22 | 361.7 | 400.75 | 2 |
| 2020s | 403.16 | 358.65 | 453.43 | 5 |
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 unemployment in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment in Sri Lanka was 358.65 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 453.43 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 358.65 in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment?
- Sri Lanka ranks 24th out of 58 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. 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, published as part of Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.