Unemployment rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment rate was 4 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
119th
of 186 countries
All-time high
14.66
in 1991
All-time low
3.88
in 2012
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Sri Lanka is 4, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 14.66 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.88, in 2012.
That places Sri Lanka 119th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 14.66 | — |
| 1992 | 14.22 | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 13.82 | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 13.03 | -5.7% |
| 1995 | 12.27 | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 11.35 | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 10.6 | -6.6% |
| 1998 | 9.17 | -13.5% |
| 1999 | 8.88 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 7.74 | -12.8% |
| 2001 | 7.9 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 8.76 | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 8.22 | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 8.38 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 7.67 | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 6.5 | -15.3% |
| 2007 | 5.97 | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 5.22 | -12.6% |
| 2009 | 5.85 | +12.1% |
| 2010 | 4.78 | -18.2% |
| 2011 | 4.12 | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 3.88 | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 4.19 | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 4.16 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.52 | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 4.24 | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 4.05 | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 4.32 | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 4.67 | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 5.36 | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 4.98 | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 4.53 | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 4.53 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4.24 | -6.4% |
| 2025 | 4 | -5.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 4 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.63, 71% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 4 is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.11, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12 | 8.88 | 14.66 | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.22 | 5.22 | 8.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.29 | 3.88 | 4.78 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.61 | 4 | 5.36 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 116 India 4.22 compare
- 117 United States 4.2 compare
- 118 Australia 4.09 compare
- 120 Netherlands 3.87 compare
- 121 Comoros 3.82 compare
- 122 Bangladesh 3.78 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 rate in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment rate in Sri Lanka was 4 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 14.66 in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.88 in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 119th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).