Unemployment rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment rate was 4.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Sri Lanka is 4.0%, 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 14.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.0% | 8.9% | 14.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 5.2% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 4.0% | 5.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 116 India 4.2% compare
- 117 United States 4.2% compare
- 118 Australia 4.1% compare
- 120 Netherlands 3.9% compare
- 121 Comoros 3.8% compare
- 122 Bangladesh 3.8% compare
More work & labour data for Sri Lanka
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 48.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 45.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 31.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 53.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 35.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment rate in Sri Lanka was 4.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% 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 ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by 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).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.