Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka, 1981–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 4.3% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2024.
The figure is down 7.5% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka peaked at 15.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2012.
Sri Lanka ranks 120th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 15.8% | — |
| 1985 | 12.6% | -20.5% |
| 1990 | 15.9% | +26.2% |
| 1991 | 14.7% | -7.8% |
| 1992 | 14.2% | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 13.8% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 13.9% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 12.2% | -12.2% |
| 1996 | 10.8% | -11.3% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | -10.0% |
| 1998 | 9.2% | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 7.7% | -12.8% |
| 2001 | 7.9% | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -15.6% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | -8.0% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | -12.7% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +12.4% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | -18.3% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | -7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.2% | 12.6% | 15.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.3% | 8.9% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.0% | 5.2% | 8.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% | 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, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka was 4.3% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 15.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. 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, total (% of total 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.