Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 24.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka stood at 24.8%.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka peaked at 47.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 22.7%, in 2012.
That places Sri Lanka 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47.0% | — |
| 1992 | 46.9% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 44.2% | -5.8% |
| 1994 | 43.7% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 43.0% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 42.2% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 40.7% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 32.0% | -21.5% |
| 1999 | 33.8% | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 30.2% | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 30.8% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 36.1% | +17.2% |
| 2003 | 36.7% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 38.8% | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 38.9% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | -25.2% |
| 2007 | 28.5% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 25.9% | -9.2% |
| 2009 | 28.0% | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 23.6% | -15.8% |
| 2011 | 24.4% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 22.7% | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 24.4% | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 25.4% | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 25.5% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 27.5% | +8.0% |
| 2017 | 23.2% | -15.8% |
| 2018 | 28.8% | +24.3% |
| 2019 | 27.4% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 34.0% | +24.3% |
| 2021 | 34.8% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 25.9% | -25.7% |
| 2023 | 24.6% | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 25.6% | +4.0% |
| 2025 | 24.8% | -3.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 24.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.7%, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 24.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 18.0%, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.5% | 32.0% | 47.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 32.3% | 25.9% | 38.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 22.7% | 28.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.3% | 24.6% | 34.8% | 6 |
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, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka was 24.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 47.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.7% in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. 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 database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.