Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 15.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 15.3% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka peaked at 28.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 2011.
Sri Lanka ranks 74th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 28.6% | — |
| 1992 | 28.1% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 28.0% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 27.1% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 27.7% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 26.7% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 26.0% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 21.2% | -18.3% |
| 1999 | 21.8% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 20.3% | -6.8% |
| 2001 | 21.9% | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 24.4% | +11.8% |
| 2003 | 22.6% | -7.6% |
| 2004 | 22.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | -15.2% |
| 2007 | 17.5% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 14.7% | -16.1% |
| 2009 | 17.3% | +17.7% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | -20.6% |
| 2012 | 13.7% | +8.3% |
| 2013 | 14.4% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 15.2% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 15.6% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 16.0% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 14.1% | -11.9% |
| 2018 | 16.2% | +14.7% |
| 2019 | 16.7% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | +26.9% |
| 2021 | 20.7% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 18.1% | -7.2% |
| 2024 | 15.6% | -14.1% |
| 2025 | 15.3% | -2.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 15.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 15.3% is below the median for South Asia, which is 15.7%, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.1% | 21.2% | 28.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 14.7% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.0% | 12.6% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.4% | 15.3% | 21.2% | 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 male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka was 15.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 28.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 2011.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 74th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. 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 male (% of male 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.