Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 21.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka, 1993–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 21.8% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka peaked at 35.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 2011.
Sri Lanka ranks 32nd of 160 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 35.6% | — |
| 1994 | 34.9% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 35.2% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 32.9% | -6.4% |
| 1997 | 32.1% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 26.1% | -18.7% |
| 1999 | 26.8% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 23.6% | -11.8% |
| 2003 | 26.2% | +10.9% |
| 2004 | 26.5% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 26.4% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 21.6% | -18.0% |
| 2007 | 21.2% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 18.5% | -12.7% |
| 2009 | 21.3% | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 19.0% | -10.8% |
| 2011 | 16.8% | -11.4% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 18.4% | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 19.7% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 20.1% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 21.0% | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 18.0% | -14.4% |
| 2018 | 21.1% | +16.9% |
| 2019 | 21.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 25.9% | +23.3% |
| 2021 | 25.9% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 22.1% | -14.7% |
| 2023 | 22.6% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 21.8% | -3.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 21.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 21.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 17.7%, 1.2× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.9% | 26.1% | 35.6% | 7 |
| 2000s | 23.2% | 18.5% | 26.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 16.8% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.6% | 21.8% | 25.9% | 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka was 21.8% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 2011.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 32nd out of 160 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.