Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 20.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
20.5%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
228th
of 236 countries
All-time high
22.4%
in 1972
All-time low
14.6%
in 2001
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka is 20.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 22.4% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 2001.
Sri Lanka ranks 228th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15.3% | — |
| 1951 | 15.3% | -0.1% |
| 1952 | 15.3% | -0.1% |
| 1953 | 15.3% | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 15.4% | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 15.6% | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 15.9% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 16.2% | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 16.6% | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 17.1% | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 17.6% | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 18.0% | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 18.5% | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 18.9% | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 19.3% | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 19.8% | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 20.4% | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 21.0% | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 21.5% | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 22.0% | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 22.3% | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 22.4% | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 22.4% | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 22.4% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 22.3% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 22.2% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 22.1% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 22.0% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 21.9% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 21.8% | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 21.6% | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 21.5% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 21.3% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 21.0% | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 20.7% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 20.3% | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 19.9% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 19.5% | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 19.0% | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 18.6% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 18.1% | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 17.6% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 17.1% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 16.7% | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 16.3% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 15.9% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 15.5% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 15.2% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 14.9% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 14.6% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 14.6% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 14.6% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 14.7% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 14.9% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 15.2% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 15.5% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 16.3% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 16.7% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 17.2% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 17.8% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 18.3% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 18.4% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 18.6% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 18.8% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 19.0% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 19.2% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 19.3% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 19.5% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 19.7% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 20.0% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 20.1% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 20.3% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 20.5% | +0.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 20.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 31% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 20.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 39.1%, 52% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.8% | 15.3% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.7% | 17.6% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.2% | 21.8% | 22.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.3% | 18.6% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.2% | 14.7% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.3% | 14.6% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.6% | 17.2% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.1% | 19.7% | 20.5% | 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 urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka was 20.5% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 22.4% in 1972.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 2001.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 228th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.