Labor force, total in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Labor force, total was 8.26 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Sri Lanka, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 8.26 million for labor force, total in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Sri Lanka peaked at 8.78 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 6.50 million, in 1992.
That places Sri Lanka 64th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.78 million | — |
| 1991 | 6.61 million | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 6.50 million | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 6.70 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 6.91 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 6.82 million | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 7.08 million | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 7.24 million | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 7.90 million | +9.1% |
| 1999 | 7.88 million | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 7.83 million | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 7.96 million | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 8.04 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 8.09 million | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 8.13 million | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 8.16 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 8.19 million | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 8.22 million | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 8.25 million | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 8.28 million | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 8.30 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 8.30 million | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 8.33 million | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 8.03 million | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 8.05 million | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 8.48 million | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 8.61 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 8.78 million | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 8.52 million | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 8.70 million | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 8.49 million | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 8.50 million | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 8.53 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 8.11 million | -4.9% |
| 2024 | 8.30 million | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 8.26 million | -0.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 8.26 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 2.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 8.26 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 8.31 million, 99% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.04 million | 6.50 million | 7.90 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.12 million | 7.83 million | 8.28 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.41 million | 8.03 million | 8.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.37 million | 8.11 million | 8.53 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Sri Lanka?
- Labor force, total in Sri Lanka was 8.26 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 8.78 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.50 million in 1992.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for labor force, total?
- Sri Lanka ranks 64th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.