Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 4.0% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka peaked at 14.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2012.
That places Sri Lanka 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 14.7% | — |
| 1992 | 14.2% | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 13.8% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | -5.7% |
| 1995 | 12.3% | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 11.3% | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 10.6% | -6.6% |
| 1998 | 9.2% | -13.5% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 7.7% | -12.8% |
| 2001 | 7.9% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -15.3% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | -12.6% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +12.1% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | -18.2% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | -6.4% |
| 2025 | 4.0% | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.0% | 8.9% | 14.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 5.2% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 4.0% | 5.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 117 India 4.2% compare
- 118 United States of America 4.2% compare
- 119 Australia 4.1% compare
- 121 Netherlands 3.9% compare
- 122 Comoros 3.8% compare
- 123 Bangladesh 3.8% compare
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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sri Lanka was 4.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. 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, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.