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Sri Lanka · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

71st of 185 · 3rd in South Asia
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UnemploymentSri Lanka's unemployment fell from 11.4 % in 1996 to 4.0 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%2%4%6%8%10%12%4.0 %

Sri Lanka's unemployment fell from 11.4 % in 1996 to 4.0 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

129th of 183 · 5th in South Asia
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Youth unemploymentSri Lanka's youth unemployment fell from 32.6 % in 1996 to 18.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202515%20%25%30%35%18.6 %

Sri Lanka's youth unemployment fell from 32.6 % in 1996 to 18.6 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

161st of 182 · 5th in South Asia
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ParticipationSri Lanka's participation fell from 55.4 % in 1996 to 48.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%55%60%48.5 %

Sri Lanka's participation fell from 55.4 % in 1996 to 48.5 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

163rd of 182 · 5th in South Asia
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Sri Lanka's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 35.5 % in 1996 to 31.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202525%30%35%40%45%31.0 %

Sri Lanka's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 35.5 % in 1996 to 31.0 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

154th of 182 · 5th in South Asia
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Sri Lanka's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 49.1 % in 1996 to 46.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202544%46%48%50%52%54%46.6 %

Sri Lanka's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 49.1 % in 1996 to 46.6 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

62nd of 182 · 4th in South Asia
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Labour force, totalSri Lanka's labour force, total rose from 7.08M in 1996 to 8.26M in 2025.2000200520102015202020256.5M7M7.5M8M8.5M9M8.26M

Sri Lanka's labour force, total rose from 7.08M in 1996 to 8.26M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

71st of 182 · 5th in South Asia
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Self-employed (% of total employment)Sri Lanka's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 44.2 % in 1996 to 42.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202540%42%44%46%48%50%42.1 %

Sri Lanka's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 44.2 % in 1996 to 42.1 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

118th of 182 · 2nd in South Asia
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Sri Lanka's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 41.6 % in 1996 to 39.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202538%40%42%44%46%48%39.2 %

Sri Lanka's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 41.6 % in 1996 to 39.2 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

69th of 182 · 4th in South Asia
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Sri Lanka's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 32.1 % in 1996 to 25.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%25%30%35%40%25.9 %

Sri Lanka's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 32.1 % in 1996 to 25.9 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

33rd of 182 · 2nd in South Asia
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)Sri Lanka's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 19.5 % in 1996 to 26.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202518%20%22%24%26%28%30%26.3 %

Sri Lanka's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 19.5 % in 1996 to 26.3 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

135th of 182 · 2nd in South Asia
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Employment in services (% of total employment)Sri Lanka's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 48.4 % in 1996 to 47.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202540%42%44%46%48%50%47.8 %

Sri Lanka's employment in services (% of total employment) fell from 48.4 % in 1996 to 47.8 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

95th of 168 · 2nd in South Asia
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Sri Lanka's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $16k in 1996 to intl $40k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $10kintl $20kintl $30kintl $40kintl $40k

Sri Lanka's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $16k in 1996 to intl $40k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Sri Lanka.

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