Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Sri Lanka

Labor force participation rate in Sri Lanka in 2025 — 48.52%. Ranked 161 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 12.93 pp.

2025 48.52% −0.08 pp vs 2024
World rank 161of 182
Period maximum 61.45%1990
Period minimum 47.4%2023

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Sri Lanka, 1990–2025455055606519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 61.45%1991: 59.06%1992: 56.62%1993: 56.72%1994: 57.04%1995: 54.88%1996: 55.4%1997: 55.24%1998: 58.82%1999: 57.31%2000: 55.57%2001: 55.34%2002: 55.12%2003: 54.89%2004: 54.66%2005: 54.44%2006: 54.21%2007: 53.98%2008: 53.75%2009: 53.52%2010: 53.3%2011: 52.87%2012: 52.57%2013: 52.05%2014: 51.6%2015: 53.67%2016: 53.73%2017: 53.99%2018: 51.72%2019: 52.25%2020: 50.5%2021: 49.84%2022: 49.73%2023: 47.4%2024: 48.6%2025: 48.52%
Change over the period: −12.93 pp Annual average: -0.37 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka 48.52%
World 60.98%
South Asia 55.61%
Southern Asia computed 54.18%
Labor force participation rate — Sri Lanka, by year Sri Lanka All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 48.52 −0.08 pp
2024 48.6 +1.2 pp
2023 47.4 −2.33 pp
2022 49.73 −0.11 pp
2021 49.84 −0.66 pp
2020 50.5 −1.75 pp
2019 52.25 +0.53 pp
2018 51.72 −2.27 pp
2017 53.99 +0.27 pp
2016 53.73 +0.06 pp
2015 53.67 +2.07 pp
2014 51.6 −0.45 pp
2013 52.05 −0.52 pp
2012 52.57 −0.3 pp
2011 52.87 −0.43 pp
2010 53.3 −0.23 pp
2009 53.52 −0.23 pp
2008 53.75 −0.23 pp
2007 53.98 −0.23 pp
2006 54.21 −0.23 pp
2005 54.44 −0.23 pp
2004 54.66 −0.23 pp
2003 54.89 −0.23 pp
2002 55.12 −0.23 pp
2001 55.34 −0.23 pp
2000 55.57 −1.74 pp
1999 57.31 −1.51 pp
1998 58.82 +3.58 pp
1997 55.24 −0.16 pp
1996 55.4 +0.52 pp
1995 54.88 −2.16 pp
1994 57.04 +0.32 pp
1993 56.72 +0.1 pp
1992 56.62 −2.44 pp
1991 59.06 −2.39 pp
1990 61.45

Southern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.