Male unemployment — all countries

Male unemployment — Sri Lanka

Male unemployment in Sri Lanka in 2025 — 2.76%. Ranked 42 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 7.52 pp.

2025 2.76% −0.19 pp vs 2024
World rank 42of 182
Period maximum 10.29%1991
Period minimum 2.68%2011

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of male labor force

Male unemployment — Sri Lanka, 1991–202505101519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.29%1992: 10.15%1993: 9.81%1994: 9.3%1995: 8.87%1996: 8.3%1997: 7.83%1998: 6.67%1999: 6.65%2000: 5.89%2001: 6.16%2002: 6.65%2003: 5.92%2004: 6.12%2005: 5.57%2006: 4.8%2007: 4.39%2008: 3.73%2009: 4.4%2010: 3.45%2011: 2.68%2012: 2.79%2013: 2.99%2014: 3.07%2015: 2.99%2016: 2.89%2017: 2.82%2018: 2.99%2019: 3.29%2020: 3.96%2021: 3.65%2022: 3.66%2023: 3.5%2024: 2.95%2025: 2.76%
Change over the period: −7.52 pp Annual average: -0.22 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Sri Lanka 2.76%
World 4.69%
South Asia 4.25%
Southern Asia computed 4.51%
Male unemployment — Sri Lanka, by year Sri Lanka All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 2.76 −0.19 pp
2024 2.95 −0.55 pp
2023 3.5 −0.16 pp
2022 3.66 +0.01 pp
2021 3.65 −0.31 pp
2020 3.96 +0.66 pp
2019 3.29 +0.31 pp
2018 2.99 +0.16 pp
2017 2.82 −0.07 pp
2016 2.89 −0.1 pp
2015 2.99 −0.09 pp
2014 3.07 +0.08 pp
2013 2.99 +0.21 pp
2012 2.79 +0.11 pp
2011 2.68 −0.77 pp
2010 3.45 −0.95 pp
2009 4.4 +0.67 pp
2008 3.73 −0.66 pp
2007 4.39 −0.42 pp
2006 4.8 −0.77 pp
2005 5.57 −0.56 pp
2004 6.12 +0.21 pp
2003 5.92 −0.74 pp
2002 6.65 +0.49 pp
2001 6.16 +0.27 pp
2000 5.89 −0.76 pp
1999 6.65 −0.02 pp
1998 6.67 −1.16 pp
1997 7.83 −0.48 pp
1996 8.3 −0.57 pp
1995 8.87 −0.43 pp
1994 9.3 −0.51 pp
1993 9.81 −0.34 pp
1992 10.15 −0.13 pp
1991 10.29

Southern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of the male labor force that is unemployed. The gap between the sexes shows up only when this series is compared with the female one, and it is not universal — in Southern Europe and Latin America female unemployment is markedly higher, while in a number of countries of Eastern Europe and Africa male unemployment is higher, because men work in industries sensitive to a downturn.

Important: The denominator is the male labor force, not the whole male population: men who neither work nor look for work are not in it.

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