Average hourly earnings of employees in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Average hourly earnings of employees was 2.82 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average hourly earnings of employees in Sri Lanka, 2010–2023
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 2.82 international-$ in 2021 prices for average hourly earnings of employees in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in Sri Lanka peaked at 4.08 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.85 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2010.
Sri Lanka ranks 60th of 64 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Average hourly earnings of employees in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.85 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2011 | 2.08 international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.9% |
| 2013 | 2.32 international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.8% |
| 2014 | 2.5 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 2.83 international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.0% |
| 2016 | 2.95 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 3.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 3.46 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 3.55 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 3.63 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 4.08 international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.3% |
| 2022 | 2.94 international-$ in 2021 prices | -27.9% |
| 2023 | 2.82 international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.82 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.39 international-$ in 2021 prices, 44% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.77 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.85 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.55 international-$ in 2021 prices | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.37 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.82 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.08 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 57 Jamaica 3.04 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 58 Mali 2.99 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 59 Myanmar 2.94 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 61 South Africa 2.76 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 62 Uganda 2.67 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 63 Bangladesh 2.24 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of employees in Sri Lanka?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in Sri Lanka was 2.82 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 4.08 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.85 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2010.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- Sri Lanka ranks 60th out of 64 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.