Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 4.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sri Lanka, 1981–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 4.3% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2024.
The figure is down 7.5% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sri Lanka peaked at 15.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2012.
Sri Lanka ranks 118th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.2% | 12.6% | 15.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.3% | 8.9% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.0% | 5.2% | 8.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.1264 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.2745 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0088 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.7892 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.372 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 292.34 2010 = 100 (2025)
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- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sri Lanka was 4.3% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 15.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Sri Lanka ranks 118th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.