Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) was 20.5% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in Sri Lanka, 1985–2016
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in Sri Lanka is 20.5%, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in Sri Lanka peaked at 21.3% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 14.8%, in 1985.
That places Sri Lanka 17th out of 113 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 16.9% | 16.2% | 17.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.2% | 18.6% | 21.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 20.5% | 20.5% | 20.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 14 Georgia 21.1% compare
- 15 Zimbabwe 21.1% compare
- 16 United States 20.7% compare
- 18 Costa Rica 20.3% compare
- 19 Russian Federation 20.0% compare
- 20 Lebanon 19.9% 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 income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in Sri Lanka?
- Income share of the richest 1% (before tax) in Sri Lanka was 20.5% in 2016, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 1% (before tax) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 2006.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1% (before tax) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.8% in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for income share of the richest 1% (before tax)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 17th out of 113 countries with data for 2016.
- Is income share of the richest 1% (before tax) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 1% (before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of income received by the richest 1%. Income here is measured before taxes and benefits.