Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank was 20.1% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Sri Lanka, 1985–2016
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 20.1% for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in 2016.
The figure is down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Sri Lanka peaked at 21.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 14.8%, in 1985.
Sri Lanka ranks 11th of 109 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 14.8% | — |
| 1990 | 17.7% | +19.6% |
| 1995 | 16.2% | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 20.7% | +28.1% |
| 2006 | 21.0% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 18.1% | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 20.4% | +12.6% |
| 2016 | 20.1% | -1.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 20.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.1%, 1.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
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 | 19.9% | 18.1% | 21.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 20.2% | 20.1% | 20.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Sri Lanka?
- Income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Sri Lanka was 20.1% 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%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 21.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank 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%: world inequality database vs. world bank?
- Sri Lanka ranks 11th out of 109 countries with data for 2016.
- Is income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. 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%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured after taxes and benefits.