Sri Lanka Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Sri Lanka's agriculture employment was 25.86% in 2025, ranked 114th globally. This represents a 1.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Sri Lanka's agriculture employment stood at 25.86% in 2025, a decline of +0.46% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 25.58% by 2026. Sri Lanka ranked 114th globally.
Sri Lanka's agricultural employment has experienced a significant decline over the past three and a half decades, with the latest World Bank data indicating a 25.86% share of the workforce in this sector as of 2025. This represents a reversal from the all-time peak of 40.48% in 1992, as well as a notable drop from the 39.00% recorded in 1991. Sri Lanka's agricultural employment rate has been lower than that of several of its regional peers, including Uzbekistan, which boasts a 25.20% share. The country's agricultural employment rate hit a trough of 25.33% in 2019, marking a point of relative stability but still far from its 1992 peak. The downward trend in agricultural employment in Sri Lanka may be attributed to structural shifts in the economy and increasing urbanization. A continuation of these trends could further erode the sector's share of the workforce, potentially leading to increased diversification in the economy or renewed focus on agricultural development to stabilize employment rates.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 24.97% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 25.27% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 25.58% | - | - |
| 2025 | 25.86% | −0.46% | #114 |
| 2024 | 26.32% | −0.14% | #114 |
| 2023 | 26.46% | −0.04% | #114 |
| 2022 | 26.49% | −0.78% | #114 |
| 2021 | 27.28% | +0.15% | #115 |
| 2020 | 27.12% | +1.80% | #113 |
| 2019 | 25.33% | −0.17% | #115 |
| 2018 | 25.50% | −0.58% | #112 |
| 2017 | 26.07% | −1.03% | #112 |
| 2016 | 27.10% | −1.56% | #112 |
| 2015 | 28.66% | +0.54% | #116 |
| 2014 | 28.13% | −1.50% | #112 |
| 2013 | 29.63% | −1.37% | #114 |
| 2012 | 30.99% | +0.22% | #119 |
| 2011 | 30.78% | −0.76% | #116 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sri Lanka matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sri Lanka's agriculture employment was 25.86% in 2025. Ranked 114th globally. This represents a 1.8% decrease from the previous year.
Sri Lanka's agriculture employment peaked at 40.48% in 1992.
The lowest agriculture employment in Sri Lanka was 25.33% in 2019.
Sri Lanka ranks 114th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sri Lanka's agriculture employment is projected to reach 25.58% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 25.86%. This ranks 114th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_agriculture-employment,
title = {Sri Lanka Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}