Sri Lanka Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Overview
Sri Lanka's labor force participation stood at 48.52% in 2025, a decline of +0.08pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 47.69% by 2026. Sri Lanka ranked 160th globally.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 46.93% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 47.31% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 47.69% | - | - |
| 2025 | 48.52% | −0.08pp | #160 |
| 2024 | 48.60% | +1.20pp | #160 |
| 2023 | 47.40% | −2.33pp | #163 |
| 2022 | 49.73% | −0.11pp | #159 |
| 2021 | 49.84% | −0.66pp | #157 |
| 2020 | 50.50% | −1.75pp | #155 |
| 2019 | 52.25% | +0.53pp | #151 |
| 2018 | 51.72% | −2.27pp | #153 |
| 2017 | 53.99% | +0.27pp | #146 |
| 2016 | 53.73% | +0.06pp | #145 |
| 2015 | 53.67% | +2.07pp | #147 |
| 2014 | 51.60% | −0.45pp | #152 |
| 2013 | 52.05% | −0.52pp | #149 |
| 2012 | 52.57% | −0.30pp | #148 |
| 2011 | 52.87% | −0.43pp | #145 |
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 labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sri Lanka's labor force participation was 48.52% in 2025. Ranked 160th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Sri Lanka's labor force participation peaked at 61.45% in 1990.
The lowest labor force participation in Sri Lanka was 47.40% in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 160th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sri Lanka's labor force participation is projected to reach 47.69% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 48.52%. This ranks 160th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_labor-force-participation,
title = {Sri Lanka Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/labor-force-participation},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}