Sri Lanka Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Sri Lanka's poverty rate was 2.70% in 2019, ranked 54th globally. This represents a 28.9% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1985–2019.
Overview
Sri Lanka's poverty rate stood at 2.70% in 2019, a decline of +1.10pp from 2016. Sri Lanka ranked 54th globally.
Sri Lanka’s poverty rate declined significantly from 28.20% in 1985 to 2.70% by 2019, marking a substantial reduction in the proportion of the population living in poverty over the past three decades. This 2019 figure, among the lowest globally and on par with Serbia’s 2.70%, reflects broad-based improvements in living standards and social welfare. The all-time peak in 1985 coincided with economic instability and structural challenges, while the steady decline since then has been driven by progress in education, healthcare, and labor market policies. Despite limited data coverage across only nine years, the downward trend is consistent with regional patterns observed in upper-middle-income economies. However, the trajectory faces risks from recent macroeconomic turmoil, including inflation and currency depreciation following the 2022 economic crisis, which are likely to have reversed some of the prior gains. Sustained poverty reduction will depend on economic stabilization, inclusive growth, and targeted social protection, particularly as recovery efforts unfold in the post-crisis period.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2.70% | −1.10pp | #54 |
| 2016 | 3.80% | −2.60pp | #59 |
| 2012 | 6.40% | −1.40pp | #60 |
| 2009 | 7.80% | −4.40pp | #56 |
| 2006 | 12.20% | −8.50pp | #64 |
| 2002 | 20.70% | −2.30pp | #48 |
| 1995 | 23.00% | −0.40pp | #39 |
| 1990 | 23.40% | −4.80pp | #18 |
| 1985 | 28.20% | – | #12 |
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 poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sri Lanka's poverty rate was 2.70% in 2019. Ranked 54th globally. This represents a 28.9% decrease from the previous year.
Sri Lanka's poverty rate peaked at 28.20% in 1985.
The lowest poverty rate in Sri Lanka was 2.70% in 2019.
Sri Lanka ranks 54th globally in poverty rate as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Sri Lanka in 2019 was 2.70%. This ranks 54th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_poverty-rate,
title = {Sri Lanka Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}