Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Sri Lanka's unemployment rate was 4.01% in 2025, ranked 67th globally. This represents a 15.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Sri Lanka's unemployment rate stood at 4.01% in 2025, a decline of +0.75pp from 2024. Sri Lanka ranked 67th globally.
Sri Lanka's unemployment rate has exhibited a downward trend over the past 36 years, with the all-time peak recorded in 1990 at 15.90%. Since then, the rate has steadily decreased, reaching its lowest point in 2012 at 3.88%, a level comparable to that of Comoros in 2025. The country's unemployment rate has since rebounded, with the latest available data indicating a rate of 4.00%, ranking 67th globally. This increase is somewhat comparable to the unemployment rate in Australia in 2025. The recent uptick suggests that Sri Lanka may be experiencing a period of economic adjustment, potentially driven by shifts in its labor market or macroeconomic conditions. A sustained decline in unemployment would likely require continued economic growth, investments in education and training, and targeted policies to address labor market imbalances, all of which would be crucial in maintaining Sri Lanka's economic momentum.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4.01% | −0.75pp | #67 |
| 2024 | 4.24% | −0.76pp | #75 |
| 2023 | 4.53% | −0.72pp | #85 |
| 2022 | 4.53% | −0.57pp | #80 |
| 2021 | 4.98% | −0.52pp | #69 |
| 2020 | 5.36% | +0.56pp | #75 |
| 2019 | 4.67% | +0.27pp | #83 |
| 2018 | 4.32% | +0.12pp | #71 |
| 2017 | 4.05% | −0.35pp | #58 |
| 2016 | 4.24% | −0.46pp | #56 |
| 2015 | 4.52% | +0.22pp | #65 |
| 2014 | 4.16% | −0.24pp | #56 |
| 2013 | 4.19% | +0.19pp | #57 |
| 2012 | 3.88% | −0.22pp | #55 |
| 2011 | 4.12% | −0.88pp | #55 |
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 unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sri Lanka's unemployment rate was 4.01% in 2025. Ranked 67th globally. This represents a 15.7% decrease from the previous year.
Sri Lanka's unemployment rate peaked at 15.90% in 1990.
The lowest unemployment rate in Sri Lanka was 3.88% in 2012.
Sri Lanka ranks 67th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 4.01%. This ranks 67th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_unemployment-rate,
title = {Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}