Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate 1960-2024

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • Sri Lanka unemployment rate for 2022 was 6.18%, a 0.87% increase from 2021.
  • Sri Lanka unemployment rate for 2021 was 5.31%, a 0.05% decline from 2020.
  • Sri Lanka unemployment rate for 2020 was 5.36%, a 0.69% increase from 2019.
  • Sri Lanka unemployment rate for 2019 was 4.67%, a 0.35% increase from 2018.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
Djibouti 26.67%
West Bank and Gaza 24.42%
Eswatini 22.64%
Republic of Congo 20.48%
Tunisia 17.76%
Sudan 17.59%
Lesotho 16.75%
Angola 14.48%
Sao Tome and Principe 14.35%
Cabo Verde 12.44%
Georgia 11.68%
Mauritania 10.79%
Morocco 9.99%
Honduras 7.00%
Egypt 6.40%
Mongolia 6.21%
Sri Lanka 6.18%
Bhutan 5.95%
Kenya 5.64%
Pakistan 5.60%
Vanuatu 5.22%
Nicaragua 4.99%
India 4.82%
Uzbekistan 4.51%
Zambia 4.37%
Bangladesh 4.27%
Kyrgyz Republic 4.02%
Nigeria 3.83%
Lao PDR 3.82%
Cameroon 3.78%
Bolivia 3.55%
Ghana 3.52%
Indonesia 3.46%
El Salvador 3.00%
Myanmar 2.96%
Papua New Guinea 2.78%
Philippines 2.38%
Timor-Leste 1.79%
Solomon Islands 1.61%
Vietnam 1.54%
Moldova 0.91%
Cambodia 0.23%
Kiribati 0.00%
Micronesia 0.00%
Ukraine 0.00%
Kosovo 0.00%
Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2022 6.18% 0.87%
2021 5.31% -0.05%
2020 5.36% 0.69%
2019 4.67% 0.35%
2018 4.32% 0.27%
2017 4.05% -0.19%
2016 4.24% -0.28%
2015 4.52% 0.36%
2014 4.16% -0.03%
2013 4.19% 0.31%
2012 3.88% -0.24%
2011 4.12% -0.66%
2010 4.78% -1.07%
2009 5.85% 0.63%
2008 5.22% -0.75%
2007 5.97% -0.53%
2006 6.50% -1.17%
2005 7.67% -0.71%
2004 8.38% 0.16%
2003 8.22% -0.54%
2002 8.76% 0.86%
2001 7.90% 0.16%
2000 7.74% -1.14%
1999 8.88% -0.29%
1998 9.17% -1.43%
1997 10.60% -0.75%
1996 11.35% -0.92%
1995 12.27% -0.76%
1994 13.03% -0.79%
1993 13.82% -0.40%
1992 14.22% -0.44%
1991 14.66% 14.66%
1990 0.00% 0.00%
1989 0.00% 0.00%
1988 0.00% 0.00%
1987 0.00% 0.00%
1986 0.00% 0.00%
1985 0.00% 0.00%
1984 0.00% 0.00%
1983 0.00% 0.00%
1982 0.00% 0.00%
1981 0.00% 0.00%
1980 0.00% 0.00%
1979 0.00% 0.00%
1978 0.00% 0.00%
1977 0.00% 0.00%
1976 0.00% 0.00%
1975 0.00% 0.00%
1974 0.00% 0.00%
1973 0.00% 0.00%
1972 0.00% 0.00%
1971 0.00% 0.00%
1970 0.00% 0.00%
1969 0.00% 0.00%
1968 0.00% 0.00%
1967 0.00% 0.00%
1966 0.00% 0.00%
1965 0.00% 0.00%
1964 0.00% 0.00%
1963 0.00% 0.00%
1962 0.00% 0.00%
1961 0.00% 0.00%
1960 0.00% 0.00%