ILO estimate of the unemployment rate in Sri Lanka
The ILO estimates the unemployment rate in Sri Lanka at 4.0% in 2025. The value for 2025 is the lowest since 2012.
Sri Lanka, 2025
4.0%
Change from 2024
−0.2percentage points
World, 2025
4.9%
Position in 2025
114th of 181
ILO estimate of the unemployment rate in Sri Lanka over time
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Sri Lanka
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of the labour force aged 15 and over. Source: ILO, ILOSTAT (ILO Modelled Estimates). Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years. Dashed lines are projections.
| Period | Sri Lanka | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4.0% | 4.9% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | 4.9% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | 6.6% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | 5.8% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | 5.9% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | 6.0% |
Flags: f Projection . A dash means no value was published.
In short
- That is a change of −0.2 percentage points from 4.2% in 2024.
- Since 2015, when it was 4.5%, the figure has changed by −0.5 percentage points.
- Among the 181 countries with data for 2025, Sri Lanka has the 114th highest value.
- The figure for the world in 2025 was 4.9%.
More for Sri Lanka
All statistics for Sri Lanka
ILO estimate of youth unemployment
18.6%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Labour force participation
48.5%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Women's labour force participation
31.0%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Employment-to-population ratio
46.6%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Employment in agriculture
25.9%
2025 · World Bank
Employment in industry
26.3%
2025 · World Bank