Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

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 6.71%, a 1.47% increase from 2021.
  • Sri Lanka unemployment rate for 2021 was 5.24%, a 0.04% increase from 2020.
  • Sri Lanka unemployment rate for 2020 was 5.20%, a 0.53% 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 27.93%
West Bank and Gaza 25.72%
Eswatini 24.39%
Republic of Congo 21.80%
Sudan 18.73%
Lesotho 18.04%
Tunisia 16.12%
Sao Tome and Principe 15.32%
Cabo Verde 13.57%
Georgia 11.31%
Mauritania 11.11%
Morocco 10.49%
Angola 10.21%
Mongolia 8.25%
India 7.33%
Honduras 7.10%
Egypt 6.96%
Sri Lanka 6.71%
Pakistan 6.42%
Zambia 6.13%
Uzbekistan 6.01%
Nigeria 5.76%
Nicaragua 5.57%
Kenya 5.50%
Timor-Leste 4.86%
Bangladesh 4.70%
Kyrgyz Republic 4.57%
Bolivia 4.42%
Cameroon 4.00%
Ghana 3.87%
El Salvador 3.82%
Bhutan 3.60%
Indonesia 3.55%
Papua New Guinea 2.75%
Lao PDR 2.63%
Moldova 2.28%
Philippines 2.24%
Vanuatu 2.09%
Vietnam 1.92%
Solomon Islands 1.54%
Cambodia 0.36%
Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2022 6.71% 1.47%
2021 5.24% 0.04%
2020 5.20% 0.53%
2019 4.67% 0.35%
2018 4.32% 0.27%
2017 4.05% -0.19%
2016 4.24% -0.28%
2015 4.52% 0.33%
2014 4.19% -0.05%
2013 4.24% 0.36%
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% -0.44%