Sri Lanka Youth Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • Sri Lanka youth unemployment rate for 2021 was 26.06%, a 0.52% increase from 2020.
  • Sri Lanka youth unemployment rate for 2020 was 25.53%, a 4.27% increase from 2019.
  • Sri Lanka youth unemployment rate for 2019 was 21.26%, a 0.44% increase from 2018.
  • Sri Lanka youth unemployment rate for 2018 was 20.82%, a 3.16% increase from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name % of Total Labor Force Ages 15-24
Djibouti 79.91%
Eswatini 50.90%
Republic of Congo 42.33%
West Bank and Gaza 39.62%
Tunisia 38.32%
Lesotho 37.44%
Sudan 35.62%
Cabo Verde 34.30%
Georgia 28.30%
India 28.26%
Morocco 27.20%
Sri Lanka 26.06%
Zambia 26.05%
Egypt 24.25%
Mauritania 23.01%
Sao Tome and Principe 22.94%
Mongolia 21.01%
Nigeria 19.61%
Kyrgyz Republic 19.28%
Bhutan 18.75%
Angola 18.52%
Bolivia 17.44%
Ukraine 16.45%
Indonesia 16.05%
Uzbekistan 15.95%
Honduras 15.50%
Bangladesh 14.71%
Kenya 13.84%
Timor-Leste 13.84%
El Salvador 13.74%
Nicaragua 11.60%
Ghana 9.59%
Pakistan 9.41%
Moldova 8.60%
Philippines 7.31%
Vietnam 7.24%
Cameroon 6.64%
Myanmar 6.40%
Vanuatu 5.40%
Papua New Guinea 5.25%
Lao PDR 3.32%
Solomon Islands 1.93%
Cambodia 1.82%
Sri Lanka Youth Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year % of Total Labor Force Ages 15-24 Annual Change
2021 26.06% 0.52%
2020 25.53% 4.27%
2019 21.26% 0.44%
2018 20.82% 3.16%
2017 17.66% -2.73%
2016 20.38% 0.90%
2015 19.49% 0.48%
2014 19.01% 0.71%
2013 18.30% 1.29%
2012 17.01% 0.08%
2011 16.93% -1.77%
2010 18.70% -2.47%
2009 21.17% 2.45%
2008 18.73% -2.72%
2007 21.44% -0.64%
2006 22.09% -5.58%
2005 27.67% -0.70%
2004 28.36% 0.63%
2003 27.73% -1.14%
2002 28.87% 3.36%
2001 25.51% 1.49%
2000 24.02% -2.52%
1999 26.54% 0.41%
1998 26.13% -6.04%
1997 32.17% -1.26%
1996 33.42% -1.15%
1995 34.58% -0.11%
1994 34.69% -0.80%
1993 35.49% -0.60%
1992 36.09% -0.77%
1991 36.86% -0.77%