Sri Lanka Labour Force Participation Rate

2004 - 2025 | Quarterly | % | Department of Census and Statistics

Key information about Sri Lanka Labour Force Participation Rate

  • Sri Lanka Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 48.8 % in Dec 2025, compared with 49.9 % in the previous quarter.
  • Sri Lanka Labour Force Participation Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2004 to Dec 2025, with an average rate of 53.8 % .
  • The data reached the an all-time high of 58.5 % in Sep 2013 and a record low of 46.9 % in Sep 2024.
  • Sri Lanka Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by Department of Census and Statistics.
  • In the latest reports, Sri Lanka Population reached 21.8 million people in Jun 2025.
  • Unemployment Rate of Sri Lanka dropped to 3.8 % in Dec 2025.

View Sri Lanka's Labour Force Participation Rate from Mar 2004 to Dec 2025 in the chart:

Sri Lanka Labour Force Participation Rate

What was Sri Lanka's Labour Force Participation Rate in Dec 2025?

Sri Lanka Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 48.8 % in Dec 2025, compared with 49.9 % in the previous quarter. See the table below for more data.

Last Previous Min Max Unit Frequency Range
48.8 Dec 2025 49.9 Sep 2025 46.9 Sep 2024 58.5 Sep 2013 % quarterly Mar 2004 - Dec 2025

Labour Force Participation Rate by Country Comparison

country/region Last Frequency Range
Albania (%) 63.8 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
Algeria (%) 41.7 2018 yearly 2003 - 2018
Argentina (%) 61.9 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Armenia (%) 59.0 Sep 2025 quarterly Mar 2008 - Sep 2025
Australia (%) 67.4 Feb 2026 monthly Feb 1978 - Feb 2026
Austria (%) 77.1 Jun 2022 quarterly Mar 2021 - Jun 2022
Azerbaijan (%) 63.3 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Bahrain (%) 70.4 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Bangladesh (%) 58.8 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Belarus (%) 86.7 2024 yearly 1995 - 2024
Belgium (%) 71.9 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 1999 - Dec 2025
Bolivia (%) 80.1 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2015 - Dec 2025
Bosnia and Herzegovina (%) 49.1 2024 yearly 2006 - 2024
Botswana (%) 68.8 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Brazil (%) 61.9 Feb 2026 monthly Mar 2012 - Feb 2026
Brunei (%) 64.1 2024 yearly 1990 - 2024
Bulgaria (%) 54.8 Dec 2025 quarterly Jun 2000 - Dec 2025
Cambodia (%) 84.2 2023 yearly 2020 - 2023
Canada (%) 64.2 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1976 - Feb 2026
Chile (%) 62.3 Feb 2026 monthly Mar 2009 - Feb 2026
China (%) 64.6 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Colombia (%) 64.7 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2001 - Feb 2026
Croatia (%) 54.0 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2007 - Dec 2025
Cyprus (%) 65.2 Dec 2025 quarterly Jun 1999 - Dec 2025
Czech Republic (%) 61.2 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 1993 - Dec 2025
Denmark (%) 74.2 Jan 2026 monthly Jan 2007 - Jan 2026
Ecuador (%) 64.1 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2013 - Dec 2025
Egypt (%) 44.2 2024 yearly 2009 - 2024
Estonia (%) 65.2 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2000 - Dec 2025
European Union (%) 76.8 2024 yearly 1990 - 2024
Finland (%) 68.6 Feb 2026 monthly May 2004 - Feb 2026
France (%) 75.4 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2003 - Dec 2025
Georgia (%) 54.5 2025 yearly 1998 - 2025
Germany (%) 57.0 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2007 - Dec 2025
Ghana (%) 58.5 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Greece (%) 62.1 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2004 - Feb 2026
Hong Kong SAR, China (%) 56.5 Feb 2026 monthly Dec 1981 - Feb 2026
Hungary (%) 68.0 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2009 - Dec 2025
Iceland (%) 79.8 Dec 2024 monthly Jan 2003 - Dec 2024
India (%) 44.9 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Indonesia (%) 70.6 Aug 2025 semiannually Feb 2005 - Aug 2025
Iran (%) 41.0 Dec 2022 quarterly Jun 2018 - Dec 2022
Ireland (%) 65.8 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2025
Israel (%) 62.3 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2012 - Feb 2026
Italy (%) 66.0 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2004 - Feb 2026
Ivory Coast (%) 67.1 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Japan (%) 63.5 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1968 - Feb 2026
Jordan (%) 40.1 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Kazakhstan (%) 67.9 Sep 2025 quarterly Jun 2001 - Sep 2025
Kenya (%) 67.4 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
South Korea (%) 63.6 Jan 2026 monthly Jun 1999 - Jan 2026
Kosovo (%) 43.6 Dec 2024 quarterly Mar 2016 - Dec 2024
Kuwait (%) 73.4 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Kyrgyzstan (%) 59.3 2024 yearly 1994 - 2024
Laos (%) 66.1 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Latvia (%) 69.4 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2002 - Dec 2025
Lebanon (%) 43.4 2023 yearly 1990 - 2023
Lithuania (%) 62.6 Dec 2025 quarterly Jun 1998 - Dec 2025
Luxembourg (%) 54.7 2024 yearly 2000 - 2024
Macau SAR, China (%) 67.2 Feb 2026 monthly Sep 1996 - Feb 2026
North Macedonia (%) 52.8 Dec 2025 quarterly Sep 2021 - Dec 2025
Malawi (%) 62.6 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Malaysia (%) 70.9 Jan 2026 monthly Jan 2010 - Jan 2026
Malta (%) 82.7 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2018 - Dec 2025
Mauritius (%) 59.8 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2004 - Dec 2025
Mexico (%) 59.0 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2005 - Feb 2026
Moldova (%) 42.1 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2015 - Dec 2025
Mongolia (%) 62.3 Dec 2025 quarterly Sep 2006 - Dec 2025
Montenegro (%) 60.2 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2008 - Dec 2025
Morocco (%) 43.3 Sep 2025 quarterly Mar 1999 - Sep 2025
Mozambique (%) 78.7 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Myanmar (%) 61.1 2024 yearly 1991 - 2024
Nepal (%) 39.2 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Netherlands (%) 72.9 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2003 - Feb 2026
New Zealand (%) 70.9 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 1986 - Dec 2025
Nigeria (%) 82.5 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Norway (%) 65.0 2024 yearly 1989 - 2024
Oman (%) 68.4 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Pakistan (%) 32.3 2021 yearly 1990 - 2021
Palestinian Territory (%) 45.4 Dec 2025 quarterly Jun 2002 - Dec 2025
Panama (%) 64.0 2025 yearly 2003 - 2025
Paraguay (%) 73.4 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2017 - Dec 2025
Peru (%) 72.4 2022 yearly 2001 - 2022
Philippines (%) 62.3 Jan 2026 quarterly Jul 2003 - Jan 2026
Poland (%) 59.0 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2010 - Dec 2025
Portugal (%) 61.2 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2011 - Dec 2025
Qatar (%) 88.0 2024 yearly 2006 - 2024
Romania (%) 51.6 Sep 2025 quarterly Mar 1996 - Sep 2025
Russia (%) 69.4 Jan 2026 monthly Aug 2009 - Jan 2026
Saudi Arabia (%) 67.1 Jun 2025 quarterly Jun 2016 - Jun 2025
Serbia (%) 55.9 Sep 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2025
Slovakia (%) 62.0 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2021 - Dec 2025
Slovenia (%) 58.5 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2008 - Dec 2025
South Africa (%) 59.3 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2008 - Dec 2025
Spain (%) 58.9 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2002 - Dec 2025
Sri Lanka (%) 48.8 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2004 - Dec 2025
Sudan (%) 47.6 2023 yearly 1990 - 2023
Sweden (%) 75.3 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2001 - Feb 2026
Switzerland (%) 67.5 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2010 - Dec 2025
Syria (%) 36.9 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025

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Sri Lanka Key Series

Government and Public Finance Last Frequency Range
Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP (%) -2.3 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2014 - Dec 2025
Tax Revenue (USD mn) 16,790.031 2025 yearly 1990 - 2025
Tax Revenue: % of GDP (%) 17.1 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
National Government Debt (USD mn) 96,944.7 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Government Debt: % of GDP (%) 91.6 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Forecast: Government Expenditure (LKR bn) 5,776.459 2024 yearly 1990 - 2024
Forecast: Government Net Debt (LKR bn) 30,149.723 2024 yearly 1990 - 2024
Forecast: Government Revenue (LKR bn) 4,090.804 2024 yearly 1990 - 2024
Government Debt: Foreign (LKR mn) 11,319,363.049 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Government Debt: Domestic (LKR mn) 18,675,324.825 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Government Revenue & Grants​: Revenue (LKR mn) 1,622,407.185 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Government Expenditure & Lending Minus Repayments (LR) (LKR mn) 1,954,141.588 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Overall Fiscal Surplus/Deficit (LKR mn) -303,444.890 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Government Expenditure & LR: Capital & Net Lending (LKR mn) 542,687.318 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Government Expenditure & LR: Recurrent (LKR mn) 1,411,454.271 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2025
Foreign Trade Last Frequency Range
Forecast: Exports of Goods Growth (%) 3.626 2028 yearly 1980 - 2028
Trade Balance (USD mn) -776.1 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1982 - Feb 2026
Total Exports (USD mn) 1,057.8 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1982 - Feb 2026
Total Exports Growth (%) 0.5 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1983 - Feb 2026
Aluminum: Exports (USD th) 10,722.129 2024 yearly 1995 - 2024
Exports: Medicament (USD th) 6,090.751 2024 yearly 1995 - 2024
Exports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) 6,891.315 2024 yearly 1995 - 2024
Total Imports (USD mn) 1,833.8 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1982 - Feb 2026
Total Imports Growth (%) 25.2 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1983 - Feb 2026
Imports: Medicament (USD th) 358,932.953 2024 yearly 1995 - 2024
Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) 180,310.512 2024 yearly 1995 - 2024
Total Exports to USA (USD mn) 216.529 Dec 2025 monthly Jan 1978 - Dec 2025
Total Imports from USA (USD mn) 41.508 Dec 2025 monthly Jan 1978 - Dec 2025
Total Exports to China (USD mn) 21.354 Dec 2025 monthly Jan 2016 - Dec 2025
Total Imports from China (USD mn) 420.128 Dec 2025 monthly Jan 2016 - Dec 2025
Exports: India (USD mn) 883.740 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Exports: Italy (USD mn) 595.638 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Exports: Germany (USD mn) 629.276 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Exports: United Kingdom (USD mn) 906.182 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Exports: United States of America (USD mn) 2,910.850 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Imports: Singapore (USD mn) 1,300.052 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Imports: China (USD mn) 4,365.734 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Imports: Japan (USD mn) 253.446 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Imports: India (USD mn) 3,869.653 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Imports: United Arab Emirates (USD mn) 1,488.674 2024 yearly 2003 - 2024
Imports: Intermediate Goods (LKR mn) 307,308.034 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1995 - Feb 2026
Imports: Intermediate Goods: Fuel (LKR mn) 123,111.415 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1995 - Feb 2026
Imports: Intermediate Goods: Textiles & Textile Articles (LKR mn) 70,811.693 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1995 - Feb 2026
Imports: Consumer Goods (LKR mn) 147,361.917 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1995 - Feb 2026
Imports: Investment Goods (LKR mn) 112,505.897 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1995 - Feb 2026
Terms of Trade Index: 2010=100 (2010=100) 104.399 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2010 - Feb 2026
Export Volume Index (EVoI): 2010=100 (2010=100) 179.840 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2010 - Feb 2026
Import Volume Index (IVoI): 2010=100 (2010=100) 209.313 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 2010 - Feb 2026
Export Value Index (2015=100) 112.900 2023 yearly 1980 - 2023
Import Value Index (2015=100) 88.800 2023 yearly 1980 - 2023
Balance of Payments Last Frequency Range
Direct Investment Abroad (USD mn) 36.0 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
Current Account Balance (USD mn) -133.9 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 1977 - Dec 2025
Current Account Balance: % of GDP (%) -0.5 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2002 - Dec 2025
Foreign Direct Investment (USD mn) 496.4 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 1977 - Dec 2025
Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP (%) 1.7 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2002 - Dec 2025
Foreign Portfolio Investment (USD mn) 8.029 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
Foreign Portfolio Investment: % of GDP (%) 0.0 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities (USD mn) -38.2 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Debt Securities (USD mn) 46.232 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
External Debt (USD mn) 54,806.8 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2012 - Dec 2025
External Debt: % of GDP (%) 75.0 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
External Debt: Short Term (USD mn) 5,551.2 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2012 - Dec 2025
External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP (%) 11.5 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
Forecast: Current Account Balance (USD bn) 1.746 2024 yearly 1980 - 2024
Net International Investment Position (USD mn) -50,918.346 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2013 - Dec 2025
BoP: Current Account: Credit (USD mn) 7,530.857 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Primary Income (PI) (USD mn) -500.412 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Primary Income: Debit (USD mn) 623.385 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Goods & Services: Services: Debit (USD mn) 917.787 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Primary Income: Credit (USD mn) 122.973 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Liabilities (USD mn) 1,065.024 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Current Account (CA) (USD mn) -133.893 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Goods & Services: Services: Credit (USD mn) 1,777.150 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Assets (USD mn) 715.917 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Assets: Portfolio Investment (PO) (USD mn) -99.796 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Assets: Direct Investment (DI) (USD mn) 35.959 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Capital Account: Debit (USD mn) 1.372 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Capital Account: Credit (USD mn) 0.000 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Current Account: Debit (USD mn) 7,664.750 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Secondary Income (USD mn) 2,231.348 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Secondary Income: Credit (USD mn) 2,264.474 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Capital Account (CP) (USD mn) -1.371 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Goods & Services: Goods: Credit (USD mn) 3,366.261 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Assets: Reserve Assets (RA) (USD mn) 535.602 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Liabilities: Direct Investment (DI) (USD mn) 496.433 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Liabilities: Portfolio Investment (PO) (USD mn) 8.029 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Liabilities: Other Investment (OI) (USD mn) 560.561 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Goods & Services: Goods: Debit (USD mn) 6,090.453 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Current & Capital Account (USD mn) -135.264 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Assets: Other Investment (OI) (USD mn) 244.151 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Current & CA: Credit (USD mn) 7,530.858 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Current & CA: Debit (USD mn) 7,666.122 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Goods & Services: Goods (USD mn) -2,724.192 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: CA: Goods & Services: Services (USD mn) 859.363 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: Secondary Income: Debit (USD mn) 33.126 Dec 2025 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2025
IIP: Assets (USD mn) 16,070.381 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2012 - Dec 2025
IIP: Liabilities (USD mn) 66,988.728 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2012 - Dec 2025
International Investment Position (IIP): Net (USD mn) -50,918.346 Dec 2025 quarterly Dec 2012 - Dec 2025
BoP: FA: Assets: Errors & Ommissions (USD mn) 192.632 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2018
BoP: FA: Assets: Financial Derivatives (USD mn) 0.000 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2018
BoP: FA: Liabilities: Financial Derivatives (USD mn) 0.000 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2018
No of Registered Enterprises (Unit) 6,298.000 2022 yearly 1994 - 2022
Monetary Last Frequency Range
Non Performing Loans Ratio (%) 4.5 2021 yearly 1998 - 2021
Household Debt: % of GDP (%) 6.6 Dec 2024 quarterly Dec 2010 - Dec 2024
Money Supply M1 (USD mn) 7,501.698 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1994 - Feb 2026
Money Supply M2 (USD mn) 46,492.028 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1994 - Feb 2026
M2 Growth (%) 12.1 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1995 - Feb 2026
Reserve Requirement Ratio (%) 2.0 Nov 2025 monthly Mar 1997 - Nov 2025
Foreign Exchange Reserves (USD mn) 6,792.6 Mar 2026 monthly Dec 1956 - Mar 2026
Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import (NA) 3.9 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1982 - Feb 2026
Gold Reserves (USD mn) 221.910 Mar 2026 monthly Dec 1977 - Mar 2026
Total Deposits (USD mn) 57,394.133 Dec 2024 monthly Dec 2002 - Dec 2024
Total Deposits Growth (%) 10.6 Dec 2024 monthly Dec 2003 - Dec 2024
Domestic Credit (USD mn) 61,765.7 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1996 - Feb 2026
Domestic Credit Growth (%) 11.3 Feb 2026 monthly Jan 1997 - Feb 2026
Household Debt (USD mn) 6,750.1 Dec 2024 quarterly Jun 2010 - Dec 2024
Total Loans (USD mn) 34,634.241 Jan 2026 monthly Dec 1983 - Jan 2026
Total Loans Growth (%) 23.25 Jan 2026 monthly Dec 1984 - Jan 2026
Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP (%) 25.87 Dec 2024 quarterly Dec 2010 - Dec 2024
Official Reserve Assets (ORA) (USD mn) 7,019.190 Mar 2026 monthly Nov 2013 - Mar 2026
ORA: Foreign Currency Reserves in Convertible FC (FCR) (USD mn) 6,792.580 Mar 2026 monthly Nov 2013 - Mar 2026
Business and Economic Survey Last Frequency Range
Business Confidence Growth (% Point) 5.8 Oct 2025 monthly May 2016 - Oct 2025
Business Sentiment Index: Business Condition: Current Quarter (Index) 125.000 Dec 2025 quarterly Jun 2014 - Dec 2025
Purchasing Managers Index: Manufacturing (Index) 56.800 Feb 2026 monthly May 2015 - Feb 2026

More Indicators for Sri Lanka

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