Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate

2012 - 2023 | Quarterly | % | Department of Census and Statistics

Key information about Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate

  • Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.70% in Mar 2023, from the previously reported figure of 4.80% in Dec 2022.
  • Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Jun 2012 to Mar 2023, with an average rate of 4.55%.
  • The data reached an all-time high of 5.80% in Sep 2020 and a record low of 3.90% in Dec 2012.
  • The data is reported by reported by Department of Census and Statistics.
  • In the latest reports, Sri Lanka Population reached 22.18 million people in Jun 2022.


View Sri Lanka's Unemployment Rate from Jun 2012 to Mar 2023 in the chart:

Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate

What was Sri Lanka's Unemployment Rate in Mar 2023?

Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.70% in Mar 2023, from the previously reported figure of 4.80% in Dec 2022. See the table below for more data.

Last Previous Min Max Unit Frequency Range
4.70 Mar 2023 4.80 Dec 2022 3.90 Dec 2012 5.80 Sep 2020 % quarterly Jun 2012 - Mar 2023

Unemployment Rate by Country Comparison

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country/region Last Frequency Range
Albania (%) 10.71 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Jun 2023
Algeria (%) 11.40 Jun 2019 quarterly Mar 2014 - Jun 2019
Argentina (%) 6.90 Mar 2023 quarterly Jun 1990 - Mar 2023
Armenia (%) 13.70 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2008 - Mar 2023
Australia (%) 3.69 Aug 2023 monthly Feb 1978 - Aug 2023
Austria (%) 5.60 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1993 - Jul 2023
Azerbaijan (%) 5.64 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2008 - Mar 2023
Bahrain (%) 5.90 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Bangladesh (%) 5.30 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Belarus (%) 0.10 Jul 2023 monthly Oct 2004 - Jul 2023
Belgium (%) 5.50 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1983 - Jul 2023
Bolivia (%) 2.82 Jun 2023 quarterly Dec 2015 - Jun 2023
Bosnia and Herzegovina (%) 15.40 2022 yearly 2006 - 2022
Botswana (%) 20.68 2022 yearly 1991 - 2022
Brazil (%) 7.90 Jul 2023 monthly Mar 2012 - Jul 2023
Brunei (%) 5.20 2022 yearly 1981 - 2022
Bulgaria (%) 4.60 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2000 - Jun 2023
Cambodia (%) 2.40 2020 yearly 2020 - 2020
Canada (%) 5.50 Aug 2023 monthly Jan 1976 - Aug 2023
Chile (%) 8.77 Jul 2023 monthly Mar 2009 - Jul 2023
China (%) 5.30 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2017 - Mar 2023
Colombia (%) 12.12 Mar 2022 monthly Jan 2021 - Mar 2022
Croatia (%) 6.80 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2022
Cyprus (%) 6.70 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2000 - Jul 2023
Czech Republic (%) 2.82 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1993 - Jul 2023
Denmark (%) 4.90 Apr 2023 monthly Jan 2007 - Apr 2023
Ecuador (%) 3.83 Jun 2023 quarterly Dec 2013 - Jun 2023
Egypt (%) 7.00 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2003 - Jun 2023
Estonia (%) 5.30 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 1997 - Mar 2023
European Union (%) 5.90 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2000 - Jul 2023
Finland (%) 6.90 Apr 2023 monthly Jan 1988 - Apr 2023
France (%) 7.20 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 1975 - Jun 2023
Georgia (%) 17.26 2022 yearly 1991 - 2022
Germany (%) 2.90 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1991 - Jul 2023
Ghana (%) 3.87 2022 yearly 1991 - 2022
Greece (%) 11.20 Apr 2023 monthly Apr 1998 - Apr 2023
Hong Kong SAR, China (%) 2.80 Aug 2023 monthly Oct 1981 - Aug 2023
Hungary (%) 4.00 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2000 - Jul 2023
Iceland (%) 3.30 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2003 - Jul 2023
India (%) 7.11 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Indonesia (%) 5.86 2022 yearly 1984 - 2022
Iran (%) 8.90 Dec 2021 quarterly Jun 2001 - Dec 2021
Ireland (%) 4.10 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1998 - Jul 2023
Israel (%) 3.14 Aug 2023 monthly Jan 2012 - Aug 2023
Italy (%) 7.61 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1983 - Jul 2023
Ivory Coast (%) 3.50 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Japan (%) 2.70 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1953 - Jul 2023
Jordan (%) 22.30 May 2023 quarterly Feb 2000 - May 2023
Kazakhstan (%) 4.70 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2001 - Jul 2023
Kenya (%) 2.98 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
South Korea (%) 2.40 Aug 2023 monthly Jun 1999 - Aug 2023
Kosovo (%) 11.80 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2016 - Dec 2022
Kuwait (%) 0.93 2021 yearly 1999 - 2021
Kyrgyzstan (%) 4.90 2022 yearly 1992 - 2022
Laos (%) 0.95 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Latvia (%) 6.60 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1998 - Jul 2023
Lebanon (%) 29.56 2021 yearly 2004 - 2021
Lithuania (%) 7.50 Jun 2023 monthly Jan 1998 - Jun 2023
Luxembourg (%) 5.22 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1995 - Jul 2023
Macau SAR, China (%) 2.60 Jul 2023 monthly Sep 1996 - Jul 2023
North Macedonia (%) 13.30 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2023 - Mar 2023
Malawi (%) 6.60 2013 yearly 2005 - 2013
Malaysia (%) 3.30 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2010 - Jul 2023
Malta (%) 2.52 Jun 2023 quarterly Dec 2000 - Jun 2023
Mauritius (%) 7.10 Mar 2020 quarterly Mar 2004 - Mar 2020
Mexico (%) 2.88 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2005 - Jul 2023
Moldova (%) 5.55 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 1999 - Mar 2023
Mongolia (%) 5.76 Jun 2023 quarterly Sep 2006 - Jun 2023
Montenegro (%) 12.90 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2008 - Jun 2023
Morocco (%) 12.40 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 1999 - Jun 2023
Mozambique (%) 3.91 2022 yearly 1991 - 2022
Myanmar (%) 1.79 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Nepal (%) 4.44 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Netherlands (%) 3.10 Jul 2021 monthly Jan 2003 - Jul 2021
New Zealand (%) 3.60 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 1986 - Jun 2023
Nigeria (%) 4.10 Mar 2023 quarterly Dec 2022 - Mar 2023
Norway (%) 3.30 May 2023 monthly Jan 1989 - May 2023
Oman (%) 3.80 Jul 2023 monthly Mar 2018 - Jul 2023
Pakistan (%) 6.30 2021 yearly 1980 - 2021
Palestinian Territory (%) 24.70 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2000 - Jun 2023
Panama (%) 11.30 2021 yearly 2003 - 2021
Paraguay (%) 5.83 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2017 - Jun 2023
Peru (%) 6.26 Jul 2023 monthly Mar 2001 - Jul 2023
Philippines (%) 4.50 Apr 2023 quarterly Jul 1982 - Apr 2023
Poland (%) 5.00 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1990 - Jul 2023
Portugal (%) 7.20 Jan 2021 monthly Feb 1998 - Jan 2021
Qatar (%) 0.10 2019 yearly 1997 - 2019
Romania (%) 5.60 Apr 2023 monthly Jan 2004 - Apr 2023
Russia (%) 3.45 Mar 2023 monthly Jan 1994 - Mar 2023
Saudi Arabia (%) 5.09 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Mar 2023
Serbia (%) 9.60 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Jun 2023
Singapore (%) 1.90 May 2023 monthly Mar 2020 - May 2023
Slovakia (%) 3.98 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2006 - Jul 2023
Slovenia (%) 3.80 Mar 2023 quarterly Jun 1997 - Mar 2023
South Africa (%) 32.60 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 2008 - Jun 2023
Spain (%) 11.60 Jun 2023 quarterly Sep 1976 - Jun 2023
Sri Lanka (%) 4.70 Mar 2023 quarterly Jun 2012 - Mar 2023
Sudan (%) 20.30 2010 yearly 1993 - 2010
Sweden (%) 7.22 Apr 2023 monthly Jan 1983 - Apr 2023
Switzerland (%) 4.25 Mar 2023 monthly Jan 1991 - Mar 2023

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Sri Lanka Key Series

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Government and Public Finance Last Frequency Range
Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP (%) -10.0 Mar 2023 quarterly Dec 2014 - Mar 2023
Tax Revenue (USD mn) 5,458.017 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Tax Revenue: % of GDP (%) 7.9 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
National Government Debt (USD mn) 83,110.8 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
Government Debt: % of GDP (%) 103.8 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
Forecast: Government Expenditure (LKR bn) 4,472.547 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Forecast: Government Net Debt (LKR bn) 27,871.878 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Forecast: Government Revenue (LKR bn) 2,012.177 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Government Debt: Domestic (LKR mn) 13,345,597.046 Sep 2022 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2022
Government Debt: Foreign (LKR mn) 12,458,154.611 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2022
Government Revenue & Grants​: Revenue (LKR mn) 634,887.112 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
Government Expenditure & Lending Minus Repayments (LR) (LKR mn) 1,260,044.740 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
Overall Fiscal Surplus/Deficit (LKR mn) -624,777.888 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
Government Expenditure & LR: Capital & Net Lending (LKR mn) 119,825.700 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
Government Expenditure & LR: Recurrent (LKR mn) 1,140,219.040 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Mar 2023
Foreign Trade Last Frequency Range
Forecast: Exports of Goods Growth (%) 3.626 2028 yearly 1980 - 2028
Trade Balance (USD mn) -367.1 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1982 - Jul 2023
Total Exports (USD mn) 1,118.6 Aug 2023 monthly Jan 1982 - Aug 2023
Total Exports Growth (%) -12.4 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1983 - Jul 2023
Aluminum: Exports (USD th) 8,005.174 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Exports: Medicament (USD th) 8,546.747 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Exports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) 3,537.951 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Total Imports (USD mn) 1,387.6 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1982 - Jul 2023
Total Imports Growth (%) 7.8 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1983 - Jul 2023
Imports: Medicament (USD th) 381,649.432 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) 128,854.946 2022 yearly 1995 - 2022
Total Exports to USA (USD mn) 290.680 May 2023 monthly Jan 1978 - May 2023
Total Imports from USA (USD mn) 40.638 May 2023 monthly Jan 1978 - May 2023
Total Exports to China (USD mn) 26.025 May 2023 monthly Jan 2016 - May 2023
Total Imports from China (USD mn) 414.083 May 2023 monthly Jan 2016 - May 2023
Export Volume Index (EVoI): 2010=100 (2010=100) 164.274 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2010 - Jul 2023
Import Volume Index (IVoI): 2010=100 (2010=100) 131.400 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2010 - Jul 2023
Terms of Trade Index: 2010=100 (2010=100) 91.480 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 2010 - Jul 2023
Balance of Payments Last Frequency Range
Direct Investment Abroad (USD mn) 3.8 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Mar 2023
Current Account Balance (USD mn) 644.3 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 1977 - Mar 2023
Current Account Balance: % of GDP (%) 3.1 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2002 - Mar 2023
Foreign Direct Investment (USD mn) 171.7 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 1977 - Mar 2023
Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP (%) 1.7 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2002 - Dec 2022
Foreign Portfolio Investment (USD mn) 290.993 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Mar 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: % of GDP (%) 1.4 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Mar 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities (USD mn) 11.0 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2022
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Debt Securities (USD mn) 287.796 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Mar 2023
External Debt (USD mn) 50,555.0 Mar 2023 quarterly Dec 2012 - Mar 2023
External Debt: % of GDP (%) 74.7 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
External Debt: Short Term (USD mn) 7,061.2 Mar 2023 quarterly Dec 2012 - Mar 2023
External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP (%) 11.5 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
Forecast: Current Account Balance (USD bn) -1.458 2022 yearly 1980 - 2022
Net International Investment Position (USD mn) -50,031.937 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2013 - Dec 2022
BoP: Secondary Income (USD mn) 1,141.299 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2022
BoP: FA: Assets: Portfolio Investment (PO) (USD mn) 0.000 Sep 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2022
BoP: CA: Goods & Services: Services (USD mn) 393.313 Sep 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2022
BoP: Current & CA: Credit (USD mn) 5,165.572 Sep 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2022
BoP: FA: Assets: Other Investment (OI) (USD mn) -149.742 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2022
BoP: FA: Liabilities: Other Investment (OI) (USD mn) 184.812 Sep 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2022
BoP: FA: Assets: Reserve Assets (RA) (USD mn) 113.959 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2022
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
IIP: Assets (USD mn) 9,808.641 Mar 2023 quarterly Sep 2013 - Mar 2023
IIP: Liabilities (USD mn) 59,387.329 Mar 2023 quarterly Sep 2013 - Mar 2023
International Investment Position (IIP): Net (USD mn) -49,578.688 Mar 2023 quarterly Sep 2013 - Mar 2023
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 (%) 7.6 Mar 2023 quarterly Dec 2010 - Mar 2023
Money Supply M1 (USD mn) 4,794.628 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1994 - Jul 2023
Money Supply M2 (USD mn) 34,690.376 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1994 - Jul 2023
M2 Growth (%) 8.1 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1995 - Jul 2023
Reserve Requirement Ratio (%) 4.0 Jun 2023 monthly Mar 1997 - Jun 2023
Foreign Exchange Reserves (USD mn) 3,559.2 Aug 2023 monthly Dec 1956 - Aug 2023
Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import (NA) 2.7 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1982 - Jul 2023
Gold Reserves (USD mn) 29.380 Aug 2023 monthly Dec 1977 - Aug 2023
Total Deposits (USD mn) 48,209.545 May 2023 monthly Dec 2002 - May 2023
Total Deposits Growth (%) 4.7 May 2023 monthly Dec 2003 - May 2023
Domestic Credit (USD mn) 52,405.6 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1996 - Jul 2023
Domestic Credit Growth (%) 3.0 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1997 - Jul 2023
Household Debt (USD mn) 6,081.4 Mar 2023 quarterly Jun 2010 - Mar 2023
Total Loans (USD mn) 25,873.772 Jun 2023 monthly Dec 1983 - Jun 2023
Total Loans Growth (%) -7.76 Jun 2023 monthly Dec 1984 - Jun 2023
Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP (%) 27.42 Mar 2023 quarterly Dec 2010 - Mar 2023
ORA: Foreign Currency Reserves in Convertible FC (FCR) (USD mn) 3,559.155 Aug 2023 monthly Nov 2013 - Aug 2023
Official Reserve Assets (ORA) (USD mn) 3,598.000 Aug 2023 monthly Nov 2013 - Aug 2023
Business and Economic Survey Last Frequency Range
Business Confidence Growth (% Point) -8.2 May 2023 monthly May 2016 - May 2023
Business Sentiment Index: Business Condition: Current Quarter (Index) 73.630 Jun 2023 quarterly Jun 2014 - Jun 2023
Purchasing Managers Index: Manufacturing (Index) 49.300 Aug 2023 monthly May 2015 - Aug 2023

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