Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate

2004 - 2023 | Quarterly | % | Department of Census and Statistics

Key information about Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate

  • Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.70% in Sep 2023, from the previously reported figure of 5.20% in Jun 2023.
  • Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2004 to Sep 2023, with an average rate of 4.70%.
  • The data reached an all-time high of 9.00% in Jun 2004 and a record low of 3.70% in Dec 2013.
  • The data is reported by reported by Department of Census and Statistics.
  • In the latest reports, Sri Lanka Population reached 22.04 million people in Jun 2023.


View Sri Lanka's Unemployment Rate from Mar 2004 to Sep 2023 in the chart:

Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate

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

Sri Lanka Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.70% in Sep 2023, from the previously reported figure of 5.20% in Jun 2023. See the table below for more data.

Last Previous Min Max Unit Frequency Range
4.70 Sep 2023 5.20 Jun 2023 3.70 Dec 2013 9.00 Jun 2004 % quarterly Mar 2004 - Sep 2023

Unemployment Rate by Country Comparison

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country/region Last Frequency Range
Albania (%) 10.54 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2023
Algeria (%) 11.40 Jun 2019 quarterly Mar 2014 - Jun 2019
Argentina (%) 6.90 Mar 2023 quarterly Jun 1990 - Mar 2023
Armenia (%) 12.00 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2008 - Sep 2023
Australia (%) 4.06 Jan 2024 monthly Feb 1978 - Jan 2024
Austria (%) 4.90 Nov 2023 monthly Jan 1993 - Nov 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 Jan 2024 monthly Oct 2004 - Jan 2024
Belgium (%) 5.50 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1983 - Jan 2024
Bolivia (%) 2.83 Dec 2023 quarterly Dec 2015 - Dec 2023
Bosnia and Herzegovina (%) 15.38 2022 yearly 2006 - 2022
Botswana (%) 20.68 2022 yearly 1991 - 2022
Brazil (%) 7.60 Jan 2024 monthly Mar 2012 - Jan 2024
Brunei (%) 5.20 2022 yearly 1981 - 2022
Bulgaria (%) 4.20 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2000 - Dec 2023
Cambodia (%) 2.40 2020 yearly 2020 - 2020
Canada (%) 5.70 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1976 - Jan 2024
Chile (%) 8.44 Jan 2024 monthly Mar 2009 - Jan 2024
China (%) 5.10 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2017 - Dec 2023
Colombia (%) 12.12 Mar 2022 monthly Jan 2021 - Mar 2022
Croatia (%) 6.80 Dec 2022 quarterly Mar 1998 - Dec 2022
Cyprus (%) 6.70 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2000 - Jan 2024
Czech Republic (%) 2.74 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1993 - Dec 2023
Denmark (%) 4.90 Apr 2023 monthly Jan 2007 - Apr 2023
Ecuador (%) 3.38 Dec 2023 quarterly Dec 2013 - Dec 2023
Egypt (%) 6.90 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2003 - Dec 2023
Estonia (%) 5.30 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 1997 - Mar 2023
European Union (%) 6.00 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2000 - Jan 2024
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 (%) 3.10 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1991 - Jan 2024
Ghana (%) 3.92 2023 yearly 1991 - 2023
Greece (%) 11.20 Apr 2023 monthly Apr 1998 - Apr 2023
Hong Kong SAR, China (%) 2.90 Jan 2024 monthly Oct 1981 - Jan 2024
Hungary (%) 4.60 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2000 - Jan 2024
Iceland (%) 3.78 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2003 - Jan 2024
India (%) 7.11 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Indonesia (%) 5.32 2023 yearly 1984 - 2023
Iran (%) 8.90 Dec 2021 quarterly Jun 2001 - Dec 2021
Ireland (%) 4.10 Jul 2023 monthly Jan 1998 - Jul 2023
Israel (%) 3.19 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2012 - Jan 2024
Italy (%) 7.20 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1983 - Jan 2024
Ivory Coast (%) 3.50 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Japan (%) 2.40 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1953 - Jan 2024
Jordan (%) 22.30 May 2023 quarterly Feb 2000 - May 2023
Kazakhstan (%) 4.70 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2001 - Jan 2024
Kenya (%) 2.98 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
South Korea (%) 3.00 Jan 2024 monthly Jun 1999 - Jan 2024
Kosovo (%) 11.50 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 2016 - Mar 2023
Kuwait (%) 0.93 2021 yearly 1999 - 2021
Kyrgyzstan (%) 4.90 2022 yearly 1992 - 2022
Laos (%) 0.95 2020 yearly 1991 - 2020
Latvia (%) 6.90 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1998 - Jan 2024
Lebanon (%) 29.56 2021 yearly 2004 - 2021
Lithuania (%) 7.70 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1998 - Jan 2024
Luxembourg (%) 5.55 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1995 - Jan 2024
Macau SAR, China (%) 2.20 Jan 2024 monthly Sep 1996 - Jan 2024
North Macedonia (%) 13.00 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2023 - Dec 2023
Malawi (%) 6.60 2013 yearly 2005 - 2013
Malaysia (%) 3.40 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 2010 - Dec 2023
Malta (%) 2.50 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2000 - Sep 2023
Mauritius (%) 7.10 Mar 2020 quarterly Mar 2004 - Mar 2020
Mexico (%) 2.76 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2005 - Jan 2024
Moldova (%) 5.55 Mar 2023 quarterly Mar 1999 - Mar 2023
Mongolia (%) 3.92 Dec 2023 quarterly Sep 2006 - Dec 2023
Montenegro (%) 11.80 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2008 - Sep 2023
Morocco (%) 12.40 Jun 2023 quarterly Mar 1999 - Jun 2023
Mozambique (%) 3.87 2023 yearly 1991 - 2023
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 (%) 4.00 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 1986 - Dec 2023
Nigeria (%) 4.10 Mar 2023 quarterly Dec 2022 - Mar 2023
Norway (%) 3.90 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1989 - Dec 2023
Oman (%) 3.20 Dec 2023 monthly Mar 2018 - Dec 2023
Pakistan (%) 6.30 2021 yearly 1980 - 2021
Palestinian Territory (%) 24.10 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2000 - Sep 2023
Panama (%) 11.30 2021 yearly 2003 - 2021
Paraguay (%) 5.23 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2017 - Dec 2023
Peru (%) 7.20 Jan 2024 monthly Mar 2001 - Jan 2024
Philippines (%) 4.50 Apr 2023 quarterly Jul 1982 - Apr 2023
Poland (%) 5.40 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1990 - Jan 2024
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 (%) 3.03 Sep 2023 monthly Jan 1994 - Sep 2023
Saudi Arabia (%) 5.12 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2023
Serbia (%) 9.10 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Dec 2023
Singapore (%) 1.90 May 2023 monthly Mar 2020 - May 2023
Slovakia (%) 3.97 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2006 - Jan 2024
Slovenia (%) 3.90 Sep 2023 quarterly Jun 1997 - Sep 2023
South Africa (%) 32.10 Dec 2023 quarterly Mar 2008 - Dec 2023
Spain (%) 11.76 Dec 2023 quarterly Sep 1976 - Dec 2023
Sri Lanka (%) 4.70 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2004 - Sep 2023
Sudan (%) 20.30 2010 yearly 1993 - 2010
Sweden (%) 7.22 Apr 2023 monthly Jan 1983 - Apr 2023
Switzerland (%) 4.01 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1991 - Dec 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 (%) -10.5 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2014 - Sep 2023
Tax Revenue (USD mn) 5,458.017 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Tax Revenue: % of GDP (%) 10.6 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
National Government Debt (USD mn) 86,964.6 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Government Debt: % of GDP (%) 103.9 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Forecast: Government Expenditure (LKR bn) 4,472.550 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Forecast: Government Net Debt (LKR bn) 27,899.420 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Forecast: Government Revenue (LKR bn) 2,012.590 2022 yearly 1990 - 2022
Government Debt: Domestic (LKR mn) 16,617,629.160 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Government Debt: Foreign (LKR mn) 11,402,380.792 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Government Revenue & Grants​: Revenue (LKR mn) 795,600.830 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Government Expenditure & Lending Minus Repayments (LR) (LKR mn) 1,172,712.077 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Government Expenditure & LR: Recurrent (LKR mn) 1,002,143.567 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Overall Fiscal Surplus/Deficit (LKR mn) -371,009.687 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Government Expenditure & LR: Capital & Net Lending (LKR mn) 170,568.510 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2014 - Sep 2023
Foreign Trade Last Frequency Range
Forecast: Exports of Goods Growth (%) 3.626 2028 yearly 1980 - 2028
Trade Balance (USD mn) -541.1 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1982 - Jan 2024
Total Exports (USD mn) 970.7 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1982 - Jan 2024
Total Exports Growth (%) -0.8 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1983 - Jan 2024
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) 1,511.8 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1982 - Jan 2024
Total Imports Growth (%) 6.2 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1983 - Jan 2024
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) 272.761 Nov 2023 monthly Jan 1978 - Nov 2023
Total Imports from USA (USD mn) 36.519 Nov 2023 monthly Jan 1978 - Nov 2023
Total Exports to China (USD mn) 24.920 Nov 2023 monthly Jan 2016 - Nov 2023
Total Imports from China (USD mn) 377.199 Nov 2023 monthly Jan 2016 - Nov 2023
Exports: Germany (USD mn) 742.000 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Imports: India (USD mn) 4,738.000 2022 yearly 2003 - 2022
Export Volume Index (EVoI): 2010=100 (2010=100) 200.505 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2010 - Jan 2024
Import Volume Index (IVoI): 2010=100 (2010=100) 169.493 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2010 - Jan 2024
Terms of Trade Index: 2010=100 (2010=100) 84.410 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 2010 - Jan 2024
Balance of Payments Last Frequency Range
Direct Investment Abroad (USD mn) 8.5 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2023
Current Account Balance (USD mn) 639.0 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1977 - Sep 2023
Current Account Balance: % of GDP (%) 3.0 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2002 - Sep 2023
Foreign Direct Investment (USD mn) 158.7 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 1977 - Sep 2023
Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP (%) 0.7 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2002 - Sep 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment (USD mn) 85.052 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: % of GDP (%) 0.4 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Equity Securities (USD mn) 5.0 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2023
Foreign Portfolio Investment: Debt Securities (USD mn) 80.015 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2012 - Sep 2023
External Debt (USD mn) 52,653.4 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2012 - Sep 2023
External Debt: % of GDP (%) 74.7 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
External Debt: Short Term (USD mn) 7,545.9 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2012 - Sep 2023
External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP (%) 11.5 2022 yearly 1998 - 2022
Forecast: Current Account Balance (USD bn) -0.744 2022 yearly 1980 - 2022
Net International Investment Position (USD mn) -50,271.614 Sep 2023 quarterly Mar 2013 - Sep 2023
BoP: FA: Assets: Errors & Ommissions (USD mn) 192.632 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2018
BoP: FA: Liabilities: Financial Derivatives (USD mn) 0.000 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2018
BoP: FA: Assets: Financial Derivatives (USD mn) 0.000 Dec 2018 quarterly Mar 2012 - Dec 2018
IIP: Assets (USD mn) 11,636.010 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2012 - Sep 2023
International Investment Position (IIP): Net (USD mn) -50,271.614 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2012 - Sep 2023
IIP: Liabilities (USD mn) 61,907.624 Sep 2023 quarterly Dec 2012 - Sep 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 (%) 7.4 Jun 2023 quarterly Dec 2010 - Jun 2023
Money Supply M1 (USD mn) 5,120.576 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1994 - Dec 2023
Money Supply M2 (USD mn) 35,469.638 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1994 - Dec 2023
M2 Growth (%) 9.4 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1995 - Dec 2023
Reserve Requirement Ratio (%) 4.0 Jun 2023 monthly Mar 1997 - Jun 2023
Foreign Exchange Reserves (USD mn) 4,425.6 Jan 2024 monthly Dec 1956 - Jan 2024
Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import (NA) 2.9 Jan 2024 monthly Jan 1982 - Jan 2024
Gold Reserves (USD mn) 30.887 Jan 2024 monthly Dec 1977 - Jan 2024
Total Deposits (USD mn) 45,118.862 Jul 2023 monthly Dec 2002 - Jul 2023
Total Deposits Growth (%) 5.8 Jun 2023 monthly Dec 2003 - Jun 2023
Domestic Credit (USD mn) 1,267.7 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1996 - Dec 2023
Domestic Credit Growth (%) -97.5 Dec 2023 monthly Jan 1997 - Dec 2023
Household Debt (USD mn) 6,407.8 Jun 2023 quarterly Jun 2010 - Jun 2023
Total Loans (USD mn) 25,800.594 Dec 2023 monthly Dec 1983 - Dec 2023
Total Loans Growth (%) -0.51 Dec 2023 monthly Dec 1984 - Dec 2023
Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP (%) 26.18 Jun 2023 quarterly Dec 2010 - Jun 2023
ORA: Foreign Currency Reserves in Convertible FC (FCR) (USD mn) 4,425.613 Jan 2024 monthly Nov 2013 - Jan 2024
Official Reserve Assets (ORA) (USD mn) 4,496.000 Jan 2024 monthly Nov 2013 - Jan 2024
Commercial Banks: Loans: Personal Loans & Advances (LA) (LKR mn) 1,969,066.000 Jun 2023 quarterly Jun 2010 - Jun 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) 93.000 Dec 2023 quarterly Jun 2014 - Dec 2023
Purchasing Managers Index: Manufacturing (Index) 52.700 Jan 2024 monthly May 2015 - Jan 2024

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