Sri Lanka: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
In , Sri Lanka's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 4.01.
That's down 5.5% from 2024, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Sri Lanka ranks #115 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within South Asia, it ranks #4 of 6.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2025
Trend (2006–2025)
- 2008 · Global financial crisis
- 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic
Highlights
- Peak
- 6.50
- Trough
- 3.88
- 1-year change
- -5.5%
- 5-year change
- -25.3%
- -5.7% / yr
- 10-year change
- -11.4%
- -1.2% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) |
|---|---|
| 4.0050 | |
| 4.2390 | |
| 4.5280 | |
| 4.5280 | |
| 4.9810 | |
| 5.3640 | |
| 4.6700 | |
| 4.3180 | |
| 4.0460 | |
| 4.2420 |
About Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Indicator code: SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS • Category: Labor & Business
Frequently asked questions
- What was Sri Lanka's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?
- In 2025, Sri Lanka's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 4.01, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is Sri Lanka's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?
- Sri Lanka's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) fell 5.5% from 2024 to 2025.
- How does Sri Lanka rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?
- In 2025, Sri Lanka ranked #115 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
- How does Sri Lanka's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) compare to the world average?
- The global average for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025 was 6.73, so Sri Lanka is below the world average. Within South Asia, it ranks #4 of 6.
- What is Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) and how is it measured?
- Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.