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Sri Lanka Poverty Rate

Sri Lanka's poverty rate fell to 2.7% in 2019, down from 3.8% in 2016, according to World Bank. This represents a decrease of 1.1% from the previous year. Sri Lanka has poverty rate higher than the global median (2.70% vs median 1.90%). Compared with the median in Asia, Sri Lanka is higher (2.70% vs regional median 2.00%) and ranks 12th out of 30 countries in Asia.

Sri Lanka's annual unemployment rate fell to 5% in 2024, down from 6% in 2023.

Yearly Historical Data (1985-2019)

(in %)
Year Poverty Rate (%)
2019 2.7%
2016 3.8%
2012 6.4%
2009 7.8%
2006 12.2%
2002 20.7%
1995 23%
1990 23.4%
1985 28.2%
Sri Lanka Poverty Rate : Definition
Poverty Rate measures the percentage of people in Sri Lanka living on less than $3.00 per day, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP, 2021 prices).
Indicator Last Value Prior Value Period
Adult Literacy Rate 92% 92% 2022
Gini Index 37.7 points 39.3 points 2019
Happiness Index 3.89 points 3.9 points 2024
Homicide Rate 3.43 2.38 2019
Population 21.92M 22.04M 2024
Primary Enrollment Rate 95.92% 96.87% 2022