WorldFactbook.ioFree API →

World Factbook

Sri Lanka

Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil)

Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)

Budget

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$9.387 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures

$17.144 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports 2021

$14.974 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$16.169 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$17.327 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports 2021

$21.526 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$19.244 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$18.823 billion (2023 est.)

Industries

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining

Labor force

8.499 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

178.745 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

185.593 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

198.764 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

322.633 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

327.507 (2023 est.)

Debt - external

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Debt - external 2023

$42.198 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation; IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default; structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws; heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

4.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 22%, India 7%, Germany 7%, UK 7%, Italy 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - partners

India 21%, China 19%, UAE 10%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$13,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$13,000 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$13,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-7.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-2.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

rice, coconuts, tea, sugarcane, plantains, milk, fiber crops, cassava, chicken, pumpkins/squash (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Exports - commodities

garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Current account balance

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Current account balance 2021

-$3.284 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$1.448 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.559 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

GDP (official exchange rate)

$98.963 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

household consumption

68.7% (2024 est.)

government consumption

7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

8.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

18.8% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

19.9% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-22.5% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.3% (2019 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Average household expenditures

on food

27.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco

3.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

49.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

16.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

-0.4% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

11% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$293.878 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$287.031 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$301.407 billion (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

male

18.4% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

22.3% (2024 est.)

female

29.6% (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.896 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.405 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$6.094 billion (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

industry

25.5% (2024 est.)

services

57.5% (2024 est.)

agriculture

8.3% (2024 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

lowest 10%

3.1% (2019 est.)

highest 10%

30.8% (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

37.7 (2019 est.)