The economy
How the Sri Lankan economy has grown
Sri Lanka's output, income per person, and the make-up of the economy from 1980 to today, in charts. Figures come from the IMF and the World Bank and are set beside the budget on the rest of this site.
Real GDP growth, 2025
5.0%
How much more the country produced than the year before, after removing price rises.
IMF World Economic Outlook
Size of the economy, 2025
US$ 108.9 bn
GDP in US dollars at market exchange rates
Income per person, 2025
US$ 5,004
GDP per person in US dollars. US$ 17,063 at international prices (PPP).
Output against its earlier peak
99.4%
Real output in 2025 as a share of 2018, the year before the largest fall (worked out from the IMF growth rates).
Years of shrinking output since 1980
7
1992, 1998, 2001, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Yearly growth of the economy
Real GDP growth is how much more (or less) the country produced than the year before, after removing price rises. Red bars are years when output fell. Pale bars are IMF projections, not outcomes.
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| Year | Real GDP growth |
|---|---|
| 2031 * | 3.5% |
| 2030 * | 3.5% |
| 2029 * | 3.5% |
| 2028 * | 3.5% |
| 2027 * | 3.7% |
| 2026 * | 4.0% |
| 2025 | 5.0% |
| 2024 | 5.0% |
| 2023 | -2.0% |
| 2022 | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 4.2% |
| 2020 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 2.3% |
| 2017 | 6.5% |
| 2016 | 5.1% |
| 2015 | 4.2% |
| 2014 | 6.4% |
| 2013 | 4.1% |
| 2012 | 8.6% |
| 2011 | 8.7% |
| 2010 | 8.0% |
| 2009 | 3.5% |
| 2008 | 6.0% |
| 2007 | 6.8% |
| 2006 | 7.7% |
| 2005 | 6.2% |
| 2004 | 5.4% |
| 2003 | 5.9% |
| 2002 | 3.7% |
| 2001 | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 8.4% |
The size of the economy in US dollars
GDP in billions of US dollars at the exchange rate of each year. It moves with the rupee, so a weaker rupee lowers it even when output rises.
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| Year | GDP (US$ billion) |
|---|---|
| 2031 * | 141.5 |
| 2030 * | 133.8 |
| 2029 * | 126.5 |
| 2028 * | 119.6 |
| 2027 * | 113.1 |
| 2026 * | 110.7 |
| 2025 | 108.9 |
| 2024 | 99.6 |
| 2023 | 84.1 |
| 2022 | 74.6 |
| 2021 | 88.6 |
| 2020 | 84.3 |
| 2019 | 89.0 |
| 2018 | 94.5 |
| 2017 | 94.4 |
| 2016 | 88.0 |
| 2015 | 85.1 |
| 2014 | 82.5 |
| 2013 | 76.9 |
| 2012 | 70.4 |
| 2011 | 67.7 |
| 2010 | 58.6 |
| 2009 | 49.8 |
| 2008 | 48.2 |
| 2007 | 38.3 |
| 2006 | 33.4 |
| 2005 | 28.9 |
| 2004 | 24.4 |
| 2003 | 22.4 |
| 2002 | 20.2 |
| 2001 | 19.2 |
| 2000 | 20.0 |
| 1999 | 19.1 |
| 1998 | 19.1 |
| 1997 | 18.5 |
| 1996 | 16.6 |
| 1995 | 15.1 |
| 1994 | 14.2 |
| 1993 | 12.4 |
| 1992 | 11.6 |
| 1991 | 10.7 |
| 1990 | 9.8 |
| 1989 | 8.6 |
| 1988 | 8.5 |
| 1987 | 8.1 |
| 1986 | 7.8 |
| 1985 | 7.3 |
| 1984 | 7.4 |
| 1983 | 6.3 |
| 1982 | 5.8 |
| 1981 | 5.4 |
| 1980 | 5.2 |
Income per person
GDP divided by population. The second line adjusts for the lower prices of goods and services in Sri Lanka (purchasing power parity), which is closer to what a rupee buys at home.
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| Year | GDP per person (US$) | GDP per person, PPP (international $) |
|---|---|---|
| 2031 * | US$ 6,314 | US$ 23,535 |
| 2030 * | US$ 6,000 | US$ 22,464 |
| 2029 * | US$ 5,701 | US$ 21,413 |
| 2028 * | US$ 5,417 | US$ 20,403 |
| 2027 * | US$ 5,149 | US$ 19,418 |
| 2026 * | US$ 5,062 | US$ 18,246 |
| 2025 | US$ 5,004 | US$ 17,063 |
| 2024 | US$ 4,545 | US$ 15,725 |
| 2023 | US$ 3,816 | US$ 14,523 |
| 2022 | US$ 3,363 | US$ 14,195 |
| 2021 | US$ 3,999 | US$ 14,316 |
| 2020 | US$ 3,846 | US$ 12,941 |
| 2019 | US$ 4,083 | US$ 14,113 |
| 2018 | US$ 4,360 | US$ 14,178 |
| 2017 | US$ 4,401 | US$ 13,616 |
| 2016 | US$ 4,150 | US$ 12,708 |
| 2015 | US$ 4,058 | US$ 12,116 |
| 2014 | US$ 3,970 | US$ 11,626 |
| 2013 | US$ 3,737 | US$ 10,843 |
| 2012 | US$ 3,446 | US$ 10,326 |
| 2011 | US$ 3,320 | US$ 9,344 |
| 2010 | US$ 2,894 | US$ 8,482 |
| 2009 | US$ 2,472 | US$ 7,811 |
| 2008 | US$ 2,411 | US$ 7,550 |
| 2007 | US$ 1,929 | US$ 7,042 |
| 2006 | US$ 1,698 | US$ 6,467 |
| 2005 | US$ 1,478 | US$ 5,872 |
| 2004 | US$ 1,260 | US$ 5,403 |
| 2003 | US$ 1,163 | US$ 5,032 |
| 2002 | US$ 1,062 | US$ 4,697 |
| 2001 | US$ 1,017 | US$ 4,495 |
| 2000 | US$ 1,065 | US$ 4,515 |
| 1999 | US$ 1,026 | US$ 4,097 |
| 1998 | US$ 1,026 | US$ 3,948 |
| 1997 | US$ 1,004 | US$ 3,989 |
| 1996 | US$ 903 | US$ 3,576 |
| 1995 | US$ 829 | US$ 3,152 |
| 1994 | US$ 787 | US$ 2,935 |
| 1993 | US$ 689 | US$ 2,685 |
| 1992 | US$ 651 | US$ 2,466 |
| 1991 | US$ 611 | US$ 2,518 |
| 1990 | US$ 565 | US$ 2,225 |
| 1989 | US$ 498 | US$ 2,040 |
| 1988 | US$ 502 | US$ 1,939 |
| 1987 | US$ 485 | US$ 1,842 |
| 1986 | US$ 470 | US$ 1,790 |
| 1985 | US$ 443 | US$ 1,699 |
| 1984 | US$ 452 | US$ 1,585 |
| 1983 | US$ 390 | US$ 1,448 |
| 1982 | US$ 365 | US$ 1,365 |
| 1981 | US$ 343 | US$ 1,237 |
| 1980 | US$ 334 | US$ 1,087 |
What the economy is made of
Share of GDP produced by agriculture (including forestry and fishing), industry (including construction) and services.
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| Year | Agriculture | Industry | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8.4% | 25.4% | 54.6% |
| 2024 | 8.4% | 25.5% | 57.5% |
| 2023 | 8.0% | 25.7% | 60.1% |
| 2022 | 8.4% | 29.8% | 57.1% |
| 2021 | 8.8% | 30.0% | 55.9% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | 28.2% | 57.8% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | 29.2% | 55.7% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | 30.1% | 53.6% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | 31.1% | 52.2% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | 30.5% | 53.4% |
| 2015 | 8.2% | 29.5% | 54.2% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | 30.5% | 54.6% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | 30.8% | 54.5% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | 31.0% | 54.2% |
| 2011 | 9.5% | 29.1% | 53.4% |
| 2010 | 9.0% | 27.8% | 53.0% |
| 2009 | 12.7% | 29.7% | 57.6% |
| 2008 | 13.4% | 29.4% | 57.3% |
| 2007 | 11.7% | 29.9% | 58.4% |
| 2006 | 11.3% | 30.6% | 58.0% |
| 2005 | 11.8% | 30.2% | 58.0% |
| 2004 | 12.5% | 28.6% | 58.8% |
| 2003 | 13.2% | 28.4% | 58.3% |
| 2002 | 14.3% | 28.0% | 57.7% |
| 2001 | 20.1% | 26.8% | 53.1% |
| 2000 | 19.9% | 27.3% | 52.8% |
| 1999 | 20.7% | 27.4% | 51.9% |
| 1998 | 21.2% | 27.6% | 51.2% |
| 1997 | 21.9% | 27.0% | 51.1% |
| 1996 | 22.5% | 26.6% | 50.9% |
| 1995 | 23.1% | 26.7% | 50.2% |
| 1994 | 24.0% | 26.4% | 49.6% |
| 1993 | 24.9% | 25.9% | 49.3% |
| 1992 | 26.1% | 25.9% | 48.0% |
| 1991 | 27.1% | 25.9% | 47.0% |
| 1990 | 26.7% | 26.3% | 47.0% |
| 1989 | 26.0% | 27.1% | 46.9% |
| 1988 | 26.7% | 27.0% | 46.3% |
| 1987 | 27.3% | 27.8% | 44.9% |
| 1986 | 27.5% | 27.0% | 45.6% |
| 1985 | 28.1% | 26.5% | 45.4% |
| 1984 | 28.9% | 26.5% | 44.6% |
| 1983 | 28.5% | 26.5% | 45.0% |
| 1982 | 26.6% | 26.5% | 46.9% |
| 1981 | 28.0% | 28.3% | 43.8% |
| 1980 | 27.8% | 29.9% | 42.3% |
Trade and investment
Exports, imports and investment (gross capital formation) as a share of GDP. Click a name in the key to hide or show a line.
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| Year | Exports | Imports | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19.0% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 19.8% | 22.4% | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 20.6% | 22.7% | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 21.6% | 25.1% | 27.3% |
| 2021 | 16.9% | 24.3% | 36.7% |
| 2020 | 15.5% | 21.6% | 32.9% |
| 2019 | 21.8% | 27.6% | 34.1% |
| 2018 | 21.4% | 28.4% | 38.1% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | 26.9% | 39.7% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | 26.6% | 36.5% |
| 2015 | 19.9% | 27.0% | 34.3% |
| 2009 | 21.3% | 27.8% | 24.4% |
| 2008 | 24.8% | 38.5% | 27.6% |
| 2007 | 29.1% | 39.5% | 28.0% |
| 2006 | 30.1% | 41.1% | 28.0% |
| 2005 | 32.3% | 41.3% | 26.8% |
| 2004 | 35.3% | 44.2% | 25.3% |
| 2003 | 34.7% | 40.7% | 22.0% |
| 2002 | 34.9% | 41.4% | 23.3% |
| 2001 | 37.3% | 43.6% | 22.0% |
| 2000 | 39.0% | 49.6% | 28.0% |
| 1999 | 35.5% | 43.3% | 27.3% |
| 1998 | 36.2% | 42.3% | 25.1% |
| 1997 | 36.5% | 43.6% | 24.4% |
| 1996 | 35.0% | 43.9% | 24.2% |
| 1995 | 35.6% | 46.0% | 25.7% |
| 1994 | 33.8% | 45.6% | 27.0% |
| 1993 | 33.8% | 43.3% | 25.6% |
| 1992 | 31.8% | 41.0% | 24.3% |
| 1991 | 28.7% | 38.9% | 22.9% |
| 1990 | 30.2% | 38.1% | 22.2% |
Money coming in from abroad
Workers' remittances sent home and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka, in billions of US dollars.
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| Year | Worker remittances | Foreign direct investment |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8.3 | 1.0 |
| 2024 | 6.7 | 0.8 |
| 2023 | 6.0 | 0.7 |
| 2022 | 3.8 | 0.9 |
| 2021 | 5.5 | 0.6 |
| 2020 | 7.1 | 0.4 |
| 2019 | 6.7 | 0.7 |
| 2018 | 7.0 | 1.6 |
| 2017 | 7.2 | 1.4 |
| 2016 | 7.3 | 0.9 |
| 2015 | 7.0 | 0.7 |
| 2014 | 7.0 | 0.9 |
| 2013 | 6.4 | 0.9 |
| 2012 | 6.0 | 0.9 |
| 2011 | 5.2 | 1.0 |
| 2010 | 4.1 | 0.5 |
| 2009 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| 2008 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| 2007 | 2.5 | 0.6 |
| 2006 | 2.2 | 0.5 |
| 2005 | 2.0 | 0.3 |
| 2004 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| 2003 | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| 2002 | 1.3 | 0.2 |
| 2001 | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| 2000 | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| 1999 | 1.1 | 0.2 |
| 1998 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| 1997 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| 1996 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| 1995 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| 1994 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| 1993 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 1992 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| 1991 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
Prices and jobs
Average yearly inflation and the unemployment rate, from the IMF. Inflation here uses the IMF series, which can differ from the NCPI used for price adjustment elsewhere on this site.
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| Year | Inflation (average) | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2031 * | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| 2030 * | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| 2029 * | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| 2028 * | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| 2027 * | 5.4% | 3.9% |
| 2026 * | 5.3% | 3.9% |
| 2025 | -0.5% | 3.9% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | 4.4% |
| 2023 | 17.4% | 4.7% |
| 2022 | 45.2% | 4.7% |
| 2021 | 6.0% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | 5.5% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| 2017 | 6.6% | 4.2% |
| 2016 | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | 4.7% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | 4.3% |
| 2013 | 6.9% | 4.4% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | 4.0% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | 4.1% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | 5.0% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | 5.9% |
| 2008 | 22.4% | 6.0% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | 6.2% |
| 2006 | 9.9% | 6.6% |
| 2005 | 11.0% | 7.7% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | 8.3% |
| 2003 | 9.0% | 8.4% |
| 2002 | 9.6% | 8.8% |
| 2001 | 14.2% | 7.9% |
| 2000 | 6.2% | 7.6% |
* projection
Average growth by period
Average yearly growth, worked out by compounding the IMF yearly rates over each period (not a simple average).
| Period | Average yearly growth | Weakest year | Strongest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 to 1989 | 4.2% | 1987: 1.5% | 1984: 6.7% |
| 1990 to 1999 | 5.8% | 1992: -3.1% | 1996: 12.2% |
| 2000 to 2009 | 5.1% | 2001: -1.9% | 2000: 8.4% |
| 2010 to 2019 | 5.3% | 2019: -0.2% | 2011: 8.7% |
| 2020 to 2025 | -0.1% | 2022: -7.3% | 2024: 5.0% |
What the record shows
Dated events with a source. This page does not explain causes: growth is shaped by many things at once.
- 2022 The Ministry of Finance announced an Interim Policy on servicing external public debt (12 April 2022). CBSL Annual Economic Review 2025, Table 16, note (b)
- 2023 The IMF Executive Board approved a 48-month Extended Fund Facility of about US billion for Sri Lanka (20 March 2023). IMF press release, 20 March 2023
- 2025 The Department of Census and Statistics estimated 2025 growth at 5.0%: industry 7.8%, services 3.3%, agriculture 1.4%. Real GDP was Rs 13.13 trillion at 2015 prices. Department of Census and Statistics, GDP summary indicators Q4 2025
See the budget beside the economy
How much each Appropriation Act works out to per person, with IMF indicators for the same years.
The economy in context →Please note
- The IMF figures for recent years are estimates and later years are projections. Official national accounts come from the Department of Census and Statistics and the Central Bank and can be revised.
- Growth is measured in real terms, after removing price changes, so it can differ from changes in the rupee amounts printed in the budget.
- The World Bank sector shares and trade ratios use national accounts data and may be revised. Missing years are left blank, never estimated.
- GDP in US dollars depends on the exchange rate, so it can fall in a year when real output rose.
Sources
- IMF World Economic Outlook database, via DataMapper
- World Bank World Development Indicators
- Department of Census and Statistics, GDP summary indicators, Q4 2025
Data retrieved on 2026-10-20.