Economy
The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) · updated 2025-12-31
Sri Lanka's youth unemployment rate stands at 18.58% as of 2025-12-31, down from 19.06% in 2024. Historical data runs from 1991 to 2025 (35 observations).
In 2025, Sri Lanka's youth unemployment rate was 18.58%, down from 19.06% in 2024.
In 2024, Sri Lanka's youth unemployment rate was 19.06%, down from 20.34% in 2023.
In 2023, Sri Lanka's youth unemployment rate was 20.34%, down from 21.73% in 2022.
In 2022, Sri Lanka's youth unemployment rate was 21.73%, down from 25.37% in 2021.
In 2021, Sri Lanka's youth unemployment rate was 25.37%, down from 25.45% in 2020.
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18.58% | -0.484% |
| 2024 | 19.06% | -1.28% |
| 2023 | 20.34% | -1.39% |
| 2022 | 21.73% | -3.64% |
| 2021 | 25.37% | -0.078% |
| 2020 | 25.45% | +5.02% |
| 2019 | 20.43% | -0.071% |
| 2018 | 20.5% | +3.11% |
| 2017 | 17.39% | -2.68% |
| 2016 | 20.07% | +0.839% |
| 2015 | 19.23% | +0.45% |
| 2014 | 18.78% | +0.842% |
| 2013 | 17.94% | +1.14% |
| 2012 | 16.8% | +0.037% |
| 2011 | 16.76% | -1.93% |
| 2010 | 18.68% | -2.47% |
| 2009 | 21.16% | +2.42% |
| 2008 | 18.73% | -2.74% |
| 2007 | 21.47% | -0.654% |
| 2006 | 22.12% | -5.58% |
| 2005 | 27.7% | -0.601% |
| 2004 | 28.3% | +0.716% |
| 2003 | 27.59% | -0.959% |
| 2002 | 28.55% | +3.54% |
| 2001 | 25.01% | +1.22% |
| 2000 | 23.79% | -2.46% |
| 1999 | 26.26% | +0.53% |
| 1998 | 25.73% | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 31.52% | -1.09% |
| 1996 | 32.62% | -1.17% |
| 1995 | 33.78% | +0.076% |
| 1994 | 33.71% | -0.931% |
| 1993 | 34.64% | -0.575% |
| 1992 | 35.21% | -0.899% |
| 1991 | 36.11% | — |
The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) · Download this series as CSV — free, attribution required (CC BY 4.0).
Sri Lanka's youth unemployment rate is 18.58% as of 2025-12-31, compared with 19.06% in 2024. The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
The highest recorded value is 36.11% (1991); the lowest is 16.76% (2011), across data from 1991 to 2025.
The World Bank — World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) Figures are republished with attribution and updated as the source releases new observations.