Economy — Sri Lanka
GDP, employment, industries, public finance, and currency.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Economy at a glance
GDP, employment, industries, public finance, and currency. Key figure for Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's economy faces significant challenges, including a high external debt burden, a trade deficit, fiscal imbalances, and currency depreciation. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these issues by disrupting global supply chains and tourism revenues. Political instability and governance problems have hindered e…
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Economic overview
- Economic Overview
Sri Lanka's economy faces significant challenges, including a high external debt burden, a trade deficit, fiscal imbalances, and currency depreciation.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these issues by disrupting global supply chains and tourism revenues.
Political instability and governance problems have hindered economic reforms.
As a result, Sri Lanka grapples with high inflation, reduced foreign exchange reserves, and slowing GDP growth.
The government is seeking assistance from international organizations like the IMF, implementing fiscal consolidation measures, and aiming to attract foreign investment.
These challenges have led to rising unemployment, inflation, and disruptions in essential services, causing frustration among the population.
Key priorities for recovery include fiscal discipline, structural reforms, and exchange rate stability.
- Industries
rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
- GDP - per capita (PPP)
$11,200.00 (USD)
- GDP - real growth rate
5.5%
GDP & growth
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)
$274,800,000,000 (USD)
- GDP Per Capita
$11,200.00 (USD)
- GDP - real growth rate
5.5%
- GDP - official exchange rate
$79,520,000,000 (USD)
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 67.6%
- government consumption: 13.5%
- investment in fixed capital: 28.4%
- investment in inventories: -0.9%
- exports of goods and services: 21.2%
- imports of goods and services: -29.8%
- GDP by Sector- agriculture
8.1%
- GDP by Sector- Industry
29.1%
- GDP by Sector- services
62.8%
- Industrial Growth Rate
6.9%
Prices & money
- Inflation Rate
5.6%
- Exchange Rate per US Dollar
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
- Currency Name and Code
Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR)
- Fiscal Year
calendar year
- Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
9.88%
Employment & labor
- Labor Force
8,100,000
- Unemployment Rate
5.4%
- Major Industries
rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
- Agriculture Products
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef
- Population Below Poverty Line
23%
Public finance
- Annual Budget
$7,415,000,000 (USD)
- Public Debt (% of GDP)
98.5%
- Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP
-6.4%
- Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP
12.9%