Trend of Annual Youth Unemployment Rate of Sri Lanka

Updated on May 16, 2026.

According to recent data from the World Bank, the annual youth unemployment rate of Sri Lanka was 18.58% in 2025, a difference of -0.48 points compared to 2024. The most recent figures on male and female unemployment rates were 15.26% and 24.77% respectively in 2025.

The chart and table below shows the annual youth unemployment rate, and the male and female unemployment rates of Sri Lanka for 1991 - 2025.

You can see similar information for other countries.

The World Bank defines youth unemployment rate as "the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment".

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Trend of Annual Unemployment Rate of Sri Lanka.

Related Topics: World Bank Topic List

Data Source: World Bank.

Trend of Annual Youth Unemployment Rate of Sri Lanka (%)

Total

Male

Female

Trend of Annual Youth Unemployment Rate of Sri Lanka

0 of 0

Year	Total Youth Unempl.(%)	Male Youth Unempl.(%)	Female Youth Unempl.(%)
1991	36.11	28.61	46.98
1992	35.21	28.11	46.87
1993	34.64	27.95	44.16
1994	33.71	27.08	43.66
1995	33.78	27.67	42.98
1996	32.62	26.73	42.17
1997	31.52	25.98	40.72
1998	25.73	21.21	31.98
1999	26.26	21.78	33.76
2000	23.79	20.31	30.2
2001	25.01	21.86	30.8
2002	28.55	24.45	36.08
2003	27.59	22.6	36.72
2004	28.3	22.56	38.77
2005	27.7	21.54	38.86
2006	22.12	18.27	29.05
2007	21.47	17.51	28.54
2008	18.73	14.68	25.92
2009	21.16	17.28	28.02
2010	18.68	15.91	23.6
2011	16.76	12.64	24.4
2012	16.8	13.69	22.7
2013	17.94	14.37	24.42
2014	18.78	15.16	25.36
2015	19.23	15.56	25.48
2016	20.07	16.04	27.52
2017	17.39	14.13	23.17
2018	20.5	16.21	28.8
2019	20.43	16.7	27.36
2020	25.45	21.19	34
2021	25.37	20.67	34.78
2022	21.73	19.55	25.86
2023	20.34	18.14	24.62
2024	19.06	15.58	25.61
2025	18.58	15.26	24.77