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Sri Lanka economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Sri Lanka ranked 72/197 by economy size with a GDP of $99B and 124/197 by GDP per capita at $4,516. Sri Lanka has $99.8B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100.8%.

In 2024, Sri Lanka made up 0.09% of the world's economy, compared to 0.1% in 1960.

Sri Lanka GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Inflation-adjusted growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $98,963,185,510 5.01%
2023 $83,716,142,582 -2.33%
2022 $74,143,020,263 -7.35%
2021 $88,556,698,938 4.21%
2020 $84,335,574,582 -4.62%
2019 $88,998,706,297 -0.22%
2018 $94,450,015,983 2.31%
2017 $94,369,350,286 6.46%
2016 $88,000,211,172 5.05%
2015 $85,090,301,052 4.21%
2014 $82,531,125,191 6.38%
2013 $76,976,203,829 4.05%
2012 $70,447,217,164 8.63%
2011 $67,753,285,897 8.67%
2010 $58,636,049,434 8.02%
2009 $42,066,224,093 3.54%
2008 $40,713,826,215 5.95%
2007 $32,350,238,760 6.8%
2006 $28,267,410,543 7.67%
2005 $24,405,791,045 6.24%
2004 $20,662,525,941 5.45%
2003 $18,881,765,437 5.94%
2002 $16,536,535,647 3.96%
2001 $15,749,753,805 -1.55%
2000 $16,595,882,819 6%
1999 $15,711,933,513 4.3%
1998 $15,760,736,956 4.7%
1997 $15,091,913,884 6.41%
1996 $13,897,738,375 3.8%
1995 $13,029,697,561 5.5%
1994 $11,717,604,209 5.6%
1993 $10,338,679,636 6.9%
1992 $9,703,011,636 4.4%
1991 $9,000,362,582 4.6%
1990 $8,032,551,173 6.4%
1989 $6,987,267,684 2.3%
1988 $6,978,371,581 2.47%
1987 $6,682,167,120 1.73%
1986 $6,405,210,564 4.36%
1985 $5,978,460,972 5%
1984 $6,043,474,843 5.1%
1983 $5,167,913,302 4.81%
1982 $4,768,765,017 4.14%
1981 $4,415,844,156 5.7%
1980 $4,024,621,900 5.85%
1979 $3,364,611,432 6.4%
1978 $2,733,183,857 5.65%
1977 $4,104,509,583 5.1%
1976 $3,591,319,857 3.34%
1975 $3,791,298,146 6.13%
1974 $3,574,586,466 3.85%
1973 $2,875,625,000 7.06%
1972 $2,553,936,348 -0.41%
1971 $2,369,308,600 1.31%
1970 $2,296,470,588 3.85%
1969 $1,965,546,218 7.72%
1968 $1,801,344,538 5.8%
1967 $1,859,465,021 6.44%
1966 $1,751,470,588 5.02%
1965 $1,698,319,328 2.54%
1964 $1,309,747,899 3.91%
1963 $1,240,672,269 2.52%
1962 $1,434,156,379 3.82%
1961 $1,444,327,731 -
1960 $1,409,873,950 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka | CC BY

Sri Lanka GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $4,516 $15,633
2023 $3,799 $14,456
2022 $3,343 $14,194
2021 $3,997 $14,316
2020 $3,848 $12,941
2019 $4,082 $14,113
2018 $4,359 $14,178
2017 $4,399 $13,610
2016 $4,149 $13,079
2015 $4,058 $12,227
2014 $3,972 $11,721
2013 $3,739 $11,253
2012 $3,328 $10,249
2011 $3,225 $9,076
2010 $2,808 $8,234
2009 $2,027 $7,576
2008 $1,974 $7,317
2007 $1,579 $6,820
2006 $1,389 $6,261
2005 $1,207 $5,679
2004 $1,029 $5,216
2003 $946 $4,850
2002 $835 $4,522
2001 $804 $4,328
2000 $860 $4,368
1999 $829 $4,103
1998 $848 $3,952
1997 $827 $3,804
1996 $776 $3,582
1995 $742 $3,454
1994 $678 $3,260
1993 $607 $3,067
1992 $580 $2,851
1991 $546 $2,713
1990 $491 $2,527
1989 $430 -
1988 $434 -
1987 $420 -
1986 $407 -
1985 $385 -
1984 $391 -
1983 $336 -
1982 $312 -
1981 $292.5 -
1980 $271.1 -
1979 $230.8 -
1978 $191 -
1977 $292.1 -
1976 $260.3 -
1975 $279.8 -
1974 $268.7 -
1973 $220.2 -
1972 $199.4 -
1971 $188.8 -
1970 $186.9 -
1969 $163.6 -
1968 $153.5 -
1967 $162.3 -
1966 $156.6 -
1965 $155.6 -
1964 $122.9 -
1963 $119.4 -
1962 $141.4 -
1961 $145.9 -
1960 $145.9 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka | CC BY

Sri Lanka has a GDP per capita of $4,516, ranking 124/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $15,633, ranking 111/197, and a median annual after tax income of $2,874, ranking 146/197.

Sri Lanka GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 71 116 102
2023 75 128 109
2022 75 134 107
2021 65 123 102
2020 65 120 101
2019 66 123 97
2018 64 114 95
2017 64 111 95
2016 64 110 94
2015 66 114 98
2014 65 119 101
2013 66 121 99
2012 67 127 103
2011 66 128 109
2010 70 128 113
2009 79 132 114
2008 79 134 115
2007 80 136 117
2006 79 136 113
2005 79 133 112
2004 81 138 113
2003 79 136 113
2002 79 135 114
2001 77 131 114
2000 76 130 111
1999 77 129 110
1998 75 128 109
1997 75 131 108
1996 75 132 107
1995 76 133 106
1994 75 127 108
1993 79 132 109
1992 78 136 113
1991 81 142 114
1990 83 145 121
1989 76 134 -
1988 78 135 -
1987 79 133 -
1986 72 128 -
1985 75 126 -
1984 77 125 -
1983 78 127 -
1982 80 132 -
1981 81 137 -
1980 85 142 -
1979 83 132 -
1978 82 133 -
1977 69 121 -
1976 68 118 -
1975 65 116 -
1974 64 114 -
1973 65 117 -
1972 61 113 -
1971 61 112 -
1970 58 110 -
1969 58 94 -
1968 56 96 -
1967 55 91 -
1966 56 90 -
1965 56 86 -
1964 58 92 -
1963 57 91 -
1962 54 83 -
1961 53 77 -
1960 52 76 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Sri Lanka is ranked 71st out of 182 by GDP (up from 76th), 116th by GDP per capita (up from 130th), and 102nd by GDP per capita PPP (up from 111th).

Economic indicators

Sri Lanka Rank
Gross domestic product
$99B
2024
72/197
GDP growth
5.01%
2023-2024
38/194
GDP per capita
$4,516
2024
124/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,633
2024
111/197
Government debt
$99.8B
2024
57/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
100.8%
2024
23/185
Government debt per person
$4,554
2024
85/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,874
2026
146/197
Listed domestic companies
284
2024
26/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$19.5B
2024
60/100
Income share by richest 10%
30.8%
2019
51/169
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2019
56/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.3%
2024
161/195
Consumer prices inflation
-0.43%
2023-2024
190/195
Central bank interest rate
7.75%
2025
34/106
Unemployment rate
4.67%
2023
114/196
Population
22185425
61/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 19.3% 100.8% -5.64%
2023 19.5% 110.4% -8.32%
2022 18.6% 115.9% -10.2%
2021 20% 102.7% -11.7%
2020 22.1% 96.9% -13.4%
2019 19.5% 82.6% -7.52%
2018 17.5% 83.6% -4.96%
2017 17.9% 72.3% -5.1%
2016 18.2% 75% -5%
2015 19.3% 76.3% -6.64%
2014 17.2% 69.6% -5.99%
2013 16.6% 69.5% -5%
2012 17.3% 67.5% -5.44%
2011 19.1% 69.4% -6.01%
2010 19.3% 68.7% -6.73%
2009 21% 72.8% -8.33%
2008 19.1% 68.8% -5.93%
2007 19.9% 71.8% -5.81%
2006 20.5% 74.3% -5.91%
2005 20.1% 76.6% -5.93%
2004 19.3% 86.5% -6.32%
2003 19.3% 86.5% -6.15%
2002 20.8% 96.3% -6.9%
2001 22.4% 84.4% -8.48%
2000 21.7% 79.2% -7.78%
1999 20.5% 77.7% -5.58%
1998 21.4% 74.2% -6.79%
1997 21.4% 70.1% -5.71%
1996 23.1% 76.2% -6.89%
1995 24.8% 77.8% -7.11%
1994 24.1% 77.9% -7.41%
1993 23.2% 79.2% -5.77%
1992 23% 77.9% -4.95%
1991 26.4% 80.5% -7.97%
1990 25.4% 78.9% -6.39%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka | CC BY

This chart shows Sri Lanka's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Sri Lanka recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 6.85% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $19.1B (19.3% of GDP), with a deficit of 5.64%.

The national debt reached $99.8B, ranking 57th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100.8%, ranking 23rd.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 -0.43%
2023 16.5%
2022 49.7%
2021 7.01%
2020 6.15%
2019 3.53%
2018 2.14%
2017 7.7%
2016 3.96%
2015 3.77%
2014 3.18%
2013 6.91%
2012 7.54%
2011 6.72%
2010 6.22%
2009 3.46%
2008 22.6%
2007 15.8%
2006 10%
2005 11.6%
2004 7.58%
2003 6.31%
2002 9.55%
2001 14.2%
2000 6.18%
1999 4.69%
1998 9.36%
1997 9.57%
1996 15.9%
1995 7.67%
1994 8.45%
1993 11.7%
1992 11.4%
1991 12.2%
1990 21.5%
1989 11.6%
1988 14%
1987 7.72%
1986 7.98%
1985 1.48%
1984 16.6%
1983 14%
1982 10.8%
1981 18%
1980 26.1%
1979 10.7%
1978 12.1%
1977 1.22%
1976 1.33%
1975 6.63%
1974 12.3%
1973 9.63%
1972 6.35%
1971 2.67%
1970 5.87%
1969 7.46%
1968 5.86%
1967 2.19%
1966 -0.16%
1965 0.22%
1964 3.2%
1963 2.27%
1962 1.5%
1961 1.13%
1960 -1.54%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Sri Lanka has had an average annual inflation rate of 9.71%. In 2024, inflation was -0.43%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Sri Lanka Rank
Current account balance
$1.21B
2024
53/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.22%
2024
65/190
Goods imports
$18.8B
2024
82/189
Goods exports
$12.8B
2024
92/189
Service imports
$3.48B
2024
102/189
Service exports
$6.91B
2024
84/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
160/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
19.9%
2024
146/193

Sri Lanka top 10 trading partners

Sri Lanka's biggest trading partner accounting for 15.7% of all exports and imports is India, with a trade balance between the two of -$2.9B: Sri Lanka exports $884M worth of goods and services to India and imports $3.78B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Sri Lanka.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 India $4.67B 15.7% $884M $3.78B Raw agricultural goods Textiles & consumer goods
2 China $4.59B 15.4% $252M $4.33B Textiles & consumer goods Machinery & equipment
3 United States $3.36B 11.3% $2.91B $447M Textiles & consumer goods Processed food, beverages & tobacco
4 UAE $1.7B 5.72% $335M $1.37B Raw agricultural goods Raw materials & minerals
5 Singapore $1.35B 4.54% $100M $1.25B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
6 United Kingdom $1.07B 3.6% $904M $168M Textiles & consumer goods Machinery & equipment
7 Germany $928M 3.11% $628M $299M Textiles & consumer goods Machinery & equipment
8 Italy $882M 2.96% $595M $286M Textiles & consumer goods Textiles & consumer goods
9 Malaysia $802M 2.69% $87.6M $714M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
10 Russia $727M 2.44% $177M $550M Raw agricultural goods Raw materials & minerals

Top 10 exports

Sri Lanka Rank
Textiles & consumer goods $5.55B 38/193
Transport & tourism services $3.52B 82/188
Raw agricultural goods $2.18B 55/193
Raw materials & minerals $1.46B 100/193
IT & IP services $1.1B 61/183
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $869M 86/192
Machinery & equipment $698M 89/193
Chemicals & pharma $319M 95/193
Precious metals & jewellery $289M 83/190
Animal & marine products $272M 83/192

Top 10 imports

Sri Lanka Rank
Raw materials & minerals $5.02B 74/193
Textiles & consumer goods $3.29B 62/193
Machinery & equipment $3.29B 105/193
Transport & tourism services $2.36B 97/188
Chemicals & pharma $2.08B 86/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.27B 87/193
Raw agricultural goods $1.23B 74/193
Metals $1.19B 89/193
Wood & paper products $540M 80/193
Animal & marine products $377M 95/193

Economic freedom indices

Sri Lanka Rank
Economic freedom 50.3 162/197
Property rights 47.3 94/182
Government integrity 37.3 108/182
Judicial effectiveness 47.2 88/182
Tax burden 77 105/182
Government spending 89 34/180
Fiscal health 0 181/181
Business freedom 60.1 110/182
Labor freedom 54.3 112/182
Monetary freedom 65.9 148/180
Trade freedom 65.6 127/181
Investment freedom 30 157/181
Financial freedom 30 150/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 50.3 47.2 77 89 0
2025 49.4 47.4 77.5 88.8 0
2024 49.2 49.4 77.5 88.2 0
2023 52.2 39.5 90.3 88 0
2022 53.3 57.7 90.3 87.4 0
2021 55.7 46.8 85 88.4 30.1
2020 57.4 39.2 84.8 88.9 39.3
2019 56.4 39.4 84.9 88.3 30.4
2018 57.8 52 84.9 89.3 24.9
2017 57.4 48.3 85.3 90.2 31.2
2016 59.9 - 85.1 90 -
2015 58.6 - 85 88.4 -
2014 60 - 84.9 86.3 -
2013 60.7 - 84.7 86.5 -
2012 58.3 - 73.5 81.4 -
2011 57.1 - 73.4 84.7 -
2010 54.6 - 73.5 83.9 -
2009 56 - 73.2 80.5 -
2008 58.4 - 73.5 81.7 -
2007 59.4 - 78.5 83.4 -
2006 58.7 - 78.5 83.1 -
2005 61 - 78.5 80.6 -
2004 61.6 - 79.9 77.3 -
2003 62.5 - 73.4 80.3 -
2002 64 - 73.3 81.3 -
2001 66 - 73.4 81.3 -
2000 63.2 - 72.9 79.7 -
1999 64 - 72.6 71.7 -
1998 64.6 - 72.3 66.3 -
1997 65.5 - 72.5 69.1 -
1996 62.5 - 72.5 78.1 -
1995 60.6 - 64.3 78.3 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka | CC BY

Sri Lanka is ranked 144/174 for economic freedom with a score of 50.3, compared to 80/162 and a score of 58.7 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Sri Lanka Rank
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
93/191
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
79/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
8.3%
2024
82/193
GNI, Atlas method
$84.6B
2024
73/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,240
2024
108/191
Total reserves including gold
$6.09B
2024
92/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$651M
2024
108/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$761M
2024
104/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$110M
2024
86/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.98%
2024
51/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
14.3%
2019
135/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27%
2024
48/178

Compare Sri Lanka vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.