Unemployment
The share of people who want work but cannot find it.
Source: World Bank Open Data · As of 2026 · Provisional · View source
Chart of Unemployment over time. 7.7% (2000) → 3.9% (2026).
Table
| Period | % |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.7 |
| 2001 | 7.9 |
| 2002 | 8.8 |
| 2003 | 8.2 |
| 2004 | 8.4 |
| 2005 | 7.7 |
| 2006 | 6.5 |
| 2007 | 6.0 |
| 2008 | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 5.9 |
| 2010 | 4.8 |
| 2011 | 4.1 |
| 2012 | 3.9 |
| 2013 | 4.2 |
| 2014 | 4.2 |
| 2015 | 4.5 |
| 2016 | 4.2 |
| 2017 | 4.0 |
| 2018 | 4.3 |
| 2019 | 4.7 |
| 2020 | 5.4 |
| 2021 | 5.0 |
| 2022 | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 4.5 |
| 2024 | 4.2 |
| 2025 | 4.0 |
| 2026 | 3.9* |
Sri Lanka's current situation
Unemployment was 3.9% in 2026, -0.1% versus a year earlier. Current status: Good. Healthy range: Around or below 5% is Good, 5–9% Watch, above 9% Concern. The natural rate varies by country and over time.
What is it?
The unemployment rate is the number of people without a job who are actively looking, as a share of the labour force (those working or seeking work). People who are not looking for work are not counted.
A simple example
If 100 people want to work and 5 cannot find a job, unemployment is 5%.
What happens when it is high
High unemployment wastes talent, lowers incomes, and raises hardship and welfare costs. It often rises in recessions, and young people are usually hit hardest.
What happens when it is low
Very low unemployment means a tight labour market, which can push wages (and sometimes inflation) up. A small amount of unemployment is normal as people move between jobs.
What is a healthy range
Around or below 5% is Good, 5–9% Watch, above 9% Concern. The natural rate varies by country and over time.
ILO / common full-employment reference.
What might happen next
Official projections
| Source | Year | % |
|---|---|---|
| International Monetary Fund | 2027 | 3.9 |
| International Monetary Fund | 2028 | 3.9 |
| International Monetary Fund | 2029 | 3.9 |
| International Monetary Fund | 2030 | 3.9 |
| International Monetary Fund | 2031 | 3.9 |
Simple statistical trend
A simple statistical trend, not a prediction of what will happen. Forecasts are uncertain and are not financial advice.
Upside: growth, investment and new industries create jobs. Downside: recession, closures or automation raise unemployment. Not financial advice.
A simple statistical trend, not a prediction of what will happen. Forecasts are uncertain and are not financial advice.
For experts
Jobs are how most people earn a living. Unemployment is a direct measure of hardship and of how well growth creates opportunity.
How we calculate this
Unemployment as a percentage of the total labour force (World Bank / ILO estimate; DCS Labour Force Survey). Annual.