Exports of goods and services in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Exports of goods and services was 19.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Exports of goods and services in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exports of goods and services in Sri Lanka is 19.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exports of goods and services in Sri Lanka peaked at 39.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 2020.
Sri Lanka ranks 157th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 61 years of available data.
Exports of goods and services in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 30.0% | — |
| 1961 | 27.5% | -8.1% |
| 1962 | 27.8% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 25.8% | -7.3% |
| 1964 | 24.6% | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 25.9% | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 22.4% | -13.6% |
| 1967 | 20.5% | -8.5% |
| 1968 | 20.6% | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 18.4% | -10.8% |
| 1970 | 25.5% | +38.4% |
| 1971 | 24.6% | -3.3% |
| 1972 | 22.3% | -9.3% |
| 1973 | 24.3% | +9.1% |
| 1974 | 26.4% | +8.6% |
| 1975 | 27.5% | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 29.0% | +5.7% |
| 1977 | 33.8% | +16.4% |
| 1978 | 34.8% | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 33.7% | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 32.2% | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 30.5% | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 27.4% | -10.2% |
| 1983 | 26.3% | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 28.8% | +9.4% |
| 1985 | 26.0% | -9.7% |
| 1986 | 23.7% | -8.8% |
| 1987 | 25.2% | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 26.1% | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 27.3% | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 30.2% | +10.7% |
| 1991 | 28.7% | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 31.8% | +10.5% |
| 1993 | 33.8% | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 33.8% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 35.6% | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 35.0% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 36.5% | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 36.2% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 35.5% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 39.0% | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 37.3% | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 34.9% | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 34.7% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 35.3% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 32.3% | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 30.1% | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 29.1% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 24.8% | -14.7% |
| 2009 | 21.3% | -14.1% |
| 2015 | 19.9% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 21.4% | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 21.8% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 15.5% | -29.2% |
| 2021 | 16.9% | +9.5% |
| 2022 | 21.6% | +27.4% |
| 2023 | 20.6% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 19.8% | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 19.0% | -4.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 19.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 51% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 19.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 20.6%, 92% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24.3% | 18.4% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 28.2% | 22.3% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.3% | 23.7% | 32.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.7% | 28.7% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.9% | 21.3% | 39.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.6% | 19.8% | 21.8% | 5 |
| 2020s | 18.9% | 15.5% | 21.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 154 Egypt 19.8% compare
- 155 Central African Republic 19.3% compare
- 156 Tanzania, United Republic of 19.0% compare
- 158 French Polynesia 18.3% compare
- 159 Russian Federation 18.2% compare
- 160 Eritrea 18.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 110.33 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0011 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.03 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 761.14 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 6.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0076 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 34.73 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 38.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exports of goods and services in Sri Lanka?
- Exports of goods and services in Sri Lanka was 19.0% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest exports of goods and services recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 39.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest exports of goods and services recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for exports of goods and services?
- Sri Lanka ranks 157th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is exports of goods and services rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Exports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods includes changes in the economic ownership of goods from residents of the compiling economy to non-residents, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Exports of services includes services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.