Goods imports in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Goods imports was 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Goods imports in Sri Lanka, 1975–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, goods imports in Sri Lanka stood at 18.84 billion BoP, current US$.
The figure is up 12.1% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, goods imports in Sri Lanka peaked at 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 579.53 million BoP, current US$, in 1976.
Sri Lanka ranks 82nd of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Goods imports in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 686.15 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 579.53 million BoP, current US$ | -15.5% |
| 1977 | 655.08 million BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1978 | 898.66 million BoP, current US$ | +37.2% |
| 1979 | 1.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +45.1% |
| 1980 | 1.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.5% |
| 1981 | 1.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 1.79 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 1.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 1.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 1.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 1.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 2.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 2.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 2.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 1991 | 2.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.7% |
| 1992 | 3.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 3.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1994 | 4.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.7% |
| 1995 | 4.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.4% |
| 1996 | 4.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 5.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 5.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 5.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 6.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.8% |
| 2001 | 5.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.1% |
| 2002 | 5.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 6.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 7.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.9% |
| 2005 | 7.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2006 | 9.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 10.17 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 12.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2009 | 9.19 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.6% |
| 2010 | 12.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.8% |
| 2011 | 18.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.7% |
| 2012 | 19.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 18.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 19.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 18.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 19.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 20.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 19.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.3% |
| 2020 | 16.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.5% |
| 2021 | 20.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.5% |
| 2022 | 18.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.4% |
| 2023 | 16.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.1% |
| 2024 | 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16.47 billion BoP, current US$, 1.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for South Asia, which is 15.49 billion BoP, current US$, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 824.75 million BoP, current US$ | 579.53 million BoP, current US$ | 1.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 1.83 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.33 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 12.68 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.82 billion BoP, current US$ | 12.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 20.64 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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$), annual growth rate 38.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is goods imports in Sri Lanka?
- Goods imports in Sri Lanka was 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest goods imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest goods imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 579.53 million BoP, current US$ in 1976.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for goods imports?
- Sri Lanka ranks 82nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is goods imports rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Goods imports (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods occur when there are changes in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.