Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Central government revenues as a share of GDP was 11.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Sri Lanka, 1990–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 11.1% for central government revenues as a share of gdp in 2023.
The figure is up 34.6% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government revenues as a share of gdp in Sri Lanka peaked at 21.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2022.
That places Sri Lanka 147th out of 157 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.0% | — |
| 1991 | 20.5% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 20.2% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 19.7% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 19.0% | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 20.4% | +7.3% |
| 1996 | 19.0% | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 18.5% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | -7.1% |
| 1999 | 17.7% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 16.8% | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 16.6% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 15.2% | -7.7% |
| 2004 | 14.9% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 15.5% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 16.2% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 15.8% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 14.9% | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 14.5% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | -14.8% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 11.7% | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 11.4% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 10.9% | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 13.2% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 12.7% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 12.5% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 8.7% | -26.4% |
| 2021 | 8.3% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 11.1% | +34.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 11.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.7%, 43% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 11.1% is below the median for South Asia, which is 13.8%, 80% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +34.6% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.3% | 17.2% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.7% | 14.5% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.2% | 10.9% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.1% | 8.2% | 11.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 144 Guatemala 12.8% compare
- 145 Mali 12.7% compare
- 146 Madagascar 12.2% compare
- 148 Panama 10.7% compare
- 149 Guinea-Bissau 10.2% compare
- 150 Bangladesh 9.5% 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 central government revenues as a share of gdp in Sri Lanka?
- Central government revenues as a share of gdp in Sri Lanka was 11.1% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 21.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 2022.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for central government revenues as a share of gdp?
- Sri Lanka ranks 147th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included. Grants excluded.