Imports of goods and services in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Imports of goods and services was 22.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Imports 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 imports of goods and services in Sri Lanka is 22.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sri Lanka peaked at 54.8% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 21.6%, in 2020.
Sri Lanka ranks 168th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Imports of goods and services in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 32.9% | — |
| 1961 | 28.5% | -13.5% |
| 1962 | 29.2% | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 27.5% | -5.9% |
| 1964 | 26.7% | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 25.5% | -4.6% |
| 1966 | 25.8% | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 23.3% | -9.8% |
| 1968 | 23.6% | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 24.6% | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 28.6% | +16.2% |
| 1971 | 26.6% | -7.0% |
| 1972 | 23.9% | -10.2% |
| 1973 | 25.6% | +6.9% |
| 1974 | 33.9% | +32.6% |
| 1975 | 35.0% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 31.4% | -10.2% |
| 1977 | 30.2% | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 39.5% | +31.1% |
| 1979 | 45.8% | +15.7% |
| 1980 | 54.8% | +19.8% |
| 1981 | 46.5% | -15.1% |
| 1982 | 46.3% | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 41.4% | -10.4% |
| 1984 | 34.7% | -16.1% |
| 1985 | 38.0% | +9.3% |
| 1986 | 35.3% | -6.9% |
| 1987 | 35.7% | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 36.8% | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 36.8% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 38.1% | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 38.9% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 41.0% | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 43.3% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 45.6% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 46.0% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 43.9% | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 43.6% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 42.3% | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 43.3% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 49.6% | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 43.6% | -12.2% |
| 2002 | 41.4% | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 40.7% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 44.2% | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 41.3% | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 41.1% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 39.5% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 38.5% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 27.8% | -27.8% |
| 2015 | 27.0% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 26.6% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 26.9% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 28.4% | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 27.6% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | -21.6% |
| 2021 | 24.3% | +12.4% |
| 2022 | 25.1% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 22.7% | -9.5% |
| 2024 | 22.4% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 22.8% | +2.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 22.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.0%, 53% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 22.8% is below the median for South Asia, which is 28.9%, 79% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 26.8% | 23.3% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 32.0% | 23.9% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.6% | 34.7% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.6% | 38.1% | 46.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.8% | 27.8% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.3% | 26.6% | 28.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 23.2% | 21.6% | 25.1% | 6 |
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 imports of goods and services in Sri Lanka?
- Imports of goods and services in Sri Lanka was 22.8% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 54.8% in 1980.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.6% in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sri Lanka ranks 168th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to 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.