Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Imports of goods, services and primary income was 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sri Lanka, 1975–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ for imports of goods, services and primary income in 2024.
That represents a change of up 15.1% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods, services and primary income in Sri Lanka peaked at 29.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 707.09 million BoP, current US$, in 1976.
Sri Lanka ranks 90th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 829.15 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 707.09 million BoP, current US$ | -14.7% |
| 1977 | 796.35 million BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1978 | 1.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.1% |
| 1979 | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.7% |
| 1980 | 2.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.6% |
| 1981 | 2.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 2.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1983 | 2.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 2.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 1986 | 2.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 2.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 2.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 2.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 3.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.4% |
| 1991 | 3.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.9% |
| 1992 | 4.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 4.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.5% |
| 1994 | 5.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.0% |
| 1995 | 6.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.1% |
| 1996 | 6.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 6.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 7.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 7.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 8.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.8% |
| 2001 | 7.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.3% |
| 2002 | 7.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 8.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 9.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2005 | 10.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2006 | 12.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2007 | 13.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 16.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.4% |
| 2009 | 12.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.1% |
| 2010 | 16.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.2% |
| 2011 | 23.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +44.6% |
| 2012 | 23.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 23.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 25.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 25.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 25.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 27.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 29.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 27.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 20.68 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.2% |
| 2021 | 23.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.2% |
| 2022 | 21.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.74 billion BoP, current US$, 1.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for South Asia, which is 20.09 billion BoP, current US$, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.01 billion BoP, current US$ | 707.09 million BoP, current US$ | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 2.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.84 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 29.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 20.68 billion BoP, current US$ | 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 87 Kenya 29.98 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 88 Côte d'Ivoire 26.64 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 89 Uruguay 26.29 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 91 Ethiopia 25.50 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 92 Tunisia 24.85 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 93 Georgia 24.51 billion BoP, current US$ 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$), annual growth rate 38.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods, services and primary income in Sri Lanka?
- Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sri Lanka was 25.52 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 29.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 707.09 million BoP, current US$ in 1976.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for imports of goods, services and primary income?
- Sri Lanka ranks 90th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods, services and primary income rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. 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 Imports of goods, services and primary income (BoP, current US$). 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. Primary income represents the return that accrues to institutional units for their contribution to the production process or for the provision of financial assets and renting natural resources to other institutional units. 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.