Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) was 17.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 17.1% for share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in Sri Lanka peaked at 22.0% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 1983.
Sri Lanka ranks 35th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.4% | — |
| 1961 | 15.9% | -2.7% |
| 1962 | 16.6% | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 16.4% | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 16.2% | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 17.5% | +8.2% |
| 1966 | 16.0% | -8.6% |
| 1967 | 15.1% | -5.8% |
| 1968 | 16.1% | +6.9% |
| 1969 | 17.3% | +7.3% |
| 1970 | 16.1% | -7.0% |
| 1971 | 17.1% | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 17.0% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 17.0% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 18.3% | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 19.4% | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 18.6% | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 22.0% | +18.4% |
| 1978 | 19.0% | -13.9% |
| 1979 | 18.1% | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 16.6% | -8.3% |
| 1981 | 15.2% | -8.7% |
| 1982 | 13.7% | -9.6% |
| 1983 | 13.1% | -4.2% |
| 1984 | 13.6% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 13.5% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 13.9% | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 14.5% | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 14.1% | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 13.9% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 13.4% | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 13.4% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 14.0% | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 13.8% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 13.9% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 14.1% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 14.7% | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 14.8% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 14.8% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 15.1% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 14.1% | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 19.1% | +35.4% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 19.5% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 19.2% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 18.0% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 18.1% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 18.5% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 18.6% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 19.7% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 18.1% | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 17.2% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 16.2% | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 16.0% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 15.0% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 16.2% | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 18.0% | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 19.7% | +9.4% |
| 2023 | 18.0% | -8.5% |
| 2024 | 17.5% | -2.7% |
| 2025 | 17.1% | -2.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 17.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.5%, 1.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 17.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 10.0%, 1.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +35.4% | 14.1% | 19.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.3% | 15.1% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.3% | 16.1% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.2% | 13.1% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.2% | 13.4% | 14.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 14.1% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.0% | 14.9% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.7% | 16.3% | 19.7% | 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 share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in Sri Lanka?
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) in Sri Lanka was 17.1% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 22.0% in 1977.
- What is the lowest share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 1983.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 35th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufacturing comprises units engaged in the physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products.