Real gdp growth in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Real gdp growth was 5.01 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Real gdp growth in Sri Lanka, 1980–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, real gdp growth in Sri Lanka stood at 5.01.
That represents a change of up 315.0% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real gdp growth in Sri Lanka peaked at 12.16 in 1996 and was at its lowest, -7.35, in 2022.
Sri Lanka ranks 41st of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Real gdp growth in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.85 | — |
| 1981 | 5.34 | -8.6% |
| 1982 | 5.23 | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 3.31 | -36.7% |
| 1984 | 6.72 | +102.9% |
| 1985 | 4.96 | -26.3% |
| 1986 | 4.28 | -13.6% |
| 1987 | 1.45 | -66.0% |
| 1988 | 2.7 | +85.6% |
| 1989 | 2.25 | -16.6% |
| 1990 | 6.17 | +174.4% |
| 1991 | 10.82 | +75.3% |
| 1992 | -3.13 | -129.0% |
| 1993 | 7.48 | -338.5% |
| 1994 | 8.04 | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 6.05 | -24.7% |
| 1996 | 12.16 | +101.0% |
| 1997 | 10.29 | -15.4% |
| 1998 | -1.65 | -116.0% |
| 1999 | 2.88 | -274.9% |
| 2000 | 8.42 | +192.4% |
| 2001 | -1.95 | -123.1% |
| 2002 | 3.73 | -291.3% |
| 2003 | 5.94 | +59.4% |
| 2004 | 5.45 | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 6.24 | +14.6% |
| 2006 | 7.67 | +22.8% |
| 2007 | 6.8 | -11.4% |
| 2008 | 5.95 | -12.5% |
| 2009 | 3.54 | -40.5% |
| 2010 | 8.02 | +126.5% |
| 2011 | 8.67 | +8.1% |
| 2012 | 8.63 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 4.05 | -53.1% |
| 2014 | 6.38 | +57.4% |
| 2015 | 4.21 | -34.1% |
| 2016 | 5.05 | +20.2% |
| 2017 | 6.46 | +27.8% |
| 2018 | 2.31 | -64.2% |
| 2019 | -0.22 | -109.5% |
| 2020 | -4.62 | +2002.3% |
| 2021 | 4.21 | -191.0% |
| 2022 | -7.35 | -274.7% |
| 2023 | -2.33 | -68.3% |
| 2024 | 5.01 | -315.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.01 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.49, 1.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5.01 is above the median for South Asia, which is 4.81, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Real gdp growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -2002.3% | -0.22 | -4.62 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.21 | 1.45 | 6.72 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.91 | -3.13 | 12.16 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.18 | -1.95 | 8.42 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.36 | -0.22 | 8.67 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.02 | -7.35 | 5.01 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 314.98 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -66.71 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 0.0483 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -68.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 0.0353 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 33.41 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is real gdp growth in Sri Lanka?
- Real gdp growth in Sri Lanka was 5.01 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest real gdp growth recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 12.16 in 1996.
- What is the lowest real gdp growth recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.35 in 2022.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for real gdp growth?
- Sri Lanka ranks 41st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is real gdp growth rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Real gdp growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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