Aid, poverty & equality · South Asia · Upper-middle income
Sri Lanka: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 2.7% (2019), 66th of 151 in the world and 2nd of 6 in South Asia. Poverty, $4.20/day is 11.5% (2019), 60th of 151 in the world and 3rd of 6 in South Asia. Poverty, $8.30/day is 53.3% (2019), 56th of 151 in the world and 3rd of 6 in South Asia.
Undernourishment
Sri LankaSouth AsiaUpper-middle incomeWorld
Food insecurity
Sri LankaSouth AsiaUpper-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Sri Lanka in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within South Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 2.7%2019 | 66/151 | 2/6 | 20.7%2002 | 7.8%2009 | 2.7%2019 | −5.1 ppsince 2009 | 2.6% | 2.1% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 11.5%2019 | 60/151 | 3/6 | 42.5%2002 | 24.2%2009 | 11.5%2019 | −12.7 ppsince 2009 | 15.0% | 5.4% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 53.3%2019 | 56/151 | 3/6 | 78.9%2002 | 70.9%2009 | 53.3%2019 | −17.6 ppsince 2009 | 76.9% | 26.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 14.3%2019 | 113/145 | 3/5 | 46.8%2002 | 28.4%2009 | 14.3%2019 | −14.1 ppsince 2009 | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 37.72019 | 55/151 | 1/6 | 40.22002 | 36.12009 | 37.72019 | +4.4%since 2009 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 30.8%2019 | 39/151 | 1/6 | 32.7%2002 | 29.6%2009 | 30.8%2019 | +1.2 ppsince 2009 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 7.4%2019 | 66/151 | 6/6 | 7.0%2002 | 7.8%2009 | 7.4%2019 | −0.4 ppsince 2009 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 4.9%2024 | 84/167 | 4/4 | 16.8%2001 | 11.0% | 3.3% | −1.2 ppsince 2014 | 9.5% | 4.0% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 10.1%2024 | 112/155 | 4/4 | · | · | 10.0% | — | 36.7% | 12.6% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 81.7%2024 | 57/145 | 2/4 | · | 68.5%2011 | 89.3%2021 | −1.0 ppsince 2014 | 77.6% | 84.0% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 9.8%2025 | 170/190 | 4/6 | 4.9%1999 | 5.3% | 5.4% | +4.9 ppsince 2015 | 11.2% | 27.0% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $827m2023 | 48/145 | 4/6 | $222m | $459m | $219m | +105%since 2013 | $10.7bn | $57.4bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 1.0%2023 | 96/139 | 5/6 | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.3% | +0.5 ppsince 2013 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $37.52023 | 98/145 | 4/6 | $11.5 | $22.0 | $10.0 | +92%since 2013 | $6.4 | $18.8 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−5.1 pp2.7% in 2019
- Poverty, $4.20/day−12.7 pp11.5% in 2019
- Poverty, $8.30/day−17.6 pp53.3% in 2019
- National poverty rate−14.1 pp14.3% in 2019
Worse than ten years ago
- Gini index+4.4%37.7 in 2019
- Top 10% income share+1.2 pp30.8% in 2019
- Bottom 20% income share−0.4 pp7.4% in 2019
- Account ownership−1.0 pp81.7% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Sri Lanka and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Sri Lanka. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Sri Lanka | India |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 2.7%2019 | 2.6%2023 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 11.5%2019 | 16.1%2023 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 53.3%2019 | 80.0%2023 |
| National poverty rate | 14.3%2019 | 21.9%2011 |
| Gini index | 37.72019 | 23.02023 |
| Top 10% income share | 30.8%2019 | 20.5%2023 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 7.4%2019 | 11.1%2023 |
| Undernourishment | 4.9%2024 | 9.8%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 10.1%2024 | — |