Trade & investment · South Asia · Upper-middle income
Sri Lanka: trade and investment
Exports is 19.0% (2025), 150th of 184 in the world and 4th of 6 in South Asia. Imports is 22.8% (2025), 159th of 184 in the world and 5th of 6 in South Asia. Trade openness is 41.8% (2025), 158th of 184 in the world and 5th of 6 in South Asia.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 19.0%2025 | 150/184 | 4/6 | 39.0% | 21.3%2009 | 15.5% | −0.9 ppsince 2015 | 21.0% | 25.9% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 22.8%2025 | 159/184 | 5/6 | 49.6% | 27.8%2009 | 21.6% | −4.2 ppsince 2015 | 23.5% | 23.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 41.8%2025 | 158/184 | 5/6 | 88.6% | 49.1%2009 | 37.1% | −5.1 ppsince 2015 | 44.6% | 48.9% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 1.6%2025 | 60/185 | 2/6 | -6.3% | -1.8% | -1.4% | +3.8 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $13.6bn2025 | 92/206 | 3/6 | $5.4bn | $8.6bn | $10.0bn | +29%since 2015 | $511bn | $7.7tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 1.5%2024 | 140/170 | 2/5 | · | 1.1% | 1.3% | +0.6 ppsince 2014 | 18.1% | 23.2% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 3.6%2025 | 82/172 | 2/5 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 2.7% | +1.8 ppsince 2015 | 12.8% | 5.2% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 29.0%2025 | 52/172 | 3/5 | 20.3% | 26.9% | 26.6% | +3.4 ppsince 2015 | 12.6% | 9.0% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 4.4%2021 | 87/184 | 6/6 | 6.8% | 8.0% | 6.3% | −3.3 ppsince 2011 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 1.0%2025 | 146/197 | 3/6 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.5% | +0.2 ppsince 2015 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 7.6%2025 | 39/178 | 2/6 | 7.0% | 7.0% | 8.5% | −0.6 ppsince 2015 | 4.5% | 1.0% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 540,0002020 | 120/196 | 3/6 | 445,000 | 766,000 | 540,000 | −30%since 2010 | 27.1m | 573m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $1.1bn2020 | 69/177 | 3/6 | $388m | $1.0bn | $1.1bn | +3.1%since 2010 | $41.9bn | — | $1.9tn |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | 19.0%2025 | 22.3%2025 |
| Imports | 22.8%2025 | 24.0%2025 |
| Trade openness | 41.8%2025 | 46.3%2025 |
| Current account | 1.6%2025 | -0.5%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $13.6bn2025 | $445bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 1.5%2024 | 18.6%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 3.6%2025 | 13.1%2025 |
| Food exports | 29.0%2025 | 11.9%2025 |
| Average tariff | 4.4%2021 | 4.6%2022 |