What is gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka?

Gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka was 0.5911 in 2016, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest gini coefficient (before tax) recorded in Sri Lanka?

The highest recorded value was 0.6144 in 2002.

What is the lowest gini coefficient (before tax) recorded in Sri Lanka?

The lowest recorded value was 0.534 in 1985.

How does Sri Lanka rank for gini coefficient (before tax)?

Sri Lanka ranks 35th out of 113 countries with data for 2016.

Is gini coefficient (before tax) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?

The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gini coefficient (before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka

Name: Gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka
Creator: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Sri Lanka: Gini coefficient (before tax) was 0.5911 in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)

0.5911

World rank

35th

of 113 countries

All-time high

0.6144

in 2002

All-time low

0.534

in 1985

Years of data

1985–2016

Gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka, 1985–2016

Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2016, gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka stood at 0.5911.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka peaked at 0.6144 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.534, in 1985.

That places Sri Lanka 35th out of 113 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1980s	0.534	0.534	0.534	1
1990s	0.5549	0.5478	0.562	2
2000s	0.5976	0.5723	0.6144	3
2010s	0.5915	0.5911	0.5919	2

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

32 Kenya 0.5953 compare
33 Georgia 0.5932 compare
33 Hong Kong 0.5932 compare
36 Jordan 0.5898 compare
37 Malawi 0.5885 compare
38 United States 0.5869 compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Sri Lanka

Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.97 live births per woman (2023)
Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,804 kg per hectare (2023)
Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 9.8% (2023)
Gender Inequality Index 0.367 (2023)
Lifespan inequality: Gini coefficient in women 0.0829 (2023)
Lifespan inequality: Gini coefficient by sex 0.0829 (2023)
Lifespan inequality: Gini coefficient in men 0.1045 (2023)
Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 14.7% (2023)
Income inequality: Atkinson index 0.3658 (2023)

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka?: Gini coefficient (before tax) in Sri Lanka was 0.5911 in 2016, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest gini coefficient (before tax) recorded in Sri Lanka?: The highest recorded value was 0.6144 in 2002.
What is the lowest gini coefficient (before tax) recorded in Sri Lanka?: The lowest recorded value was 0.534 in 1985.
How does Sri Lanka rank for gini coefficient (before tax)?: Sri Lanka ranks 35th out of 113 countries with data for 2016.
Is gini coefficient (before tax) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?: The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gini coefficient (before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator: Gini coefficient (before tax)
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 113 places, 3,075 data points, 1820–2024
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The Gini coefficient measures inequality on a scale from 0 to 1. Higher values indicate higher inequality. Inequality is measured here in terms of income before taxes and benefits.