Gini index in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Gini index was 37.7 in 2019. ▲ Rising
Gini index in Sri Lanka, 1985–2019
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gini index in Sri Lanka is 37.7, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 4.1% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gini index in Sri Lanka peaked at 40.2 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 32.4, in 1990.
Sri Lanka ranks 43rd of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Gini index in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 32.5 | — |
| 1990 | 32.4 | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 35.4 | +9.3% |
| 2002 | 40.2 | +13.6% |
| 2006 | 39.7 | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 36.1 | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 38.7 | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 39.3 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 37.7 | -4.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 37.7 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36.9, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 37.7 is above the median for South Asia, which is 30, 1.3× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32.5 | 32.5 | 32.5 | 1 |
| 1990s | 33.9 | 32.4 | 35.4 | 2 |
| 2000s | 38.67 | 36.1 | 40.2 | 3 |
| 2010s | 38.57 | 37.7 | 39.3 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 42 Togo 37.9 compare
- 44 Burundi 37.5 compare
- 45 Burkina Faso 37.4 compare
- 46 Madagascar 36.8 compare
More poverty & inequality data for Sri Lanka
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (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)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 25.42 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 9.85 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 9.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gini index in Sri Lanka?
- Gini index in Sri Lanka was 37.7 in 2019, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest gini index recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 40.2 in 2002.
- What is the lowest gini index recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.4 in 1990.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for gini index?
- Sri Lanka ranks 43rd out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
- Is gini index rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Gini index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.