Income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Income share held by highest 10% was 30.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Income share held by highest 10% 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 income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka is 30.8%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka peaked at 32.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 26.4%, in 1985.
That places Sri Lanka 29th out of 123 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
Income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 26.4% | — |
| 1990 | 27.5% | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 29.0% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 32.7% | +12.8% |
| 2006 | 32.3% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 29.6% | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 31.9% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 32.6% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 30.8% | -5.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 30.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28.5%, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 30.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 24.2%, 1.3× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.4% | 26.4% | 26.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.2% | 27.5% | 29.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 31.5% | 29.6% | 32.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 31.8% | 30.8% | 32.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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 income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka?
- Income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka was 30.8% 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 income share held by highest 10% recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 32.7% in 2002.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 10% recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.4% in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for income share held by highest 10%?
- Sri Lanka ranks 29th out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
- Is income share held by highest 10% rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. 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 Income share held by highest 10%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles.