Income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Income share held by highest 20% was 45.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Income share held by highest 20% 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
In 2019, income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka stood at 45.7%.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka peaked at 48.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 41.1%, in 1985.
Sri Lanka ranks 36th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 41.1% | — |
| 1990 | 41.7% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 44.0% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 48.0% | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 47.4% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 44.4% | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 46.6% | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 47.2% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 45.7% | -3.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 45.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.5%, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 45.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 39.0%, 1.2× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.1% | 41.1% | 41.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 42.9% | 41.7% | 44.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 46.6% | 44.4% | 48.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 46.5% | 45.7% | 47.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 33 Uruguay 46.1% compare
- 34 El Salvador 45.8% compare
- 34 Jamaica 45.8% compare
- 37 Gambia 45.6% compare
- 38 Dominican Republic 45.4% compare
- 39 Burkina Faso 45.3% compare
- 39 Uganda 45.3% 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 income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka?
- Income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka was 45.7% 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 income share held by highest 20% recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 2002.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.1% in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- Sri Lanka ranks 36th out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. 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 20%. 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. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.