Three metrics of inequality in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Three metrics of inequality was 59.11 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Three metrics of inequality in Sri Lanka, 1985–2016
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2016, three metrics of inequality in Sri Lanka stood at 59.11.
That represents a change of down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, three metrics of inequality in Sri Lanka peaked at 61.44 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 53.4, in 1985.
Sri Lanka ranks 35th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Three metrics of inequality in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 53.4 | — |
| 1990 | 54.78 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 56.2 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 61.44 | +9.3% |
| 2006 | 60.62 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 57.23 | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 59.19 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 59.11 | -0.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 59.11 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 58.98, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 53.4 | 53.4 | 53.4 | 1 |
| 1990s | 55.49 | 54.78 | 56.2 | 2 |
| 2000s | 59.76 | 57.23 | 61.44 | 3 |
| 2010s | 59.15 | 59.11 | 59.19 | 2 |
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 three metrics of inequality in Sri Lanka?
- Three metrics of inequality in Sri Lanka was 59.11 in 2016, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest three metrics of inequality recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 61.44 in 2002.
- What is the lowest three metrics of inequality recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.4 in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for three metrics of inequality?
- Sri Lanka ranks 35th out of 113 countries with data for 2016.
- Is three metrics of inequality 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 Three metrics of inequality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.