Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) was 2.7% in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
2.7%
Change on year
down 28.9%
World rank
50th
of 123 countries
All-time high
28.2%
in 1985
All-time low
2.7%
in 2019
Years of data
9
1985–2019

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in Sri Lanka, 1985–2019

01020301985200220191985: 28.2 % of population1990: 23.4 % of population1995: 23 % of population2002: 20.7 % of population2006: 12.2 % of population2009: 7.8 % of population2012: 6.4 % of population2016: 3.8 % of population2019: 2.7 % of population

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. Measured in % of population.

Analysis

In 2019, poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in Sri Lanka stood at 2.7%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

The figure is down 28.9% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in Sri Lanka peaked at 28.2% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2019.

Sri Lanka ranks 50th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) in Sri Lanka, 1985 to 2019.
Year % of population Change
1985 28.2%
1990 23.4% -17.0%
1995 23.0% -1.7%
2002 20.7% -10.0%
2006 12.2% -41.1%
2009 7.8% -36.1%
2012 6.4% -17.9%
2016 3.8% -40.6%
2019 2.7% -28.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 28.2% 28.2% 28.2% 1
1990s 23.2% 23.0% 23.4% 2
2000s 13.6% 7.8% 20.7% 3
2010s 4.3% 2.7% 6.4% 3

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 47 Ecuador 3.4% compare
  2. 48 Panama 3.1% compare
  3. 49 Brazil 3.0% compare
  4. 51 Iran, Islamic Republic of 2.5% compare
  5. 51 Montenegro 2.5% compare
  6. 53 Nepal 2.4% compare

See the full ranking of 137 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in Sri Lanka?
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) in Sri Lanka was 2.7% 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 poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 28.2% in 1985.
What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2019.
How does Sri Lanka rank for poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp)?
Sri Lanka ranks 50th out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
Is poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on 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. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-3-00-a-day-2021-ppp-percent-of-population/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population)
Unit
% of population
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
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
137 places, 2,872 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day at 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.