Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) was 11.5% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 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. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 11.5% for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 18.4% on the previous year and down 52.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in Sri Lanka peaked at 52.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2019.
Sri Lanka ranks 44th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 52.3% | — |
| 1990 | 50.6% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 48.0% | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 42.5% | -11.5% |
| 2006 | 30.2% | -28.9% |
| 2009 | 24.2% | -19.9% |
| 2012 | 20.1% | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 14.1% | -29.9% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | -18.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 52.3% | 52.3% | 52.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 49.3% | 48.0% | 50.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.3% | 24.2% | 42.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 11.5% | 20.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More poverty & inequality data for Sri Lanka
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in Sri Lanka?
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in Sri Lanka was 11.5% 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 $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 52.3% in 1985.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 44th out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $4.20 a day at 2021 international prices.