Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard) was 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prosperity gap 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 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day for prosperity gap in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.8% on the previous year and down 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prosperity gap in Sri Lanka peaked at 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1985 and was at its lowest, 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, in 2019.
That places Sri Lanka 43rd out of 123 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | — |
| 1990 | 7.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 7.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 6.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -7.0% |
| 2006 | 5.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -15.2% |
| 2009 | 5.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 4.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 4.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | -4.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.65 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, 1.5× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day is above the median for South Asia, which is 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 7.1 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 7.3 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 5.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 6.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.33 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 4.8 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 42 Nicaragua 4.2 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 44 Egypt 3.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 44 Morocco 3.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
- 44 Nepal 3.9 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day compare
More poverty & inequality data for Sri Lanka
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 prosperity gap in Sri Lanka?
- Prosperity gap in Sri Lanka was 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day 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 prosperity gap recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 1985.
- What is the lowest prosperity gap recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for prosperity gap?
- Sri Lanka ranks 43rd out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prosperity gap rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.1%. 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 Prosperity gap (average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28 per day (adjusted for differences in purchasing power parity across countries). It is measured as the average factor by which incomes fall short of $28.