Sri Lanka—Self-Employed (% of total)
Category: LaborSource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #74 of 188Updated April 2026
Latest Value
42.1%
2025
YoY Change
-0.2%
2024 → 2025
Global Rank
#74
of 188 countries
Maximum
47.8%
2006
Minimum
42.0%
2022
CAGR
-0.5%
26 years
Last
42.1%
Previous
42.2%
Highest
47.8%
Lowest
42.0%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
Sri Lanka's self-employed (% of total) was 42.1% in 2025, ranking #74 out of 188 countries. This represents a -0.2% change from 2024. Over the past 26 years, the highest recorded value was 47.8% (2006) and the lowest was 42.0% (2022). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 42.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 42.1% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 42.0% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 42.7% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 42.5% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 42.1% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 42.2% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 42.3% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 42.2% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 43.9% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 43.0% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 43.7% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 43.6% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 44.9% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 45.4% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 45.8% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 47.3% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 46.9% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 44.1% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 43.9% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 45.5% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 45.5% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 44.7% | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 47.1% |
Top Countries — Self-Employed (% of total)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chad | 91.6% | 2025 |
| 2 | Niger | 89.5% | 2025 |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 88.8% | 2025 |
| 4 | Madagascar | 88.3% | 2025 |
| 5 | Nigeria | 86.2% | 2025 |
| 6 | Central African Republic | 85.4% | 2025 |
| 7 | Tanzania | 85.3% | 2025 |
| 8 | Mozambique | 85.3% | 2025 |
| 9 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 85.1% | 2025 |
| 10 | Burundi | 84.9% | 2025 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Self-Employed (% of total) — World Bank World Development Indicators.
Methodology
Data compiled by ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), uri: https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/bulk/, publisher: ILOSTAT, type: external database, date accessed: January 17, 2026.