Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) was 11.5% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
11.5%
Change on year
down 18.4%
World rank
43rd
of 120 countries
All-time high
52.3%
in 1985
All-time low
11.5%
in 2019
Years of data
9
1985–2019

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Sri Lanka, 1985–2019

10203040501985200220191985: 52.3 % of population1990: 50.6 % of population1995: 48 % of population2002: 42.5 % of population2006: 30.2 % of population2009: 24.2 % of population2012: 20.1 % of population2016: 14.1 % of population2019: 11.5 % of population

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of population.

Analysis

In 2019, poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Sri Lanka stood at 11.5%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.4% on the previous year and down 52.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Sri Lanka peaked at 52.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2019.

Sri Lanka ranks 43rd of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) (% of population) in Sri Lanka, 1985 to 2019.
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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 40 Colombia 13.9% compare
  2. 41 Ecuador 12.1% compare
  3. 42 Morocco 11.6% compare
  4. 44 Georgia 11.0% compare
  5. 45 Peru 10.7% compare
  6. 46 Nepal 9.1% compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More population data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Sri Lanka?
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) in Sri Lanka was 11.5% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 52.3% in 1985.
What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp) recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2019.
How does Sri Lanka rank for poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (ppp)?
Sri Lanka ranks 43rd out of 120 countries with data for 2019.
Is poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-3-20-a-day-ppp-percent-of-population/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
120 places, 2,250 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release