View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2015 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

government operates 8 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 35 private TV stations and about 50 radio stations (2012)

Internet country code [time series]

.lk

Internet users [time series]

total: 4.4 million | percent of population: 19.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 15, FM 52, shortwave 4 (2007)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country | domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing | international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 2.7 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 22.1 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

12 (2009)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $9.978 billion | expenditures: $14.14 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-5.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2013) | 7.5% (19 December 2012) | country comparison to the world: 50

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

11.5% (31 December 2014 est.) | 12.5% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Current account balance [time series]

-$2.79 billion (2014 est.) | -$2.665 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Debt - external [time series]

$27.11 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $26.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

49 (2010) | 46 (1995) | country comparison to the world: 22

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth following the end of the government's 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in its efforts to spur growth in war-torn and disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises and increase agricultural productivity. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service have contributed to historically high budget deficits, but fiscal consolidation efforts and strong GDP growth in recent years have helped bring down the government's fiscal deficit, but low tax revenues remain a concern. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Agriculture slowed due to a drought and weak global demand affected exports and trade. In early 2012, Sri Lanka floated the rupee, resulting in a sharp depreciation, and took steps to curb imports. A large trade deficit remains a concern, but strong remittances from Sri Lankan workers abroad help offset the trade deficit. Government debt of about 80% of GDP remains among the highest in emerging markets.

Exchange rates [time series]

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - | 130.4 (2014 est.) | 129.07 (2013 est.) | 127.6 (2012 est.) | 110.57 (2011 est.) | 113.06 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$11.88 billion (2014 est.) | $10.39 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Exports - commodities [time series]

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish

Exports - partners [time series]

US 25%, UK 10.2%, India 5.7%, Italy 5.6%, Germany 4.6% (2014)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$74.59 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$217.4 billion (2014 est.) | $202.5 billion (2013 est.) | $188.7 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 63

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 10.2% | industry: 33.1% | services: 56.7% (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$10,400 (2014 est.) | $9,700 (2013 est.) | $9,000 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 130

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7.4% (2014 est.) | 7.3% (2013 est.) | 6.3% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Gross national saving [time series]

23.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 26% of GDP (2013 est.) | 23.9% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.6% | highest 10%: 39.5% (2009)

Imports [time series]

$19.24 billion (2014 est.) | $18 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

India 20.7%, China 17.8%, UAE 9.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Japan 4.9% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Industries [time series]

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.3% (2014 est.) | 6.9% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Labor force [time series]

8.916 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 31.8% | industry: 25.8% | services: 42.4% (June 2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$18.48 billion (31 November 2013 est.) | $17.05 billion (31 December 2012) | $19.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Population below poverty line [time series]

8.9% (2010 est.)

Public debt [time series]

78.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 78.3% of GDP (2013 est.) | note: covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments | country comparison to the world: 30

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$8.314 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $7.495 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Stock of broad money [time series]

$27.19 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $23.39 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$36.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $33.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$4.037 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.706 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

13.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Unemployment rate [time series]

4% (2014 est.) | 4.4% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

15.23 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Crude oil - imports [time series]

36,380 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - consumption [time series]

9.557 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

55.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

44.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

3.147 million kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - production [time series]

11.8 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

94,470 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

44,270 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

35,440 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 65,610 sq km | land: 64,630 sq km | water: 980 sq km | country comparison to the world: 122

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Coastline [time series]

1,340 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m | highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 12.95 cu km/yr (6%/6%/87%) | per capita: 638.8 cu m/yr (2005)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

Irrigated land [time series]

5,700 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 43.5% | arable land 20.7%; permanent crops 15.8%; permanent pasture 7% | forest: 29.4% | other: 27.1% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Natural resources [time series]

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land

Terrain [time series]

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Total renewable water resources [time series]

52.8 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Capital [time series]

name: Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital | geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E | time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended many times, last in 2010 (2010)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka | conventional short form: Sri Lanka | local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu | local short form: Shri Lanka/Ilankai | former: Serendib, Ceylon

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Atul KESHAP (since 21 August 2015); note - also accredited to Maldives | embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 | mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo | telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500 | FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Prasad KARIYAWASAM (since 14 July 2014) | chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181 | consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Ranil WICKREMESINGHE (since 9 January 2015) holds the title of prime minister | head of government: President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister | elections/appointments: president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 January 2015 (next to be held by January 2021); note - the January 2015 election was held nearly 2 years ahead of schedule | election results: Maithripala SIRISENA elected president; percent of vote - Maithripala SIRISENA (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) 51.3%, Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) 47.6%, other 1.1%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green Sri Lankan Moors, and maroon the Sinhalese majority; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation | judge selection and term of office: the chief justice appointed by the president; the other justices appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; all justices hold office until age 65 | subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate's Courts; municipal and primary courts

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Parliament (225 seats; 196 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote using a preferential method in which voters select 3 candidates in order of preference; remaining 29 seats allocated to other political parties and groups in proportion to share of national vote; members serve 6-year terms) | elections: last held on 17 August 2015 (next to be held in 2021) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by alliance/party - UNP 106, UPFA 95, Tamil National Alliance 16, JVP 6, other 2

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka) | lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE | note: adopted 1951

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

All Ceylon Muslim Congress [Rishad BAITHUTHEEN] | Democratic National Alliance, led by General (Retired) Sarath FONSEKA | Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE] | Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU [Patali Champika RANAWAKA] | Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Maithripala SIRISENA and Mahinda RAJAPAKSA claimed leadership as of January 2015] | Sri Lanka Muslim Congress [Rauff HAKEEM] | Tamil National Alliance [R. SAMPANTHAN] | United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE] | United People's Freedom Alliance or UPFA

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Buddhist clergy | Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups | other: labor unions; hard-line nationalist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Potuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007 and by May 2009, the remnants of the LTTE had been defeated. Since the end of the conflict, the government has enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects, many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China. In addition to efforts at reconstructing its economy, the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. At the same time, there has been little progress on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,342,147 | females age 16-49: 5,466,409 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 4,177,432 | females age 16-49: 4,574,833 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 167,026 | female: 162,587 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2015)

Military expenditures [time series]

2.43% of GDP (2012) | 2.89% of GDP (2011) | 2.43% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 29

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.58% (male 2,764,848/female 2,655,218) | 15-24 years: 14.77% (male 1,652,884/female 1,604,089) | 25-54 years: 41.9% (male 4,523,146/female 4,718,156) | 55-64 years: 9.72% (male 992,750/female 1,149,828) | 65 years and over: 9.04% (male 847,805/female 1,144,764) (2015 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.85 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

26.3% (2012) | country comparison to the world: 23

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

68.4% (2006/07)

Death rate [time series]

6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 51.2% | youth dependency ratio: 37.2% | elderly dependency ratio: 14.1% | potential support ratio: 7.1% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

1.7% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 168

Ethnic groups [time series]

Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.03% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

100 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

3,300 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

3.2% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 177

Hospital bed density [time series]

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9.75 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Languages [time series]

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% | note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.56 years | male: 73.06 years | female: 80.19 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 92.6% | male: 93.6% | female: 91.7% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A | vectorborne disease: dengue fever | water contact disease: leptospirosis | animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 128,000 (2014); COLOMBO (capital) 707,000 (2015)

Median age [time series]

total: 32.1 years | male: 30.9 years | female: 33.3 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sri Lankan(s) | adjective: Sri Lankan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

6.8% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 155

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.68 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

22,053,488 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Population growth rate [time series]

0.84% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Religions [time series]

Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years | male: 13 years | female: 14 years (2012)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.1 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 17.3% | male: 14% | female: 23.5% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 18.4% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.72% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: up to 73,700 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2015)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Sri Lanka is primarily a source and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some Sri Lankan adults and children who migrate willingly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and the US to work as domestic servants, construction workers, or garment factory workers subsequently face conditions of forced labor, including restrictions on movement, withholding of passports, abuse, and threats; some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Singapore, Maldives, and other countries, while some foreign women are forced into prostitution in Sri Lanka; within Sri Lanka, women and children are also subjected to sex trafficking, and other children are forced to work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Sri Lanka does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; modest trafficking prevention efforts in 2013 included updating a national action plan and launching awareness campaigns; law enforcement efforts were limited; no traffickers were convicted under the trafficking statute and none of those convicted under the procurement statute served prison time; labor recruitment regulations were rarely enforced; authorities did not approve guidelines developed in 2012 for the identification of victims and their referral to protective services; no government employees were investigated or prosecuted, despite allegations of complicity (2014)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

19 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 137

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 15 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 | 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | 3 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 21 | by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 13, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2 | foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 8) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 94

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Colombo | container port(s) (TEUs): Colombo (3,651,963)

Railways [time series]

total: 1,447 km | broad gauge: 1,447 km 1.676-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 80

Roadways [time series]

total: 114,093 km | paved: 16,977 km | unpaved: 97,116 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 41

Waterways [time series]

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 100