Income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Income share held by highest 10% was 30.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Income share held by highest 10% 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.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka is 30.8%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka peaked at 32.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 26.4%, in 1985.
That places Sri Lanka 30th out of 121 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.4% | 26.4% | 26.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.2% | 27.5% | 29.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 31.5% | 29.6% | 32.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 31.8% | 30.8% | 32.6% | 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)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 11.5% (2019)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 53.3% (2019)
- Poverty gap at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 0.4% (2019)
- Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 2.7% (2019)
- Prosperity gap 4 average shortfall from a prosperity standard of $28/day (2019)
- Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) 17.6% (2019)
- Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line 22.8% (2019)
- Poverty gap at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) 2.2% (2019)
- Population living in slums 44.7% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka?
- Income share held by highest 10% in Sri Lanka was 30.8% 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 income share held by highest 10% recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 32.7% in 2002.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 10% recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.4% in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for income share held by highest 10%?
- Sri Lanka ranks 30th out of 121 countries with data for 2019.
- Is income share held by highest 10% rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Income share held by highest 10%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles.