Income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Income share held by highest 20% was 45.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
45.7%
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
37th
of 121 countries
All-time high
48.0%
in 2002
All-time low
41.1%
in 1985
Years of data
9
1985–2019

Income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka, 1985–2019

010203040501985200220191985: 41.11990: 41.71995: 442002: 482006: 47.42009: 44.42012: 46.62016: 47.22019: 45.7

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

In 2019, income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka stood at 45.7%.

The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka peaked at 48.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 41.1%, in 1985.

Sri Lanka ranks 37th of 121 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 41.1% 41.1% 41.1% 1
1990s 42.9% 41.7% 44.0% 2
2000s 46.6% 44.4% 48.0% 3
2010s 46.5% 45.7% 47.2% 3

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 34 Uruguay 46.1% compare
  2. 35 El Salvador 45.8% compare
  3. 35 Jamaica 45.8% compare
  4. 38 Gambia 45.6% compare
  5. 39 Dominican Republic 45.4% compare
  6. 40 Burkina Faso 45.3% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka?
Income share held by highest 20% in Sri Lanka was 45.7% 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 20% recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 2002.
What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 41.1% in 1985.
How does Sri Lanka rank for income share held by highest 20%?
Sri Lanka ranks 37th out of 121 countries with data for 2019.
Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. 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 20%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Income share held by highest 20%
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
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,305 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.