Country explorer: Sri Lanka
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Sri Lanka is a tropical, lower-middle-income island nation in South Asia with a medium-sized population. Its economy has grown rapidly in recent decades, and is based on tourism, tea production and textile manufacturing.
Sri Lanka boasts a rich cultural heritage with vibrant festivals and traditions.
Economy
Sri Lanka has experienced significant economic fluctuations, with periods of impressive GDP per capita growth and increased consumer inflation, alongside challenges including notably higher unemployment rates compared to some peers, reflecting the nation's ongoing struggle with balancing growth, inflation control, and job creation.
Demographics
Sri Lanka has experienced modest population growth with gradually declining fertility rates, alongside a consistently positive net migration and notable improvements in life expectancy, paralleling trends seen in several other middle-income countries yet distinguishing itself with a notably higher life expectancy.
Basic needs
Sri Lanka has seen notable progress in access to basic needs, with a significant increase in the population's access to clean fuels for cooking, electricity, and safely managed drinking water, reflecting broader societal advancements not uniformly seen among its lower-middle-income peers.
Human development
Sri Lanka has demonstrated significant human development progress, manifesting in improved health outcomes, elevated literacy rates, and extended learning-adjusted years of schooling, distinguishing it as a nation with one of the most progressive human development trajectories among its lower-middle-income peers.
Environment & energy
Sri Lanka has experienced a significant shift towards renewable energy in electricity production, managed to keep its per capita CO2 emissions relatively low compared to regional standards, and despite facing challenges, has maintained its forest area and freshwater resources, showcasing a balance between development and environmental preservation.
Technology & innovation
Sri Lanka has shown significant progress in technology and innovation, evidenced by a robust increase in internet usage, mobile phone subscriptions, and scientific outputs, aligning it closely with similar advancements in lower-middle-income countries despite its smaller scale.
Culture & society
Sri Lanka has displayed modest improvements in gender inequality and life satisfaction, while maintaining a low share of the population born abroad and experiencing a significant increase in its age dependency ratio, showcasing a blend of stability and progressive shifts characteristic of evolving societies.
Governance
Sri Lanka has experienced fluctuations in governance measures, including gradual declines in rule of law and political civil liberties, amidst a backdrop of ongoing concerns regarding corruption and press freedom, reflecting a complex governance trajectory with common challenges shared by several neighboring and lower-middle-income countries.