Commercial service imports (current US$) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Commercial service imports was 3.22 billion current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Commercial service imports in Sri Lanka, 1975–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for commercial service imports in Sri Lanka is 3.22 billion current US$, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 36.9% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in Sri Lanka peaked at 4.55 billion current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 99.14 million current US$, in 1976.
Sri Lanka ranks 107th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 113.74 million current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 99.14 million current US$ | -12.8% |
| 1977 | 108.98 million current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1978 | 176.71 million current US$ | +62.1% |
| 1979 | 227.64 million current US$ | +28.8% |
| 1980 | 344.10 million current US$ | +51.2% |
| 1981 | 351.46 million current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 376.38 million current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1983 | 395.78 million current US$ | +5.2% |
| 1984 | 371.87 million current US$ | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 440.12 million current US$ | +18.4% |
| 1986 | 481.93 million current US$ | +9.5% |
| 1987 | 514.11 million current US$ | +6.7% |
| 1988 | 526.18 million current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 546.11 million current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 619.68 million current US$ | +13.5% |
| 1991 | 735.45 million current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1992 | 800.38 million current US$ | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 844.31 million current US$ | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 1.02 billion current US$ | +20.8% |
| 1995 | 1.17 billion current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1996 | 1.17 billion current US$ | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 1.27 billion current US$ | +8.3% |
| 1998 | 1.33 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 1.39 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 1.59 billion current US$ | +14.6% |
| 2001 | 1.73 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 1.55 billion current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 1.65 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 1.87 billion current US$ | +13.7% |
| 2005 | 2.05 billion current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2006 | 2.36 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 2.57 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 2.98 billion current US$ | +15.9% |
| 2009 | 2.49 billion current US$ | -16.4% |
| 2010 | 3.07 billion current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2011 | 3.97 billion current US$ | +29.2% |
| 2012 | 2.49 billion current US$ | -37.4% |
| 2013 | 3.43 billion current US$ | +38.0% |
| 2014 | 3.65 billion current US$ | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 3.99 billion current US$ | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 4.19 billion current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 4.35 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 4.53 billion current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 4.55 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 2.15 billion current US$ | -52.8% |
| 2021 | 832.12 million current US$ | -61.2% |
| 2022 | 896.87 million current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 2.36 billion current US$ | +162.7% |
| 2024 | 3.22 billion current US$ | +36.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 3.22 billion current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.89 billion current US$, 83% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 3.22 billion current US$ is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.74 billion current US$, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Commercial service imports in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +162.7% | 896.87 million current US$ | 2.36 billion current US$ |
| 2021 | -61.2% | 2.15 billion current US$ | 832.12 million current US$ |
| 2020 | -52.8% | 4.55 billion current US$ | 2.15 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 145.24 million current US$ | 99.14 million current US$ | 227.64 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 434.80 million current US$ | 344.10 million current US$ | 546.11 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.03 billion current US$ | 619.68 million current US$ | 1.39 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.08 billion current US$ | 1.55 billion current US$ | 2.98 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.82 billion current US$ | 2.49 billion current US$ | 4.55 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.89 billion current US$ | 832.12 million current US$ | 3.22 billion current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More private sector data for Sri Lanka
- Merchandise trade 32.2% (2025)
- Food imports 15.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 59.7% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 21.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 27.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 66.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 13.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 624.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1248 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.33 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in Sri Lanka?
- Commercial service imports in Sri Lanka was 3.22 billion current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 4.55 billion current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 99.14 million current US$ in 1976.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for commercial service imports?
- Sri Lanka ranks 107th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Commercial service imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Commercial service imports are total service imports minus imports of government services not included elsewhere. Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.