International tourism, receipts (% of total exports) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: International tourism, receipts (% of total exports) was 8.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, receipts in Sri Lanka, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in % of total exports.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 8.2% for international tourism, receipts in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 65.8% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts in Sri Lanka peaked at 27.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2001.
Sri Lanka ranks 72nd of 183 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.
International tourism, receipts (% of total exports) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of total exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 7.9% | — |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -27.0% |
| 1997 | 6.4% | +9.7% |
| 1998 | 6.4% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 7.4% | +15.5% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | -18.3% |
| 2001 | 5.6% | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | +77.1% |
| 2003 | 10.8% | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 11.1% | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 9.2% | -16.7% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 9.4% | +12.0% |
| 2011 | 10.4% | +10.7% |
| 2012 | 12.9% | +24.2% |
| 2013 | 16.6% | +28.5% |
| 2014 | 19.6% | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 23.5% | +19.9% |
| 2016 | 26.3% | +12.1% |
| 2017 | 26.6% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 27.7% | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 24.0% | -13.2% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | -65.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 8.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 1.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 8.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 9.5%, 87% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.8% | 5.8% | 7.9% | 5 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 5.6% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.7% | 9.4% | 27.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More private sector data for Sri Lanka
- Merchandise trade 32.2% (2025)
- Food imports 14.9% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 63.8% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 21.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 3.35 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 29.0% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 63.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 13.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 7.05 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 624.24 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, receipts in Sri Lanka?
- International tourism, receipts in Sri Lanka was 8.2% in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, receipts recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 27.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2001.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for international tourism, receipts?
- Sri Lanka ranks 72nd out of 183 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, receipts rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, receipts (% of total exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Their share in exports is calculated as a ratio to exports of goods and services, which comprise all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to nonresidents of general merchandise, goods sent for processing and repairs, nonmonetary gold, and services.