Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) was 16.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Sri Lanka, 1990–2021
Source: Staff estimates. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Sri Lanka stood at 16.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.2% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Sri Lanka peaked at 79.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 12.9%, in 2015.
Sri Lanka ranks 45th of 184 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35.0% | — |
| 1993 | 31.8% | -9.2% |
| 1994 | 34.1% | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 28.1% | -17.5% |
| 1998 | 20.9% | -25.8% |
| 2000 | 17.6% | -15.5% |
| 2001 | 16.8% | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 15.9% | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 17.2% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 18.2% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 18.1% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 17.6% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 18.7% | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 18.4% | -11.6% |
| 2015 | 12.9% | -29.9% |
| 2017 | 25.6% | +98.9% |
| 2018 | 42.0% | +64.0% |
| 2019 | 79.8% | +89.8% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | -73.4% |
| 2021 | 16.3% | -23.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 16.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.6%, 2.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 16.3% is above the median for South Asia, which is 15.7%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +98.9% | 12.9% | 25.6% |
| 2019 | +89.8% | 42.0% | 79.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 20.9% | 35.0% | 5 |
| 2000s | 17.6% | 15.9% | 18.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 29.8% | 12.9% | 79.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 16.3% | 21.2% | 2 |
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 tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Sri Lanka?
- Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Sri Lanka was 16.3% in 2021, according to Staff estimates.
- What is the highest tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 79.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.9% in 2015.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products?
- Sri Lanka ranks 45th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, published as part of Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Simple mean applied tariff is the unweighted average of effectively applied rates for all products subject to tariffs calculated for all traded goods. Data are classified using the Harmonized System of trade at the six- or eight-digit level. Tariff line data were matched to Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) revision 3 codes to define commodity groups. Effectively applied tariff rates at the six- and eight-digit product level are averaged for products in each commodity group. When the effectively applied rate is unavailable, the most favored nation rate is used instead. To the extent possible, specific rates have been converted to their ad valorem equivalent rates and have been included in the calculation of simple mean tariffs. Primary products are commodities classified in SITC revision 3 sections 0-4 plus division 68 (nonferrous metals).