Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products was 11.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products in Sri Lanka, 1990–2021
Source: Staff estimates. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products in Sri Lanka stood at 11.0%.
That represents a change of down 6.1% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products in Sri Lanka peaked at 45.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2015.
That places Sri Lanka 38th out of 184 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37.1% | — |
| 1993 | 45.8% | +23.4% |
| 1994 | 43.9% | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 40.5% | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 20.6% | -49.2% |
| 2000 | 11.2% | -45.6% |
| 2001 | 11.0% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 8.6% | -22.2% |
| 2004 | 8.1% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 9.6% | +18.6% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | -15.0% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 8.3% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 9.7% | +16.8% |
| 2010 | 12.0% | +24.2% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 9.7% | -13.2% |
| 2014 | 9.6% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 6.9% | -27.9% |
| 2017 | 15.2% | +120.6% |
| 2018 | 19.5% | +27.9% |
| 2019 | 23.2% | +19.2% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | -49.3% |
| 2021 | 11.0% | -6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.6% | 20.6% | 45.8% | 5 |
| 2000s | 9.2% | 8.1% | 11.2% | 9 |
| 2010s | 13.4% | 6.9% | 23.2% | 8 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 11.0% | 11.8% | 2 |
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 tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products in Sri Lanka?
- Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products in Sri Lanka was 11.0% in 2021, according to Staff estimates.
- What is the highest tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 45.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2015.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products?
- Sri Lanka ranks 38th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, primary products rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. 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, weighted mean, primary products (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Weighted mean applied tariff is the average of effectively applied rates weighted by the product import shares corresponding to each partner country. 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 and import weights. To the extent possible, specific rates have been converted to their ad valorem equivalent rates and have been included in the calculation of weighted mean tariffs. Import weights were calculated using the United Nations Statistics Division's Commodity Trade (Comtrade) database. 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. Primary products are commodities classified in SITC revision 3 sections 0-4 plus division 68 (nonferrous metals).