Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -2.54 trillion current LCU in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Sri Lanka, 1990–2023
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2023, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Sri Lanka stood at -2.54 trillion current LCU. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.4% on the previous year and down 401.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Sri Lanka peaked at -16.64 billion current LCU in 1990 and was at its lowest, -2.54 trillion current LCU, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 142nd out of 156 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -16.64 billion current LCU | — |
| 1991 | -24.73 billion current LCU | +48.6% |
| 1992 | -20.53 billion current LCU | -17.0% |
| 1993 | -28.21 billion current LCU | +37.4% |
| 1994 | -39.18 billion current LCU | +38.9% |
| 1995 | -50.59 billion current LCU | +29.1% |
| 1996 | -58.77 billion current LCU | +16.2% |
| 1997 | -56.37 billion current LCU | -4.1% |
| 1998 | -71.58 billion current LCU | +27.0% |
| 1999 | -64.94 billion current LCU | -9.3% |
| 2000 | -105.62 billion current LCU | +62.6% |
| 2001 | -131.47 billion current LCU | +24.5% |
| 2002 | -120.52 billion current LCU | -8.3% |
| 2003 | -125.06 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2004 | -153.33 billion current LCU | +22.6% |
| 2005 | -171.12 billion current LCU | +11.6% |
| 2006 | -202.27 billion current LCU | +18.2% |
| 2007 | -233.36 billion current LCU | +15.4% |
| 2008 | -289.72 billion current LCU | +24.2% |
| 2009 | -431.35 billion current LCU | +48.9% |
| 2010 | -404.75 billion current LCU | -6.2% |
| 2011 | -419.21 billion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2012 | -463.57 billion current LCU | +10.6% |
| 2013 | -506.18 billion current LCU | +9.2% |
| 2014 | -578.13 billion current LCU | +14.2% |
| 2015 | -828.94 billion current LCU | +43.4% |
| 2016 | -641.26 billion current LCU | -22.6% |
| 2017 | -726.47 billion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 2018 | -769.82 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2019 | -1.02 trillion current LCU | +32.7% |
| 2020 | -2.09 trillion current LCU | +105.0% |
| 2021 | -2.05 trillion current LCU | -2.0% |
| 2022 | -2.22 trillion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 2023 | -2.54 trillion current LCU | +14.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's -2.54 trillion current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -15.25 billion current LCU, 166.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's -2.54 trillion current LCU is below the median for South Asia, which is -656.01 billion current LCU, 3.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -43.15 billion current LCU | -71.58 billion current LCU | -16.64 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -196.38 billion current LCU | -431.35 billion current LCU | -105.62 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -635.97 billion current LCU | -1.02 trillion current LCU | -404.75 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.23 trillion current LCU | -2.54 trillion current LCU | -2.05 trillion current LCU | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 139 Mexico -1.99 trillion current LCU compare
- 140 United States -2.11 trillion current LCU compare
- 141 Malawi -2.32 trillion current LCU compare
- 143 Cote d'Ivoire -2.65 trillion current LCU compare
- 144 Democratic Republic of Congo -2.92 trillion current LCU compare
- 145 Hungary -3.64 trillion current LCU compare
More public sector data for Sri Lanka
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 6 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Sri Lanka?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in Sri Lanka was -2.54 trillion current LCU in 2023, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was -16.64 billion current LCU in 1990.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.54 trillion current LCU in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 142nd out of 156 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 401.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.