GeoRealityMatch
Stunning aerial view capturing Colombo's skyline, oceanfront, and Beira Lake.Batticaloa Gate by the lagoon, a historic and picturesque landmark in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

Asia · Southern Asia

High safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Incomes are low.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa.BackpackerCombines very affordable cost of living and high safety.
vs India
Safety

66th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.910lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#66 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
3.3per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2019
Safety index
57.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$4,670national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
7.2New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
56.1years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 260% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 83% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$10K$20K$17,065 PPP$5,002Inflation, % a year50%0200620102015202020252006, $1,389 a person, $6,261 at PPP, inflation 10%2007, $1,579 a person, $6,820 at PPP, inflation 15.8%2008, $1,974 a person, $7,317 at PPP, inflation 22.6%2009, $2,027 a person, $7,576 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2010, $2,808 a person, $8,234 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2011, $3,225 a person, $9,076 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2012, $3,328 a person, $10,249 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2013, $3,739 a person, $11,253 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2014, $3,972 a person, $11,721 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2015, $4,058 a person, $12,227 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2016, $4,149 a person, $13,079 at PPP, inflation 4%2017, $4,399 a person, $13,610 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2018, $4,359 a person, $14,178 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2019, $4,082 a person, $14,113 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2020, $3,848 a person, $12,941 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2021, $3,997 a person, $14,316 at PPP, inflation 7%2022, $3,343 a person, $14,191 at PPP, inflation 49.7%2023, $3,815 a person, $14,512 at PPP, inflation 16.5%2024, $4,545 a person, $15,701 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2025, $5,002 a person, $17,065 at PPP, inflation -4.8%$0$10K$20KInflation, % a year50%0200620102015202020252006, $1,389 a person, $6,261 at PPP, inflation 10%2007, $1,579 a person, $6,820 at PPP, inflation 15.8%2008, $1,974 a person, $7,317 at PPP, inflation 22.6%2009, $2,027 a person, $7,576 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2010, $2,808 a person, $8,234 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2011, $3,225 a person, $9,076 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2012, $3,328 a person, $10,249 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2013, $3,739 a person, $11,253 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2014, $3,972 a person, $11,721 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2015, $4,058 a person, $12,227 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2016, $4,149 a person, $13,079 at PPP, inflation 4%2017, $4,399 a person, $13,610 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2018, $4,359 a person, $14,178 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2019, $4,082 a person, $14,113 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2020, $3,848 a person, $12,941 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2021, $3,997 a person, $14,316 at PPP, inflation 7%2022, $3,343 a person, $14,191 at PPP, inflation 49.7%2023, $3,815 a person, $14,512 at PPP, inflation 16.5%2024, $4,545 a person, $15,701 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2025, $5,002 a person, $17,065 at PPP, inflation -4.8%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
77.7years, at birthHigh
#62 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
72WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
21.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
4%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
37 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
486EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet37 MbpsModerate
Mobile47 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$2,000 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
$500
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed, $500 each
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official pageImmigration portal
Batticaloa Gate by the lagoon, a historic and picturesque landmark in Sri Lanka.
How it changed

Sri Lanka's Human Development Index

0.776High human development

89th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 20th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #89Dominican Republic0.776
  2. #89Guyana0.776
  3. #89Sri Lanka0.776
  4. #92Tonga0.769
  5. #93Maldives0.766
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.638 in 1990 to 0.776 in 2023.

0.600.720.850.77619902000201020231990: 0.6381991: 0.6421992: 0.6501993: 0.6581994: 0.6641995: 0.6671996: 0.6721997: 0.6791998: 0.6851999: 0.6922000: 0.7022001: 0.7042002: 0.7092003: 0.7132004: 0.6952005: 0.7212006: 0.7242007: 0.7292008: 0.7302009: 0.7232010: 0.7482011: 0.7532012: 0.7592013: 0.7642014: 0.7672015: 0.7692016: 0.7722017: 0.7772018: 0.7822019: 0.7812020: 0.7802021: 0.7772022: 0.7772023: 0.7760.600.720.8519902000201020231990: 0.6381991: 0.6421992: 0.6501993: 0.6581994: 0.6641995: 0.6671996: 0.6721997: 0.6791998: 0.6851999: 0.6922000: 0.7022001: 0.7042002: 0.7092003: 0.7132004: 0.6952005: 0.7212006: 0.7242007: 0.7292008: 0.7302009: 0.7232010: 0.7482011: 0.7532012: 0.7592013: 0.7642014: 0.7672015: 0.7692016: 0.7722017: 0.7772018: 0.7822019: 0.7812020: 0.7802021: 0.7772022: 0.7772023: 0.776

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
77.7 years2024at birthUp 4.6 years from 73.1 years in 2005
Internet users
55%2024of people onlineUp 52 points from 3% in 2006
Urban population
20%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 15% in 2006
Births per woman
1.952024births per womanDown 0.31 from 2.26 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
49%2021of energy usedDown 13 points from 62% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 22 points from 78% in 2005
Infant mortality
52024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 6 from 11 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 0.7 t in 2005
Forest area
34%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Island in post-crisis recovery: warm culture, tea country, cheap. The case against is low incomes, polluted air and little English among locals.

About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean with a compressed geography that includes beaches, tea-covered highlands, ancient Buddhist ruins, and elephant-filled national parks, all reachable within a few hours of each other. The culture draws from a deep Sinhalese and Tamil heritage, with temples, festivals, and a cuisine of spiced curries and coconut that is among the most distinctive in Asia. Those who can handle heat and a little infrastructure unpredictability will find it one of the most rewarding islands in Asia.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSri Jayawardenepura Kotte
  • LanguagesSinhala, Tamil
  • CurrencySri Lankan rupee (LKR)
  • Area61,860 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Sri Lanka's Human Development Index?

Sri Lanka's Human Development Index is 0.776 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #89 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Sri Lanka safe?

Sri Lanka scores 1.91 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #66 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Sri Lanka?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Sri Lanka at 33.9 (New York = 100); that is #42 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Sri Lanka?

Life expectancy at birth in Sri Lanka is 77.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #62 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Sri Lanka?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Sri Lanka at 61.0, ranked #86 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.