Economy, jobs and prices in Central Province, Sri Lanka: official figures
Central Province produced goods and services worth Rs. 3,202.4 billion in 2024 at current prices, 10.7% of Sri Lanka's GDP (3rd largest of the 9 provinces), according to the Central Bank's provisional provincial GDP estimates.
What is GDP per person in Central Province?
Divided by the population counted in the 2024 census, Central Province's output comes to about Rs. 1,179,930 per resident in 2024, 3rd highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: Rs. 1,372,640).
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (from Department of Census and Statistics national accounts) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Central Province?
In 2024 agriculture made up 11.8% of Central Province's value added, industry 25.2% and services 63.0% (Sri Lanka: 9.1%, 28.0% and 62.9%).
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (from Department of Census and Statistics national accounts) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Central Province?
4.8% of Central Province's labour force was unemployed in 2025, according to the Labour Force Survey, 2nd highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 3.9%). The rate was 7.2% for women and 3.4% for men (Sri Lanka: 6.1% and 2.8%).
Source: Department of Census and Statistics · saved copyWhat jobs do people in Central Province do?
29.3% of working people in Central Province were employed in agriculture in 2025, 21.9% in industry and 48.8% in services; the farm share is 4th lowest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 23.9%, 26.2% and 49.8%).
Source: Department of Census and Statistics · saved copyHow many people from Central Province go abroad for work?
42,355 people from Central Province left for jobs abroad in 2025 (23,601 men and 18,754 women), according to provisional Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment figures: 15.6 per 1,000 residents, 3rd highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 14.3).
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Central Province?
Households in Central Province had an average income of Rs. 65,420 a month in the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (median Rs. 49,475), 4th highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: Rs. 76,414, median Rs. 53,333). The survey is the latest with provincial results.
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copyMore figures
- Central Province's nominal GDP grew by 16.4% between 2023 and 2024 at current prices, before inflation, 2nd fastest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 9.0%). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (from Department of Census and Statistics national accounts) · saved copy
- Households in Central Province spent an average of Rs. 56,783 a month in 2019 (Sri Lanka: Rs. 63,130), and the Gini coefficient of household income was 0.43 (Sri Lanka: 0.46; higher means more unequal). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
- 530,868 motor vehicles held a valid revenue licence in Central Province in 2025 (provisional), about 196 per 1,000 residents (Sri Lanka: 289). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
How Central Province compares with other provinces
Provincial GDP per resident (current prices) (2024)
Central Province ranks 3 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Provincial GDP per resident (current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Province | Rs. 2,069,987 |
| 2 | North Western Province | Rs. 1,332,657 |
| 3 | Central Province | Rs. 1,179,930 |
| 4 | Northern Province | Rs. 1,149,202 |
| 5 | Sabaragamuwa Province | Rs. 1,135,141 |
| 6 | Uva Province | Rs. 1,028,268 |
| 7 | Southern Province | Rs. 1,025,211 |
Unemployment rate (2025)
Central Province ranks 2 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Province | 5.3% |
| 2 | Central Province | 4.8% |
| 3 | Uva Province | 4.5% |
| 4 | Sabaragamuwa Province | 4.2% |
| 5 | North Western Province | 4.0% |
| 6 | North Central Province | 3.6% |
| 7 | Western Province | 3.1% |
More on Central Province: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Sri Lanka
Sources
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources): Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2026, chapter 2: Tables 2.4 (vehicles, Provincial Departments of Motor Traffic), 2.13, 2.16 and 2.18 (HIES 2019, Department of Census and Statistics), 2.20 (Ministry of Education), 2.26 (Department of Examinations), 2.30 (University Grants Commission) and 2.39 (Ministry of Health), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 babb9cbb27c5…)
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources): Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2026, chapter 3: Tables 3.21 (mid-year population, Registrar General's Department) and 3.32 (departures for foreign employment, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fcfc004b2129…)
- Department of Census and Statistics: Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey Annual Bulletin 2025: Table 2.2 (employment by industry) and Table 3.3 (unemployment by province), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 48a8863a4643…)
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (from Department of Census and Statistics national accounts): Provincial Gross Domestic Product (PGDP) 2024, press release of 22 December 2025: Tables 1-3, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bfe27596d2d7…)
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