Economy, jobs and prices in Northern Province, Sri Lanka: official figures
Northern Province produced goods and services worth Rs. 1,321.8 billion in 2024 at current prices, 4.4% of Sri Lanka's GDP (the smallest of the 9 provinces), according to the Central Bank's provisional provincial GDP estimates.
What is GDP per person in Northern Province?
Divided by the population counted in the 2024 census, Northern Province's output comes to about Rs. 1,149,202 per resident in 2024, 4th 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 Northern Province?
In 2024 agriculture made up 14.6% of Northern Province's value added, industry 31.1% and services 54.3% (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 Northern Province?
3.1% of Northern Province's labour force was unemployed in 2025, according to the Labour Force Survey, joint 2nd lowest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 3.9%). The rate was 6.1% for women and 1.9% for men (Sri Lanka: 6.1% and 2.8%).
Source: Department of Census and Statistics · saved copyWhat jobs do people in Northern Province do?
30.8% of working people in Northern Province were employed in agriculture in 2025, 23.1% in industry and 46.2% in services; the farm share is 4th highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 23.9%, 26.2% and 49.8%).
Source: Department of Census and Statistics · saved copyHow many people from Northern Province go abroad for work?
6,998 people from Northern Province left for jobs abroad in 2025 (5,028 men and 1,970 women), according to provisional Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment figures: 6.1 per 1,000 residents, the lowest 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 Northern Province?
Households in Northern Province had an average income of Rs. 55,390 a month in the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (median Rs. 42,491), 2nd lowest 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
- Northern Province's nominal GDP grew by 9.8% between 2023 and 2024 at current prices, before inflation, 4th slowest 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 Northern Province spent an average of Rs. 44,020 a month in 2019 (Sri Lanka: Rs. 63,130), and the Gini coefficient of household income was 0.42 (Sri Lanka: 0.46; higher means more unequal). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
- 362,469 motor vehicles held a valid revenue licence in Northern Province in 2025 (provisional), about 315 per 1,000 residents (Sri Lanka: 289). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
How Northern Province compares with other provinces
Provincial GDP per resident (current prices) (2024)
Northern Province ranks 4 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)
Northern Province ranks 8 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | Northern Province | 3.1% |
| 9 | Eastern Province | 2.9% |
More on Northern 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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