Agricultural raw materials imports in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Agricultural raw materials imports was 1.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Agricultural raw materials imports in Sri Lanka, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agricultural raw materials imports in Sri Lanka is 1.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 26.6% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural raw materials imports in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.2% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1964.
That places Sri Lanka 32nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Agricultural raw materials imports in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 1.6% | — |
| 1963 | 1.1% | -31.5% |
| 1964 | 0.9% | -16.7% |
| 1965 | 2.1% | +126.4% |
| 1966 | 1.2% | -44.2% |
| 1967 | 1.8% | +57.0% |
| 1968 | 1.2% | -37.0% |
| 1969 | 1.4% | +19.3% |
| 1970 | 2.1% | +52.7% |
| 1971 | 1.9% | -10.3% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | +63.5% |
| 1974 | 3.2% | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | -26.0% |
| 1976 | 2.6% | +10.3% |
| 1977 | 2.1% | -20.5% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | +31.6% |
| 1979 | 2.2% | -20.5% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | -50.7% |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +46.2% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | -3.7% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 1.9% | +26.3% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | -13.7% |
| 1987 | 1.9% | +14.5% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -7.8% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | -38.3% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | -8.9% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -18.7% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +24.3% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -14.3% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | +24.9% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | +38.7% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -14.9% |
| 2019 | 1.9% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | +15.0% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | +7.8% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | -31.4% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | +26.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 1.8× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.7%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 2.1% | 8 |
| 1970s | 2.5% | 1.9% | 3.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More agriculture & rural data for Sri Lanka
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0836 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 418.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9172 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7955 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 8.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.7% (2024)
- Rural population 79.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural raw materials imports in Sri Lanka?
- Agricultural raw materials imports in Sri Lanka was 1.9% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest agricultural raw materials imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 1974.
- What is the lowest agricultural raw materials imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1964.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for agricultural raw materials imports?
- Sri Lanka ranks 32nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agricultural raw materials imports rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Agricultural raw materials imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural raw materials comprise section 2 of SITC Rev. 3 (crude materials, inedible, except fuels) excluding divisions 22 (oil-seeds and oleaginous fruits), 27 (crude fertilizers and minerals excluding coal, petroleum, and precious stones), and 28 (metalliferous ores and scrap). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.