Sri Lanka’s yearly migration for employment as a percentage of departures fell to 7.2% in 2025, down from 8.1% in 2024 and a peak of 27.6% in 2022, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s socio-economic data report released recently.

Departures of Sri Lankans for employment stood at 311,223 in 2025, slightly down from 314,670 in 2024, which remains the highest number through eight years in a row. The average number of migrant travellers for employment per day was 853 in 2025, compared with 862 in 2024 and 852 in 2022.

Based on the data, male departures rose to 190,881 in 2025 from 186,658 in 2024, while female departures fell to 120,342 from 128,012. This continues a trend that began after 2022, when female departures peaked at 124,006. In 2019, before the pandemic, male departures stood at 122,257 and female at 80,830.

By skill level, skilled workers accounted for 76.2% of departures in 2025, down slightly from 77.7% in 2024 but well above the 66.1 % recorded in 2022, when low-skilled workers made up 33.9 % of the total. Low-skilled workers represented 23.8% of departures in 2025, up from 22.3% in 2024 but far below the 2022 peak.

Migrant remittances reached $ 8,076 million in 2025, a record high and an increase of 22.8% from $ 6,575 million in 2024. This is the highest figure in the eight-year series, surpassing the previous peak of $ 7,104 million in 2020. Remittances had fallen to $ 3,789 million in 2022, before recovering to $ 5,970 million in 2023 and $ 6,575 million in 2024.