Photo: Løken · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Sri Lanka: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Sri Lanka is placed joint 89th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 41.3 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 18.32 (2023).
Share
Development & Human Capital
joint89th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Sri Lanka on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
18.32
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Sri Lanka: 18.32. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Southern Asia
- 15.84 Iran
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.776
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 89th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Sri Lanka: 0.776. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Southern Asia
- 0.799 Iran
02Over time
Which way Sri Lanka is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
Sri LankaWorld median
Sri Lanka fell from 38.76 in 2000 to 18.32 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Sri Lanka World median 2023 18.3 46.7 2022 22.1 53.0 2021 34.0 76.6 2020 22.9 56.0 2019 20.3 48.4 2018 20.6 49.3 2017 21.5 47.2 2016 21.6 50.6 2015 22.0 51.9 2014 22.8 52.8 2013 23.4 53.3 2012 24.3 54.6 2011 25.4 55.0 2010 26.0 56.1 2009 28.2 56.3 2008 30.4 55.8 2007 31.1 56.8 2006 32.2 58.1 2005 32.4 60.1 2004 37.1 63.0 2003 35.4 66.8 2002 35.6 66.0 2001 37.3 68.1 2000 38.8 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
Sri LankaWorld median
Sri Lanka rose from 0.702 in 2000 to 0.776 in 2023; the world median went from 0.672 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Sri Lanka World median 2023 0.776 0.7620 2022 0.777 0.7610 2021 0.777 0.7450 2020 0.780 0.7425 2019 0.781 0.7515 2018 0.782 0.7520 2017 0.777 0.7480 2016 0.772 0.7500 2015 0.769 0.7430 2014 0.767 0.7410 2013 0.764 0.7390 2012 0.759 0.7350 2011 0.753 0.7250 2010 0.748 0.7250 2009 0.723 0.7220 2008 0.730 0.7180 2007 0.729 0.7100 2006 0.724 0.7045 2005 0.721 0.6960 2004 0.695 0.6960 2003 0.713 0.6910 2002 0.709 0.6845 2001 0.704 0.6770 2000 0.702 0.6720
03In context
Sri Lanka beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Sri Lanka and Southern Asia
Sri Lanka has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Iran | 48th | 100 | 15.84 | 0.799 |
| Sri Lanka | =89th | 41.3 | 18.32 | 0.776 |
 Maldives | 103rd | 30.1 | 31.82 | 0.766 |
 Indiacompare | 114th | 64.3 | 80.48 | 0.685 |
 Bhutan | 133rd | 11.9 | 46.65 | 0.698 |
 Bangladesh | 138th | 22 | 115.11 | 0.685 |
 Nepal | 145th | 21 | 142.01 | 0.622 |
 Pakistan | 154th | 20.2 | 155.03 | 0.544 |
 Afghanistan | 189th | 7.5 | 520.5 | 0.496 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Sri Lanka in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Sri Lanka is ahead of the world, and behind
47 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median25
Statistics on which Sri Lanka does better than the middle country measured.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7480.9340.74No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 80.93 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 136 · derived.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.850.875.8No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 50.8 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.7540.678No real change since 2013
Sri Lanka: 0.754 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 27th of 156 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909790▼ Worsened since 2015
Sri Lanka: 97 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.545.88114.54▲ Improved since 2014
Sri Lanka: 5.881 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 151st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.265.16612.26▲ Improved since 2014
Sri Lanka: 5.166 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 150th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919691▼ Worsened since 2015
Sri Lanka: 96 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8581.5872.858▲ Improved since 2014
Sri Lanka: 1.587 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 144th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1343.968.134▲ Improved since 2014
Sri Lanka: 3.96 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 144th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0110.039▼ Worsened since 2020
Sri Lanka: 0.011 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 78th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.19.817.1No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 9.8 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 97th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6377.4874.63▲ Improved since 2013
Sri Lanka: 77.48 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 77th of 222 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1635.9278.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Sri Lanka: 5.927 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 126th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0723,8043,072▼ Worsened since 2013
Sri Lanka: 3,804 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 68th of 179 · derived.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2463.3083.246▲ Improved since 2015
Sri Lanka: 3.308 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 30th of 78 · derived.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.7536.123.75No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 36.1 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93310.779.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Sri Lanka: 10.77 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 77th of 193 · derived.
Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 72.8381.6972.83▼ Worsened since 2014
Sri Lanka: 81.69 · world median 72.83 · Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14.83 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 56th of 139 · derived.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.810.513.8No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 10.5 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 97th of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.5980.564▲ Improved since 2017
Sri Lanka: 0.598 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 71st of 172 · derived.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.374.5869.3▼ Worsened since 2016
Sri Lanka: 74.58 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 79th of 188 · derived.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2522.824.252No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 2.82 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 87th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.498.998.4No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 98.9 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.630.609No real change since 2013
Sri Lanka: 0.63 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 80th of 169 · derived.
GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 14,27314,29114,273▲ Improved since 2015
Sri Lanka: 14,291 · world median 14,273 · GNI per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,181 to 116,633; higher is better.
Position 51st of 102 · derived.
Behind the world median17
Statistics on which Sri Lanka does worse than the middle country measured.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0517.5417.05No real change since 2013
Sri Lanka: 17.54 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.3670.351▼ Worsened since 2013
Sri Lanka: 0.367 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 93rd of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,89010,70512,890No real change since 2012
Sri Lanka: 10,705 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 92nd of 166 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3413.1313.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Sri Lanka: 13.13 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 108th of 195 · derived.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6517.1218.65No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 17.12 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,26514,58317,265No real change since 2015
Sri Lanka: 14,583 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 104th of 185 · derived.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.13.422.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Sri Lanka: 3.42 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.936.645.9No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 36.6 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Foundational ID OwnershipWorld Bank Group (ID4D) · 2024 · world median 94.492.8294.4▲ Improved since 2017
Sri Lanka: 92.82 · world median 94.4 · Adults who own a foundational ID (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group (ID4D), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 42.62 to 100; higher is better.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6742.4246.67▼ Worsened since 2012
Sri Lanka: 42.42 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 125th of 195 · derived.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.917.843.9No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 17.8 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.9510.971▼ Worsened since 2013
Sri Lanka: 0.951 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 120th of 184 · derived.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23012,89225,230▼ Worsened since 2010
Sri Lanka: 12,892 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 100th of 151 · derived.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.831.180.8No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 31.1 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 46,48617,71346,486▲ Improved since 2010
Sri Lanka: 17,713 · world median 46,486 · National comprehensive wealth per person (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 4,276 to 1,246,092; higher is better.
Position 111th of 150 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5469.33.546No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 9.3 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 20th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2117.9810.21No real change since 2010
Sri Lanka: 17.98 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 15th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare3
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▲ Improved since 2014
Sri Lanka: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▲ Improved since 2014
Sri Lanka: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Sri Lanka: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 11.2617.1211.26No real change since 2015
Sri Lanka: 17.12 · world median 11.26 · Manufacturing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.481 to 43.97.
Position 28th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.5791.0152.579Moved since 2013
Sri Lanka: 1.015 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 91st of 130 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Sri Lanka
Children with Functional Difficulties, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2012), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2012), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2012), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2019) and Prosperity Gap (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Sri Lanka’s 15 topics
Development & Human Capital is Sri Lanka’s 6th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Health & Wellbeing51st of 2004/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade63rd of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions71st of 1944/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability76th of 1864/4 keys
- Digital & Technology85th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 89th of 1963/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties93rd of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 86th of 1774/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 88th of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture94th of 1843/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality85th of 1593/3 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 126th of 1934/4 keys
- Gender & Equality150th of 1834/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge171st of 1983/4 keys
- Work & Labour160th of 1824/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Sri Lanka can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Israel10th3/3 keysHighest in Southern Asia
Iran48th3/3 keysThis page
Sri Lanka=89th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Sri Lanka and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Sri Lanka on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Sri Lanka rank on development & human capital?
Sri Lanka is placed joint 89th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Sri Lanka?
41.3 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Sri Lanka?
18.32 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How have Sri Lanka’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 38.76 in 2000 to 18.32 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.702 in 2000 to 0.776 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Sri Lanka?
No current reading is published for Sri Lanka on Children with Functional Difficulties, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day and Prosperity Gap. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 47 statistics on this page come from 15 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Sri Lanka’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Sri Lanka (banner) — Løken, CC0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Sri Lanka: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/sri-lanka/development