Bank Account Ownership Statistics in Sri Lanka (2026)
81.2% of adults in Sri Lanka had an account at a bank or similar financial institution in 2024, World Bank Global Findex data show. Down from 88.9% in 2021 to 81.2% in 2024 (−7.7 percentage points). Sri Lanka ranks #2 of 4 economies in South Asia on this measure, and #56 of 145 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2024)
- 81.2% (2024)
- Bank Account Ownership in Sri Lanka as of 2024, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2021
- −7.7 pp (2024)
- Down from 88.9% in 2021 to 81.2% in 2024 (−7.7 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2011)
- 68.5% (2011)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 68.5% in 2011 to 81.2% in 2024.
- Peak value (2021)
- 88.9% (2021)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2024 value is 81.2%.
- Rank in South Asia
- #2 of 4 (2024)
- Sri Lanka ranks 2 of 4 countries in South Asia with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #56 of 145 (2024)
- Sri Lanka ranks 56 of 145 countries with data globally.
- South Asia average
- 65.1% (2024)
- Sri Lanka (81.2%) is above the average of 65.1% across the 4 countries in South Asia with data.
- Among women (2024)
- 80.2% (2024)
- Value for women in Sri Lanka, same 2024 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Among men (2024)
- 82.4% (2024)
- Value for men in Sri Lanka, same 2024 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Gender gap (women minus men)
- −2.2 pp (2024)
- In 2024, the figure was 80.2% for women and 82.4% for men — 2.2 percentage points lower among women.
- In rural areas (2024)
- 82.6% (2024)
- Value for rural residents of Sri Lanka in 2024.
- Rural gap vs national
- +1.4 pp (2024)
- Rural residents (82.6%) are 1.4 percentage points above the national figure (81.2%).
- Among the poorest 40% (2024)
- 80.2% (2024)
- Value for adults in the poorest 40% of households in Sri Lanka in 2024.
- Poorest-40% gap vs national
- −1 pp (2024)
- The poorest 40% (80.2%) are 1 percentage points below the national figure (81.2%).
- Internet use in Sri Lanka (2024)
- 54.6% (2024)
- 54.6% of the population in Sri Lanka used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 21.9 million (2024)
- Sri Lanka had a population of 21.9 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2011–2024
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 81.2% | −7.7 pp |
| 2021 | 88.9% | +15.3 pp |
| 2017 | 73.6% | −9.1 pp |
| 2014 | 82.7% | +14.2 pp |
| 2011 | 68.5% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in Sri Lanka had an account at a bank or similar financial institution?
81.2% of adults in Sri Lanka had an account at a bank or similar financial institution in 2024, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
Where does Sri Lanka rank globally on bank account ownership?
Sri Lanka ranks 56 of 145 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank Global Findex value for each country.
Is there a gender gap in bank account ownership in Sri Lanka?
Yes — in 2024 the figure was 80.2% for women and 82.4% for men, a gap of 2.2 percentage points in favor of men.
When did bank account ownership in Sri Lanka peak?
The highest value in the available series was 88.9% in 2021; the latest (2024) value is 81.2%.
How recent is the bank account ownership data for Sri Lanka?
The most recent observation is from 2024. World Bank Global Findex data is reported with a lag, so 2024 is the latest available year for Sri Lanka.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
fiaccount.t.d, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .