Electricity generation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Electricity generation was 17.25 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
17.25 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
90th
of 214 countries
All-time high
17.51 terawatt-hours
in 2021
All-time low
2.46 terawatt-hours
in 1985
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation in Sri Lanka, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation in Sri Lanka is 17.25 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation in Sri Lanka peaked at 17.51 terawatt-hours in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.46 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
Sri Lanka ranks 90th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2.46 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 2.65 terawatt-hours | +7.6% |
| 1987 | 2.71 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 2.8 terawatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 2.86 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 3.15 terawatt-hours | +10.2% |
| 1991 | 3.38 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 1992 | 3.54 terawatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 3.98 terawatt-hours | +12.4% |
| 1994 | 4.39 terawatt-hours | +10.3% |
| 1995 | 4.8 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 4.53 terawatt-hours | -5.7% |
| 1997 | 5.14 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 1998 | 5.68 terawatt-hours | +10.3% |
| 1999 | 6.28 terawatt-hours | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 6.78 terawatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 2001 | 6.67 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 6.94 terawatt-hours | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 7.63 terawatt-hours | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 8.09 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 8.82 terawatt-hours | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 9.44 terawatt-hours | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 9.88 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 9.92 terawatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 9.89 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 10.72 terawatt-hours | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 11.55 terawatt-hours | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 11.8 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 11.98 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 12.45 terawatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 13.21 terawatt-hours | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 14.31 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 14.89 terawatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 16.07 terawatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 16.67 terawatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 16.5 terawatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 17.51 terawatt-hours | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 16.75 terawatt-hours | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 16.39 terawatt-hours | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 17.07 terawatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 17.25 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 17.25 terawatt-hours is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.43 terawatt-hours, 89% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 17.25 terawatt-hours is above the median for South Asia, which is 14.19 terawatt-hours, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.7 terawatt-hours | 2.46 terawatt-hours | 2.86 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 4.49 terawatt-hours | 3.15 terawatt-hours | 6.28 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.41 terawatt-hours | 6.67 terawatt-hours | 9.92 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.37 terawatt-hours | 10.72 terawatt-hours | 16.67 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.91 terawatt-hours | 16.39 terawatt-hours | 17.51 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More energy & mining data for Sri Lanka
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 4.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 21.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation in Sri Lanka?
- Electricity generation in Sri Lanka was 17.25 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 17.51 terawatt-hours in 2021.
- What is the lowest electricity generation recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.46 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for electricity generation?
- Sri Lanka ranks 90th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total electricity generated in each country or region, measured in terawatt-hours.