Written by Jiffry• August 29, 2026• 12:01 am• Business, International • Views: 24

Sri Lanka Minimum Wage Ranks 120th Globally On Purchasing Power

Sri Lanka has ranked 120th out of 130 countries in a global comparison of minimum wages after adjusting for purchasing power.

The comparison puts Sri Lanka’s PPP-adjusted monthly minimum wage at US$200, placing it among the lowest in the ranking. The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO) data compiled by Visual Capitalist.

The PPP adjustment looks at differences in living costs between countries. It gives a better idea of what a minimum wage can buy locally than a simple conversion of the wage into US dollars.

Sri Lanka trails other South Asian economies

Sri Lanka recorded the lowest PPP-adjusted minimum wage among the South Asian countries included in the comparison.

Pakistan ranked 68th at US$570, while Nepal ranked 78th at US$490.

Bangladesh ranked 89th at US$379. India ranked 111th at US$233.

Sri Lanka’s US$200 figure therefore sits below all four countries in the regional comparison.

The comparison also comes as the national minimum monthly wage in Sri Lanka stands at Rs.30,000 from January 2026 under the National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2025.

What does the global comparison show?

Switzerland topped the ranking with a PPP-adjusted monthly minimum wage of US$3,804.

South Korea recorded the highest figure in Asia at US$2,362, placing it 11th globally.

Other countries in the top 10 included Germany at US$2,928, the United Kingdom at US$2,902, the Netherlands at US$2,876 and Australia at US$2,819.

Belgium, Iceland, New Zealand, France and Ireland also ranked among the top 10.

Only 10 countries ranked below Sri Lanka. They were Niger, Bhutan, Haiti, Guinea, the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia.

The comparison is not a direct measure of the amount workers take home. It also does not include taxes, additional allowances or benefits.

For businesses and workers, the ranking offers a wider look at minimum-wage purchasing power. Sri Lanka’s position near the bottom shows how far minimum-wage earnings compare with those in many other economies after taking local living costs into account.