Sri Lanka’s computer literacy rises to 38.4% in 1H in 2025
The Morning: Sri Lanka’s computer literacy rate has risen to 38.4% in the first half of last year (2025), the latest survey by the Department of Census and Statistics shows.
The urban sector posted the highest literacy rate at 52.1%, followed by the rural sector at 36.6% and the estate sector at 18.6%, the survey showed.
The survey found a small gender gap, with computer literacy among males at 39.9% and females at 37.1% in the first half of 2025. Youth aged 15-19 recorded the highest literacy rate among all age groups, at 75.6%.
Education levels were strongly linked to digital skills, with those educated to the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level or above reporting a computer literacy rate of 78.6%. The Department also noted that computer literacy was higher among those literate in English.
Sri Lanka measures computer literacy as the share of the population aged 5-69 who can use a computer on their own.
OSL take:
The increasing level of computer literacy in Sri Lanka indicates the overall expansion of the country’s digital industry. With the country being identified as an emerging business destination in the South Asian region supported by its geographical positioning in the Indian Ocean, strong trade ties with many countries and other positive factors, Sri Lanka’s digital industry is one of the fast-expanding industries in the country. Sri Lanka’s target of transforming the country into a digital economy through an aggressive digitization programme covering all sectors of the country, and the need to be on par with the fast-evolving global digital industry, has opened many business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s digital industry and related sectors. Among the related sectors are digital literacy, ICT and digital infrastructure development. Given the growth and business potential in Sri Lanka’s digital industry and related sectors, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the business/investment opportunities in the industry while also looking at engaging in operations through partnerships or joint ventures with local businesses.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260121/Z_2 |