MPI originally introduced: 2023

Latest MPI results: Sri Lanka MPI 2023

The Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) in Sri Lanka launched the report of the national Multidimensional Poverty Index and child Multidimensional Poverty Index in April 2023 as official statistics to guide poverty reduction in Sri Lanka. This MPI is based on data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019. The report is published in English, Sinhala and Tamil. Prior to the launch of the report a policy brief of the results had been published in 2021.

Department of Census and Statistics, OPHI & UNICEF (2023). Sri Lanka’s Multidimensional Poverty Index 2019 Results: National and Child Analysis.
(Policy brief version) DCS, OPHI and UNICEF (2021). Multidimensional Poverty in Sri Lanka. Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) of the Government of Sri Lanka, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Colombo.

Sri Lanka MPI structure: dimensions and indicators

Poverty Cut-Off: A person is considered poor in the national MPI if they are deprived in 33.3 per cent/1/3 or more of the 10 weighted indicators. A child is considered poor in the linked child MPI if they are deprived in one dimension or 25% or more of the 12 weighted indicators.

Source: DCS, OPHI & UNICEF (2023). Sri Lanka’s Multidimensional Poverty Index 2019 Results: National and Child Analysis.

Source: DCS, OPHI & UNICEF (2023). Sri Lanka’s Multidimensional Poverty Index 2019 Results: National and Child Analysis.

Global MPI

The annual global MPI produced by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative in partnership with the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme is an internationally comparable index of acute multidimensional poverty. OPHI publishes Country Briefings summarising poverty statistics of the global MPI for each country. 

Visit the most recent Global MPI Country Briefing for Sri Lanka based on SLDHS year 2016. 