Sri Lanka’s official national poverty line has increased to Rs. 17,742 per person per month in September 2026, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Census and Statistics.
The poverty line represents the minimum monthly expenditure required per person to meet basic needs. Individuals whose monthly expenditure falls below this threshold are considered to be living in poverty.
The district-wise figures reveal considerable differences in the cost of meeting basic needs across the country.
In September, the highest poverty line was recorded in Colombo District at Rs. 19,136 per person per month, followed by Gampaha at Rs. 19,037 and Kalutara at Rs. 18,624.
Meanwhile, the lowest poverty line was recorded in Monaragala District at Rs. 16,965, followed by Badulla at Rs. 17,238 and Hambantota at Rs. 17,315.
The latest figures also highlight the substantial increase in the cost of meeting basic needs over the years.
The national poverty line stood at Rs. 5,223 in 2012/13, increased to Rs. 6,117 in 2016 and reached Rs. 6,966 in 2019.
A steep increase was also reported in 2025 and 2026. By September 2025, the national poverty line had reached Rs. 16,413, before rising further to Rs. 17,742 in September 2026.
This represents an increase of approximately 8.1 per cent compared with September 2025 and more than three times the 2019 level, the Department of Census and Statistics figures show.
