More than 300,000 Sri Lankans have left the country for overseas employment during the course of 2025, official data showed.
As of December 19, a total of 300,191 Sri Lankans had migrated abroad for work, marking the third time in the past decade that annual foreign employment departures have exceeded 300,000.
In 2024, a total of 314,673 Sri Lankans travelled overseas for employment.
Data for 2025 shows that 184,085 male workers and 116,106 female workers left the country for jobs abroad during the year.
Of the total departures, 194,982 workers migrated through self-arranged channels, while 105,209 left through licensed foreign employment agencies.
Kuwait remained the top destination for Sri Lankan migrant workers, with 75,200 departures recorded in 2025. The United Arab Emirates ranked second, with 57,037 Sri Lankans travelling there for employment.
Statistics from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment also indicate a growing trend of Sri Lankans seeking jobs in countries such as South Korea, Israel, Romania, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan compared to previous years.
During 2025, a total of 6,272 Sri Lankans travelled to South Korea for employment, while 12,728 left for jobs in Israel. Romania recorded 12,180 Sri Lankan workers, and 10,717 travelled to Japan for work.
Foreign employment continued to play a key role in Sri Lanka’s economy, with worker remittances amounting to USD 7.19 billion during the first 11 months of 2025. In November alone, remittances totalled USD 673.4 million.
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