SL National poverty line triples in just over a decade

• The Colombo district reported the highest with a poverty line of Rs. 17608 in May 2024, a drop from Rs. 18350 at the start of 2024
• Other districts such as Monaragala and Hambantota reported comparitively lower with Rs. 15610 and Rs. 15862 respectively
• The national poverty line nearly doubled in 2023, reaching Rs.15,970 by January, said the department

By Rashida Rehmanjee   

The national poverty line, which determines the minimum income threshold to meet basic needs, has nearly tripled over slightly in the span of just over a decade according to a report released by the Department of Census and Statistics. In January 2024, the national poverty line reached Rs. 17,014, increasing from Rs. 5,223 in 2012/13. A consistent upward trend can be seen when the poverty line rose from Rs. 5,223 in 2012/13 to Rs. 6,117 in 2016 followed by a rise to Rs. 6,966 in 2019. 

The national poverty line nearly doubled in 2023, reaching Rs.15,970 by January, said the department.   

Colombo district reported the highest with a poverty line of Rs. 17608 in May 2024, a drop from Rs. 18350 at the start of 2024. A close second was Gampaha with Rs. 17571 followed by Kalutara at Rs. 17138, according to the report.  Other districts such as Monaragala and Hambantota reported comparitively lower with Rs. 15610 and Rs. 15862 respectively, making them the two cheapest districts to live in in May 2024, according to the data.  The overall cost of living has seen an upwards trend across the past decade throughout all districts, based on the data provided.