New Zealand and Sri Lanka
Dairy, education and diaspora ties sustain the relationship between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. A high commission established in 2021 accompanies agricultural and climate cooperation, alongside work on safe mobility and preventing migrant worker exploitation.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08Bilateral context
New Zealand opened a high commission in Colombo in 2021 following growth in trade ties.
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, goods trade between New Zealand and Sri Lanka totalled 362.9 million current USD.
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, dairy products, eggs and honey stands out in shipments from New Zealand to Sri Lanka, at 309.7 million USD in 2025.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 362.88 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: New Zealand to Sri Lanka | 317.88 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: Sri Lanka to New Zealand | 45 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: New Zealand to Sri Lanka | 0.679 % | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Export share: Sri Lanka to New Zealand | ||
| Investment stock: New Zealand in Sri Lanka | ||
| Investment stock: Sri Lanka in New Zealand |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter NZL. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Goods: New Zealand to Sri Lanka
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter NZL. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Goods: Sri Lanka to New Zealand
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter NZL. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Export share: New Zealand to Sri Lanka
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Exports to the partner / worldwide exports by the same reporter; same year and coverage.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | New Zealand | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 264.06 billion USD2025 · WB | 108.83 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 49,591.04 USD2025 · WB | 5,002.08 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 0.46 %2025 · WB | 4.95 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 2.84 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | -4.76 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | 5.08 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 4.01 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 54.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -3.62 %2025 · WB | 1.21 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 5,324,7002025 · WB | 21,756,0002025 · WB |
| Area | 267,710 km²2023 · WB | 65,610 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDNew Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personNew Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)New Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)New Zealand: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionNew Zealand: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)New Zealand: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)New Zealand: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPNew Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleNew Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date. Preliminary.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceNew Zealand: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Sri Lanka: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
New Zealand to Sri Lanka
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 309.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 0.459 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 0.431 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 0.229 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 0.0217 M USD2025 · Source |
Sri Lanka to New Zealand
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 0.412 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 0.184 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 0.105 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 0.0644 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 0.0533 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 0.0153 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Millions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | New Zealand to Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka to New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 303.8 | 257.5 | 46.3 |
| 2022 | 190 | 144.3 | 45.6 |
| 2023 | 263.6 | 223.9 | 39.7 |
| 2024 | 243.8 | 203.3 | 40.5 |
| 2025 | 362.9 | 317.9 | 45 |
Connections between people
Human contacts include education, tourism, the Sri Lankan community and cricket, alongside shared Commonwealth membership. Wellington works with Colombo on safe and regular migration pathways and preventing trafficking and labour exploitation. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from New Zealand living in Sri Lanka | ||
| Residents from Sri Lanka living in New Zealand | ||
| Study and training: New Zealand in Sri Lanka | ||
| Study and training: Sri Lanka in New Zealand | ||
| Academic stays: New Zealand in Sri Lanka | ||
| Academic stays: Sri Lanka in New Zealand | ||
| Travel: New Zealand to Sri Lanka | ||
| Travel: Sri Lanka to New Zealand |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for New Zealand is 264.1 billion USD (2025), compared with 108.8 for Sri Lanka (2025). The reference populations are 5.32 and 21.76 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of New Zealand was 2.43 times that of Sri Lanka in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [5] [6]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Bilateral context
New Zealand opened a high commission in Colombo in 2021 following growth in trade ties. Dairy exports have a long history, particularly since the nineties. [1]
Cooperation and bilateral issues
In 2013, both governments signed the Dairy Cooperation Arrangement, a public–private partnership to develop Sri Lanka's dairy sector and maintain stable trading conditions. New Zealand cooperation also supports agricultural livelihoods, climate resilience and water access through partner organisations. The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund programme finances local organisations strengthening cohesion and social inclusion. Human contacts include education, tourism, the Sri Lankan community and cricket, alongside shared Commonwealth membership. Wellington works with Colombo on safe and regular migration pathways and preventing trafficking and labour exploitation. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (New Zealand and Sri Lanka) totalled 362.9 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 317.9 million; those in the opposite direction, 45 million. The difference between the two flows was 272.9 million, in favour of New Zealand. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from New Zealand to the partner represented 0.679% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 303.8 million USD in 2021 and 362.9 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +19.5 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2025, at 362.9 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [3]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, dairy products, eggs and honey stands out in shipments from New Zealand to Sri Lanka, at 309.7 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, electrical and electronic equipment stands out in shipments from Sri Lanka to New Zealand, at 0.412 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [4]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — NZL-LKA
www.mfat.govt.nz · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade
2026-10-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-08 · Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record.