Sri Lanka has been placed among the top twenty countries in the Gender Gap Population Index 2009, by reaching the 16th position out of 134 countries.

Sri Lanka and the Philippines remained distinctive for being the only Asian countries among the top 20 for the fourth consecutive year.

Sri Lanka's overall performance in 2009 has improved relative to its performance in 2008. Sri Lanka continues to hold on in particular because of improved labour force participation and narrowing wage gaps.

The Global Gender Gap Index 2009 gives each country’s overall performance in closing the gender gap on a 0-to-1 scale and its rank out of 134 reviewed countries.

Meanwhile, ABC reports that Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President Sharan Burrow was disturbed since women in Australia face bigger wage gaps than in countries such as Sri Lanka. The forum's Global Gender Gap index shows Australia's rank has slipped five places to 20th in three years.

The country has recorded a population growth of 0.62 percent with a total population of 20.01 million, while overall population sex ratio recorded 0.96 percent.