According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the poverty line at national level is the minimum expenditure per person per month to fulfill basic needs.

Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts in the Western Province rank highest above the poverty line by personal expenditures per month of Rs. 3697, Rs. 3515 and Rs. 3605 respectively.

Personal expenditures in the other districts above the poverty level are: Kandy (Rs. 3400), Nuwara Eliya (Rs. 3555), Galle (Rs. 3412), Puttalam (Rs. 3340), Badulla (Rs. 3395) and Kegalle (Rs. 3397).

Poverty levels in Matale (Rs. 3285), Matara (Rs. 3251), Hambantota (Rs. 3198) Kurunegala (Rs. 3240), Anuradhapura (Rs. 3146), Polonnaruwa (Rs. 3277), Moneragala (Rs. 3142) and Rathnapura (Rs. 3310 rank just below the poverty line.

These figures do not cover the Northern and Eastern Provinces.