From 1980 to 1990, poverty statistics was estimated by the Department of Census Statistics using data collected from various surveys including Family Budget Survey, Labour Force and Socio Economic Survey. Because of the high demand on poverty indices, in 1990, a survey was designed mainly to collect data required for estimating the indices related to poverty and food consumption patterns. This survey is known as Household Income and Expenditure survey (HIES). Since then the HIES is conducted regularly once in three years.

Sample Surveys Division : Tel: + 94 11 2147458, e-mail: sample.survey@statistics.gov.lk