Bangladesh’s economy has surpassed the $500 billion mark for the first time.
Preliminary estimates from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) indicate that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached $501 billion in the 2025–26 fiscal year (FY26), up from $456 billion in FY25 — an increase of roughly $45 billion, or 9.9 per cent.
Economic growth for the year is estimated at 4.14 per cent, slightly higher than 3.49 per cent in the previous fiscal year. Sector-wise, agriculture and services were the main drivers, expanding by 2.78 per cent and 4.59 per cent respectively, while industrial growth slowed to 2.86 per cent from 3.71 per cent.
When asked about the difference between nominal GDP growth of 9.9 per cent and the real growth rate of 4.14 per cent, a senior BBS National Accounts official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained:
“GDP size is calculated at current prices, including inflation. Real growth uses constant prices to measure production, excluding inflation. So, even if nominal GDP rises nearly 10 per cent, real growth can still be 4.14 per cent. This divergence is entirely normal.”
Per capita income exceeds $3,000
BBS data show per capita income reached $3,020 in FY26, equivalent to approximately Tk368,873 at the current exchange rate of Tk122.15 per dollar.
This represents a $251 increase from FY25, when per capita income stood at $2,769. The figure follows $2,738 in FY24, continuing a steady upward trend over consecutive years.
