Bangladesh has maintained an impressive track record on growth and

development. In the past decade, the economy has grown at nearly 6 percent per year,
and human development went hand-in-hand with economic growth. Poverty dropped by
nearly a third, coupled with increased life expectancy, literacy, and per capita food intake.
More than 15 million Bangladeshis have moved out of poverty since 1992.

While poverty reduction in both urban and rural areas has been remarkable, the
absolute number of people living below the poverty line remains significant. Despite
the strong track record, around 47 million people are still below the poverty line, and
improving access to quality services for this vulnerable group is a priority. There are also
many people who could fall back into poverty if they lose their jobs or are affected by natural
disasters.

With nearly 150 million inhabitants on a landmass of 147,570 square kilometers,

Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world. Sustained
growth in recent years has generated higher demand for electricity, transport, and
telecommunication services, and contributed to widening infrastructure deficits. While the
population growth rate has declined, the labor force is growing rapidly. This can be turned
into a significant demographic dividend in the coming years, if more and better jobs can be
created for the growing number of job-seekers. Moreover, improving labor force
participation and productivity will help to release the potential of the economy. Exploiting the
potential of regional cooperation and making trade policy more conducive to a deepening
and diversification of exports will also play a vital role in the growth process.

Bangladesh aspires to be a middle-income country by 2021.This will require increasing

GDP growth to 7.5 to 8 percent per year based on accelerated export and remittance
growth. Both public and private investment will need to increase as well. Growth will also
need to be more inclusive through creation of productive employment opportunities in the
domestic economy. To sustain accelerated and inclusive growth, Bangladesh will need to
manage the urbanization process more effectively, as well as prepare for adaptation to
climate change impacts.

Becoming a middle-income country will require substantial efforts on many fronts.

These include maintaining macroeconomic stability; strengthening revenue mobilization;
tackling energy and infrastructure deficits; deepening financial-sector and external trade
reforms; improving labor skills, economic governance, and urban management; and
adapting to climate change. Bangladesh can become an export powerhouse, with its labor-
intensive manufactured and service exports growing at double digits on a sustained basis, if
it speeds up government decision-making. Without timely action, other countries (such as
Vietnam and Myanmar) will take the markets being vacated by China.

Preview by world Bank

2014 2015 201

Population, total 159,077,513.0 160,995,642.0

Population growth (annual %) 1.2 1.2

Surface area (sq. km) 147,630.0 147,630.0

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 1,222.1 1,236.8

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) .. ..

Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) .. ..

GNI, Atlas method (current US$) 171,249,782,593. 191,313,744,326.

2 2

GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) 1,080.0 1,190.0

GNI, PPP (current international $) 532,494,657,370. 572,562,823,353.

9 3

GNI per capita, PPP (current international $) 3,350.0 3,560.0

Income share held by lowest 20% .. ..

Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 71.6 ..

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 2.2 ..

Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 83.5 82.6

Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) 62.4 ..

Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) 42.1 ..

Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 39.5 37.6

Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) 32.9 ..

Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 88.0 88.0

Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) .. ..

Gross enrollment ratio, primary, both sexes (%) .. ..

Gross enrolment ratio, secondary, both sexes (%) .. ..

School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) .. ..

Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 0.1 0.1

Forest area (sq. km) 14,316.0 14,290.0

Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) 3.4 ..

Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) 34.2 ..

Improved water source (% of population with access) 86.2 86.9

Improved sanitation facilities (% of population with access) 59.6 60.6

Urban population growth (annual %) 3.5 3.4

Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) .. ..

CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) .. ..

Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) .. ..

GDP (current US$) 172,885,454,931. 195,078,665,827.

5 6

GDP growth (annual %) 6.1 6.6

Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %) 5.7 5.9

Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) 16.1 15.5

Industry, value added (% of GDP) 27.6 28.1

Services, etc., value added (% of GDP) 56.3 56.3

Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 19.0 17.3

Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 25.5 24.7

Gross capital formation (% of GDP) 28.6 28.9

Revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP) .. ..

Time required to start a business (days) 19.5 19.5

Domestic credit provided by financial sector (% of GDP) 59.8 59.7

Tax revenue (% of GDP) .. ..

Military expenditure (% of GDP) 0.0 0.0

Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) 80.0 83.4

Internet users (per 100 people) 13.9 14.4

High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports) .. ..

Overall level of statistical capacity (scale 0 - 100) 80.0 76.7

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) 42.0 36.8

Net barter terms of trade index (2000 = 100) 59.4 66.5

External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) 35,665,434,000.0 38,639,917,000.0

Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income) 5.4 4.1

Net migration .. ..

Personal remittances, received (current US$) 14,987,531,478.7 15,387,889,720.7

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) 2,539,190,939.7 3,380,251,354.5

Net official development assistance and official aid received (current 2,417,990,000.0 ..
US$)