External debt as a share of gross national income in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: External debt as a share of gross national income was 22.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
External debt as a share of gross national income in Bangladesh, 2000–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt as a share of gross national income in Bangladesh stood at 22.2%.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt as a share of gross national income in Bangladesh peaked at 29.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 2016.
Bangladesh ranks 105th of 121 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
External debt as a share of gross national income in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 28.3% | — |
| 2001 | 26.9% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 29.3% | +8.9% |
| 2003 | 29.5% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 29.0% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 25.5% | -12.1% |
| 2006 | 26.6% | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 25.4% | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 23.7% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 22.9% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 21.3% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 19.5% | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 20.2% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 20.0% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 19.1% | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 18.7% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 15.0% | -19.8% |
| 2017 | 16.8% | +12.3% |
| 2018 | 17.1% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 17.1% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 18.9% | +10.5% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | +10.5% |
| 2022 | 20.3% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 22.3% | +10.0% |
| 2024 | 22.2% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.7% | 22.9% | 29.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.5% | 15.0% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.9% | 18.9% | 22.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More economy & growth data for Bangladesh
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 6.09 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 7 Percent per annum (2029)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 3.71 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.2479 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 643.98 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 3.71 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 27.49 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 71,400 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.5213 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt as a share of gross national income in Bangladesh?
- External debt as a share of gross national income in Bangladesh was 22.2% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 29.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 2016.
- How does Bangladesh rank for external debt as a share of gross national income?
- Bangladesh ranks 105th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt as a share of gross national income rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External debt as a share of gross national income. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
External debt stocks as a proportion of GNI (%).