Decline in GDP, Per Capita Income increases in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s economy grew by 3.97% in the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), down from 4.22% in FY24, according to provisional estimates released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Tuesday.

The services sector led growth at 4.51%, followed by the industrial sector at 4.34%, while agriculture lagged at 1.79%.

Per capita income rose to $2,820 (Tk 339,211 at an exchange rate of Tk 120.29 per USD) from $2,738 in FY24, marking an increase of $82.

The GDP size reached Tk 55,52,753 crore ($462 billion), up from Tk 50,02,654 crore ($450 billion) in FY24. Investment as a percentage of GDP declined to 29.38% from 30.70% in FY24, a drop of 1.32 percentage points. Domestic savings fell slightly to 23.25% from 23.96%, while national savings increased to 29.01% from 28.42%.

The BBS data reflects a slowdown in economic growth, driven by weaker performance in agriculture and industry, despite a robust services sector. Economists attribute the decline to challenges such as reduced investment and external pressures, including the aftermath of the July–August 2024 unrest.