National Debt (% of GDP): Bangladesh

Analysis# Bangladesh National Debt (% of GDP) Bangladesh's national debt reached 40.2% of GDP in 2026, slightly below its all-time peak of 41% recorded in 2024. Since 2003, the debt-to-GDP ratio has increased by 8.6 percentage points from its starting level. The country's lowest debt burden occurred in 2016 at 27.7% of GDP, marking a critical inflection point before the subsequent upward trajectory. The period from 2017 to 2024 witnessed sustained debt accumulation, with the ratio climbing from 28.3% to 41% across seven years. This sharp acceleration reflects increased government borrowing to finance infrastructure and development projects. The recent stabilization in 2025–2026, hovering around 40.2–40.3%, suggests the debt expansion may be moderating, though levels remain elevated relative to the 2016 low point.