In brief
In its International Debt Report 2026, the World Bank said Bangladesh’s external obligations will hit $113.44 billion by the end of 2025, up from $38.77 billion in 2015. With a population of 175.7 million, the debt translates to $646 per person. The jump reflects a global surge in developing‑country debt, which climbed 5.5 % to a record $9.4 trillion in 2025.
According to a World Bank release shared by Xinhua, Bangladesh’s external debt will reach $113.44 billion by the end of 2025, an almost three‑fold jump from $38.77 billion in 2015.
Xinhua reports that the figure comes from the International Debt Report 2026 released at the bank’s Washington headquarters.
Bangladesh's external debt has climbed to 113.44 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2025, according to the World Bank.
The bank estimates Bangladesh’s 2025 population at 175.7 million, meaning each citizen owes roughly $646 on average.
The debt rise coincides with a global spike: developing nations’ external liabilities increased 5.5 % in 2025 to a record $9.4 trillion, the fastest pace since 2021 and four times the 2022–24 average.
Higher external debt can limit a country’s ability to invest in services and infrastructure, and it raises the risk of repayment problems if global markets tighten or interest rates rise.
Bangladesh must balance borrowing for development with maintaining fiscal health, especially as international lenders tighten conditions and domestic inflation remains a concern.
Monitoring these trends will be crucial for investors and policymakers in Bangladesh, who look to keep debt manageable while funding growth projects.
