Bangladesh's external debt reached $113.44 billion at the end of 2025, equivalent to approximately $646 per capita, as the country's outstanding foreign debt increased 8.6% year-on-year, according to the World Bank.
The figure comes from the World Bank's International Debt Report 2026, released on November 5. It shows that Bangladesh's external debt has nearly tripled over the past decade, rising from $38.77 billion in 2015.
The per-capita estimate is based on dividing the country's total external debt by its reported population of 175.7 million. It represents an average share of the national debt, not an individual's personal financial liability.
Of the total external debt, $89.51 billion was public and publicly guaranteed debt, $9.87 billion was private nonguaranteed debt and $14.06 billion was short-term debt.
Multilateral creditors accounted for $51.14 billion of public and publicly guaranteed debt, while bilateral creditors held $32.65 billion. Private creditors accounted for another $5.72 billion.
Among multilateral lenders, the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) was the largest creditor, with $22.64 billion, followed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with $17.52 billion and other multilateral lenders with $10.99 billion.
Japan was Bangladesh's largest bilateral creditor, with $12.72 billion, followed by Russia with $9.02 billion and other bilateral lenders with $10.90 billion.
The report also showed that external debt stood at 210% of exports in 2025, up 6.7% from 2015. The debt-to-gross national income (GNI) ratio increased 5.9% to 24% over the same period.
However, debt-service payments declined relative to exports and national income. Debt service as a share of exports fell 3.1% to 16%, while the ratio to GNI dropped 3.8% to 2%.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank data showed that the country's gross external debt stood at nearly $115 billion in June 2026.
Bangladesh Above South Asian Average
Bangladesh's per-capita external debt of approximately $646 was higher than the South Asian average of around $564 in 2025.
The World Bank's regional figures cover Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Their combined external debt increased 6.4% from 2024 to reach $955 billion, against a combined population of 1.692 billion.
The region's external debt was equivalent to 21% of its GNI, while debt-service payments accounted for 10% of exports.
Bangladesh's per-capita external debt was higher than India's approximately $522 and Nepal's $401. However, it remained considerably lower than Sri Lanka's $2,645, Bhutan's $4,218 and the Maldives' nearly $8,957.
India accounted for the largest share of regional external debt at $763.52 billion, followed by Bangladesh at $113.44 billion and Sri Lanka at $57.66 billion.
Pakistan, classified by the report under the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan grouping, had external debt of $135.11 billion, equivalent to approximately $529 per person based on a population of 255.2 million.
Afghanistan's external debt stood at $3.42 billion, up 2.2% year-on-year, with a reported population of 43.8 million.
Developing Countries' Debt Hits Record $9.4 Trillion
Globally, external debt in low- and middle-income countries increased 5.5% to a record $9.4 trillion in 2025, marking the fastest annual growth since 2021, the World Bank report said.
These countries paid a combined $1.4 trillion in principal and interest during the year, marking the fifth consecutive annual increase in debt-service payments.
"The return of private lending to low- and middle-income countries is welcome, but these countries are borrowing more, paying more, and in many cases leaving less for long-term development," said Haishan Fu, World Bank Group Chief Statistician and Director of Development Data.
The debt burden increased even faster among countries eligible for concessional financing from the World Bank. Their external debt rose 8.1% to $1.3 trillion in 2025.
