About Bangladesh and Key Financial Statistics

About Bangladesh and Key Financial Statistics

Overview of Economy:

Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 1996 despite political instability, poor infrastructure, corruption, insufficient power supplies, slow implementation of economic reforms, and the 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector with rice as the single-most-important product. Garment exports, the backbone of Bangladesh's industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports and surpassed $18 billion in 2014. The sector has remained resilient in recent years amidst a series of factory accidents that have killed over 1,000 workers and crippling strikes that shut down virtually all economic activity. Steady garment export growth combined with remittances from overseas Bangladeshis - which totaled $14 billion and 8% of GDP in 2014 - are the largest contributors to Bangladesh's current account surplus and rising foreign exchange holdings.

Gross Domestic Product (In USD):

$536.5 billion (2014 est.)

$504.7 billion (2013 est.)

$476 billion (2012 est.)

Composition of Gross Domestic Product:

% Agricuture: 15.9

% Industry: 27.9

% Services: 56.2

Composition of Labor Force by Occupation:

% Agriculture: 47

% Industry: 13

% Services: 40

Per Capita Income:

$3,400 (2014 est.)

$3,200 (2013 est.)

$3,000 (2012 est.)

Exports:

$29.93 billion (2014 est.)

$28.64 billion (2013 est.)

Key Export Commodities:

garments, knitwear, agricultural products, frozen food (fish and seafood), jute and jute goods, leather

Export Partners:

US 14.3%, Germany 13.6%, UK 7.9%, France 5.2%, Spain 4.3%, Italy 4.1% (2014)

Imports:

$40.1 billion (2014 est.)

$35 billion (2013 est.)

Key Import Commodities:

cotton, machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, foodstuffs

Import Partners:

China 18.8%, India 14.8%, Singapore 5.8%, Malaysia 4.2% (2014)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Price Index):

7% (2014 est.)

7.5% (2013 est.)

Exchange Rate to USD:

taka (BDT) per US dollar -

77.614 (2014 est.)

77.614 (2013 est.)

81.86 (2012 est.)

74.152 (2011 est.)

69.649 (2010 est.)

Unemployment Rate:

5% (2014 est.)

5% (2013 est.)

S&P Rating:

Standard & Poor's Ratings:

    • AAA: The best quality borrowers, reliable and stable

    • AA: Quality borrowers, a bit higher risk than AAA

    • A: Economic situation can affect finance

    • BBB: Medium class borrowers, which are satisfactory at the moment

    • BB: More prone to changes in the economy

    • B: Financial situation varies noticeably

    • CCC: An obligor rated currently vulnerable, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet its financial commitments.

Ref 2012-2014: CIA World Factbook, Wikipedia, PWC, EY, Standard & Poors ratings