Bangladesh: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Bangladesh?

Life expectancy at birth in Bangladesh was 72.3 years in 2023, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Sample Vital Statistics 2023. It was 70.8 years for men and 73.8 years for women, little changed from 72.4 years in 2022.

The figure comes from the Sample Vital Registration System, which records births and deaths in a national sample of areas each year. Life expectancy at birth is the average lifespan a newborn would have if current death rates by age continued. The SVRS 2023 report is the latest listed on the BBS vital statistics page.

Official sources: BBS: Sample Vital Statistics 2023 (PDF) · BBS: vital statistics

What is the infant mortality rate in Bangladesh?

27 babies per 1,000 live births died before their first birthday in Bangladesh in 2023, up from 24 in 2022, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Sample Vital Statistics 2023. Under-five mortality was 33 per 1,000, and neonatal mortality, in the first 28 days, was 20.

The report attributes most of the rise to more deaths among newborns, especially in rural areas. Year-to-year changes in a sample survey can partly reflect sampling, so trends over several years are more reliable. The rate was higher for boys than girls in both rural and urban areas.

Official sources: BBS: Sample Vital Statistics 2023 (PDF)

What is the maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh's maternal mortality ratio was 136 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 153 in 2022 and 168 in 2021, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Sample Vital Statistics 2023. The ratio was 157 in rural areas.

Maternal deaths are deaths of women during pregnancy or within 42 days of its end from causes related to it. Because they are rare in a sample, the estimate is uncertain, and the report notes the urban figure (56) was unusually low. International agencies publish modelled estimates that can differ from the BBS survey figure.

Official sources: BBS: Sample Vital Statistics 2023 (PDF)

How many doctors are there in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh had 156,750 doctors registered with the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council in December 2024, including 141,700 MBBS doctors and 15,050 dentists, according to the Directorate General of Health Services Health Bulletin 2024. 29,150 doctors worked in government health services under the directorate.

Registration counts everyone licensed to practise, including those working privately, abroad or not working, so it overstates the number in active practice. The bulletin gives 0.92 physicians per 1,000 people, below the WHO threshold it cites of 1.5, and 107,047 registered nurses. Earlier bulletins are on the DGHS Health Bulletin page.

Official sources: DGHS: Health Bulletin 2024 (PDF) · DGHS: Health Bulletin

How many hospitals are there in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh had 2,909 licensed private hospitals and clinics with 92,601 beds as of June 2024, along with 5,538 private diagnostic centres, according to the Directorate General of Health Services Health Bulletin 2024. Government hospitals had 71,962 beds, one for every 2,376 people.

Government care runs from community clinics and upazila health complexes to district and medical college hospitals; the bulletin counts more than 16,000 primary-level facilities. Private facilities now have more beds than government ones. The bulletin also lists 104 medical colleges and 5 medical universities.

Official sources: DGHS: Health Bulletin 2024 (PDF)

How much does Bangladesh spend on health?

Total health spending in Bangladesh was 2.8% of GDP, or US$54 per person, and 68.5% of it was paid out of pocket by households, according to the Directorate General of Health Services Health Bulletin 2024. The health sector received 5.2% of the national budget in 2024-25.

Out-of-pocket spending means fees, medicines and tests paid directly by patients, without insurance or public cover; a high share leaves families exposed to large bills. The spending figures come from the Bangladesh National Health Accounts, which are published with a lag, so they describe earlier years than the budget share.

Official sources: DGHS: Health Bulletin 2024 (PDF)

What is the average life expectancy in Bangladesh?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 74.9 years. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across South Asia the middle value was 74.1 years, and Bangladesh placed 3rd highest of 6. World rank, highest first: 86th of 193.

How many babies die in Bangladesh?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Bangladesh at 24.4 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 1st highest of 6 in South Asia, where the median is 17.9 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 57th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh?

According to the WHO, the maternal mortality ratio in Bangladesh was 115 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. South Asia median: 63.5 per 100,000; Bangladesh is 2nd highest of 6. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 63rd highest.

What is Bangladesh's health spending?

In 2023, current health spending in Bangladesh was 2.2% of GDP, according to the WHO. The peak was 2.4% of GDP in 2016 and the low 2.1% of GDP in 2005. It is 6th highest of 6 in South Asia, where the median is 4.0% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 190th of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Bangladesh?

The WHO puts out-of-pocket health spending in Bangladesh at 79.3% in 2023. No year since 2005 has been higher. South Asia median: 49.3%; Bangladesh is 1st highest of 6. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 2nd highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Bangladesh?

In 2023, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Bangladesh was 0.72 per 1,000, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been higher. World rank, highest first: 37th of 58.

How many hospital beds does Bangladesh have?

0.92 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Bangladesh for 2023, according to the WHO. The peak was 1.0 per 1,000 in 2022 and the low 0.35 per 1,000 in 2007. Worldwide: 63rd of 73.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Bangladesh?

In 2024, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Bangladesh was 96.0%, according to WHO and UNICEF. Its high point since 2005 was 2015, at 97.0%; its low point was 2006, at 83.0%. It is 6th highest of 6 in South Asia, where the median is 97.0%. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 46th highest.