Bangladesh: public finances

What is Bangladesh's budget for 2026-27?

Bangladesh's national budget for 2026-27 plans total spending of Tk9,38,000 crore (Tk9.38 trillion), equal to 13.7% of GDP, according to the Finance Minister's budget speech of 11 June 2026. It includes Tk3,00,000 crore for the Annual Development Programme and Tk6,21,925 crore for operating and other spending.

Revenue is estimated at Tk6,95,000 crore, 10.2% of GDP, of which Tk6,04,000 crore is to come from the National Board of Revenue. A crore is 10 million, so a lakh crore is one trillion taka. The fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June, and the budget documents are listed on the Finance Division budget page.

Official sources: Finance Division: Budget Speech 2026-27 (PDF) · Finance Division: budget documents 2026-27

What is Bangladesh's budget deficit?

The 2026-27 budget plans a deficit of Tk2,43,000 crore, equal to 3.6% of GDP, according to the national budget speech for 2026-27. The revised budget for 2025-26 put that year's deficit at Tk2,00,000 crore, or 3.3% of GDP, financed with Tk1,37,000 crore from domestic sources and Tk63,000 crore from abroad.

The deficit is the gap between spending and revenue excluding grants and borrowing. Budget figures are plans; actual deficits are usually smaller because development spending falls short, and up to April 2026 only about 60% of the revised allocation had been spent. Financing details for each quarter appear in the Finance Division's Debt Bulletin.

Official sources: Finance Division: Budget Speech 2026-27 (PDF) · Finance Division: Debt Bulletin

How much debt does Bangladesh have?

Bangladesh's government debt was Tk22,59,101 crore (about Tk22.6 trillion) at the end of March 2026, of which Tk12,95,376 crore was domestic and Tk9,63,725 crore external, according to the Finance Division's Debt Bulletin No. 18. Debt was 38.61% of GDP at the end of June 2025.

The bulletin did not give a ratio for March 2026 because GDP for 2025-26 was not yet final. External debt in taka rose partly because the taka fell against the dollar, which raises the value of foreign loans. Domestic debt includes treasury bills and bonds, national savings certificates and the provident fund. Earlier issues are on the Debt Bulletin page.

Official sources: Finance Division: Debt Bulletin, March 2026 (PDF) · Finance Division: Debt Bulletin

How much tax does Bangladesh collect?

Bangladesh collected Tk3,82,896 crore in total revenue in July to April 2025-26, 9.87% more than a year earlier, of which the National Board of Revenue accounted for Tk3,29,772 crore, according to the national budget speech for 2026-27. The revised revenue target for 2025-26 was Tk5,88,000 crore.

The speech says the tax-to-GDP ratio has stayed below 8%, among the lowest in the region, and sets a target of 15% by 2035. The 2026-27 budget aims for Tk6,95,000 crore, or 10.2% of GDP. NBR revenue comes mainly from VAT, income tax and import duties; non-tax revenue such as fees and dividends makes up the rest.

Official sources: Finance Division: Budget Speech 2026-27 (PDF) · National Board of Revenue

How much does Bangladesh spend on interest?

The 2026-27 budget sets aside Tk1,05,000 crore for interest on domestic debt and Tk22,500 crore for interest on foreign debt, a total of Tk1,27,500 crore, according to the national budget speech for 2026-27. Interest payments were Tk1,14,700 crore in 2023-24, the speech says.

Interest is one of the largest items in the operating budget, and most of it is on domestic borrowing such as national savings certificates and treasury bonds, which carry high rates. A weaker taka raises the cost of foreign interest in taka terms. Quarterly interest figures appear in the Finance Division's Debt Bulletin.

Official sources: Finance Division: Budget Speech 2026-27 (PDF) · Finance Division: Debt Bulletin

How much is Bangladesh's Annual Development Programme?

Bangladesh's Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2026-27 is Tk3,00,000 crore, part of Tk3,16,075 crore of development spending, according to the national budget speech for 2026-27. Development spending is planned to rise to 33.70% of the budget, from 27.27% in the revised 2025-26 budget.

The ADP funds government investment projects such as roads, power and schools, and is often under-spent: the speech reports ADP implementation of 40.7% in the first ten months of 2025-26. The Planning Commission publishes project-by-project allocations. The social sector receives 29.74% of the total budget, physical infrastructure 18.66% and general services 26.13%.

Official sources: Finance Division: Budget Speech 2026-27 (PDF)

What is Bangladesh's national debt?

In 2025, general government gross debt in Bangladesh was 42.0% of GDP, according to the IMF. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. South Asia median: 90.5% of GDP; Bangladesh is 6th highest of 6. Of 185 countries with 2025 data, 122nd highest.

What is Bangladesh's budget deficit?

-3.1% of GDP: that is general government net lending or borrowing in Bangladesh for 2025, according to the IMF (a deficit). Its high point since 2005 was 2007, at -1.9% of GDP; its low point was 2019, at -5.4% of GDP. South Asia median: -2.9% of GDP; Bangladesh is 4th highest of 6. Worldwide: 107th of 188.

What is Bangladesh's government revenue?

8.0% of GDP: that is general government revenue in Bangladesh for 2025, according to the IMF. The peak was 9.4% of GDP in 2021 and the low 7.8% of GDP in 2007. It is 6th highest of 6 in South Asia, where the median is 20.3% of GDP. Worldwide: 184th of 187.

What is Bangladesh's government spending?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is 11.1% of GDP. The peak was 13.6% of GDP in 2019 and the low 9.6% of GDP in 2007. South Asia median: 24.9% of GDP; Bangladesh is 6th highest of 6. Worldwide: 184th of 186.

How much tax does Bangladesh collect?

In 2021, central government tax revenue in Bangladesh was 7.6% of GDP, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 9.0% of GDP; its low point was 2007, at 6.9% of GDP. Worldwide: 120th of 127.

What is Bangladesh's defence spending?

In 2025, military spending in Bangladesh was 0.8% of GDP, according to SIPRI. No year since 2005 has been lower. Worldwide: 122nd of 149.