Overview

Bangladesh 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR), highlighted its strong commitment towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, climate resilience, institutional reforms, and expanded social protection programmes. The country integrated the SDGs into national development plans and strengthened collaboration with development partners, civil society, and the private sector. Significant progress was achieved in reducing the national poverty rate from 24.3% in 2016 to 18.7% in 2022, increasing electricity access from 78% in 2015 to 99.53% in 2023, and reducing maternal mortality from 181 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 136 in 2023. Bangladesh also expanded social protection coverage from 28.7% in 2016 to around 50% of the population in 2022 and improved youth literacy to 96% in 2023, reflecting continued advancement towards sustainable and inclusive development.

Recommendations

Increase investment in renewable energy, climate adaptation, and resilient infrastructure to address environmental and disaster risks.
Strengthen healthcare financing and reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure to improve universal health coverage.
Expand technical and vocational education and strengthen labour market reforms to reduce informal employment and skill mismatches.
Improve research and development investment, innovation systems, and industrial diversification for sustainable economic growth.
Enhance governance, judicial transparency, anti-corruption mechanisms, and cyber security capacity.
Increase climate finance, concessional funding, and technology transfer through stronger international partnerships.
Strengthen waste management, pollution control, and sustainable resource management to support environmental sustainability and circular economy practices.

Conclusion

In its 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR), Bangladesh acknowledged that despite notable achievements in SDG implementation, the country continues to face major challenges including climate vulnerability, rising inequality, high informal employment, environmental degradation, limited renewable energy adoption, and financing constraints. The Gini coefficient increased to 0.499 in 2022, while renewable energy accounted for only 4.11% of total final energy consumption in 2023. Persistent pressures from climate change, healthcare financing gaps, institutional weaknesses, and inadequate innovation capacity continue to affect long-term sustainability. Nevertheless, Bangladesh’s development experience demonstrates the importance of strong political commitment, community-based resilience, expanded social protection, digital governance, and international cooperation in advancing the SDGs. Strengthening climate finance, governance systems, technological innovation, and inclusive economic opportunities will remain essential for achieving the UN 2030 Agenda and ensuring sustainable development for all.

Social Networks

SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations 820
2nd Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY-10017

Location

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Dhaka District, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Get Directions

Region

Bangladesh

No Poverty

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised poverty alleviation through international migration, social protection programmes, women’s labour force participation, microfinance, climate adaptation, and improved access to education and healthcare. Public social spending increased from 13.6% of the national budget in 2016 to 17.06% in FY 2024–25, reflecting the government’s commitment to poverty eradication.
Challenges	Despite progress, rural–urban disparities remain significant. In 2022, the rural poverty rate was 20.5%, which exceeded the urban poverty rate by 5.8%. In addition, only 8.3% of city corporations and 0.9% of municipalities had implemented local Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plans, far below the 2025 target of 30%. Official development assistance targeting poverty also declined from 19.1% in 2015 to 11.4% in 2021, limiting fiscal space for pro-poor programmes.
Progress/ Solution	Bangladesh reduced the population living below the World Bank’s International Poverty Line of USD 2.15 per day from 13.47% in 2016 to 5% in 2022. National poverty also declined from 24.3% to 18.7% between 2016 and 2022. Social protection coverage expanded from 28.7% in 2016 to half of the population in 2022, surpassing the 2030 SDG target of 40%. Furthermore, households with access to basic services increased from 2.56% in 2021 to 12.54% in 2023.
Unsolved Challenges	Bangladesh still faces insufficient local resilience planning, declining poverty-focused ODA, and inadequate financing for adaptive social protection. The report recommends stronger domestic resource mobilisation, expanded public–private partnerships, social impact bonds, and climate-responsive ODA commitments to ensure sustainable poverty reduction and disaster resilience.

Zero Hunger

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised food security through agricultural development policies, particularly the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy (NFNSP), which aligns national food and nutrition goals with the SDGs.
Challenges	Although food security has improved, women continue to experience higher levels of food insecurity than men. Severe food insecurity increased from 10.5% to 11.4% after 2019. Nutritional concerns persist, with wasting and obesity among children rising to 11% and 1.9% respectively in 2022. Bangladesh also faces soil fertility decline, salinity intrusion, groundwater depletion, droughts, and climate-induced water stress affecting agricultural productivity.
Progress/ Solution	The prevalence of undernourishment returned to the pre-pandemic level of 11.9% in 2022, meeting the 2025 target. Moderate to severe food insecurity declined slightly from 31.9% in 2019 to 30.5% in 2022. Stunting among children declined to 26.4% in 2022. The Agricultural Orientation Index increased from 0.48 in 2020 to 0.78 in 2024, reflecting stronger investment in agriculture through crop diversification, improved technology, and high-yield seed adoption. Additionally, 44% of agricultural land was under productive and sustainable agriculture by 2025.
Unsolved Challenges	Hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiencies remain under-addressed despite calorie-focused food policies. Persistent anaemia among women, slow adoption of modern agricultural technologies, post-harvest losses, and climate-related agricultural risks continue to threaten long-term food security and human development.

Good Health

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has pursued Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) and the 4th Health, Population, and Nutrition Sector Programme (HPNSP), focusing on strengthening primary healthcare services.
Challenges	Major challenges include rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs), increasing healthcare costs, health worker shortages, urban–rural disparities, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. NCD-related mortality increased from 21.6% in 2016 to 24% in 2023 and now accounts for nearly 67% of annual deaths. Out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure remained extremely high at 73% of total health spending in 2022. Environmental health risks also worsened, with mortality from air pollution increasing from 149 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 241 in 2023.
Progress/ Solution	Bangladesh reduced the Maternal Mortality Ratio from 181 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 136 in 2023. Skilled birth attendance increased from 42% in 2014 to 69.7% in 2023. Under-five mortality improved from 36 per 1,000 live births in 2015 to 28 in 2021. Immunisation coverage reached 81.6% in 2023, while Hepatitis B incidence declined from 1.38 to 0.51 per 100,000 between 2015 and 2021. The country also established Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Corners at Upazila Health Complexes to improve screening and treatment services.
Unsolved Challenges	Bangladesh still struggles with unequal maternal healthcare access, stagnant neonatal mortality, shortages of health workers, and rising adolescent fertility. Health worker density reached only 12.78 per 10,000 population in 2023, far below the 2030 target of 44.5. Environmental health risks, inadequate WASH services, and increasing road traffic fatalities also remain unresolved public health threats requiring stronger regulation, investment, and enforcement.

Quality Education

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised inclusive and quality education through policies such as the National Education Policy 2010, which extended free primary schooling to eight years, and the National School Meal Policy introduced in 2019 to improve nutrition and school attendance. The country has achieved gender parity in primary and secondary education and near-universal enrolment in primary education.
Challenges	Despite progress, rural–urban disparities in literacy and early childhood development remain significant. In 2019, 77.9% of urban children aged 24–59 months were developmentally on track compared to 73.7% in rural areas. Low participation in pre-primary education, poor learning outcomes, high dropout rates, and limited ICT skills continue to affect the quality of education. Furthermore, only 23.63% of students at the end of secondary education met minimum mathematics proficiency in 2023, far below the 2025 target of 55%.
Progress/ Solution	Youth literacy increased from 95.1% in 2020 to 96% in 2023, with girls outperforming boys. Reading proficiency at grade 3 and grade 5 reached 61.9% and 94% respectively in 2023, exceeding the 2030 targets. Primary schools achieved 95.3% electricity access and 97.8% access to safe drinking water in 2023. Bangladesh also introduced initiatives such as Television-Based Learning (Sangsad TV), the Blended Learning Policy (2021), and EdTech platforms including “Ghore Boshe Shikhi” and “Amar Ghore Amar School” to improve learning continuity and digital access.
Unsolved Challenges	Bangladesh still faces inadequate inclusion of children with disabilities and Indigenous students, insufficient digital infrastructure in rural areas, and persistent gender gaps in tertiary and technical education. Only 18% of secondary schools offered disability-friendly facilities in 2023, far below the 2025 target of 80%. Underfunding and climate vulnerability also threaten educational continuity and resilience across the country.

Gender Equality

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has strengthened gender equality through progressive legal frameworks and political commitments. In 2022, the country scored 75 in promoting, enforcing, and monitoring gender equality, while the legal and regulatory framework for reproductive health scored 89.1 out of 100.
Challenges	Significant institutional, legal, and operational challenges remain. Underreporting of violence, limited support services, early marriage, unequal economic participation, and conventional gender roles continue to undermine women’s empowerment. According to BDHS, only 45.5% of women could make decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health in 2022, despite improvement from 36.4% in 2014.
Progress/ Solution	Women’s political participation has improved moderately, with women holding 20.86% of national parliamentary seats in 2021 and 23.46% of local government positions in 2023. Bangladesh has also maintained gender budget shares above 30%, reflecting continued policy commitment towards women’s empowerment and gender-responsive governance.
Unsolved Challenges	Implementation gaps, socio-political biases, and limited empowerment at the grassroots level continue to hinder gender equality outcomes. Persistent barriers in economic participation, access to services, and protection from gender-based violence remain unresolved and require stronger institutional enforcement and social transformation.

Water & Sanitation

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services as a central component of sustainable development and public health improvement. The country has expanded safe drinking water coverage and sanitation facilities through national and local development initiatives.
Challenges	Bangladesh continues to face challenges related to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, groundwater depletion, salinity intrusion, and climate-induced water stress. WASH-related mortality increased from 119 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016 to 161 in 2023, remaining far from the 2030 target of 4.5 deaths per 100,000.
Progress/ Solution	The country achieved 77% access to safe drinking water nationally, while primary schools recorded 97.8% access to safe drinking water and 90.8% access to single-sex sanitation facilities in 2023. Secondary schools also reached 97% access to drinking water and 95% access to sanitation facilities. These improvements demonstrate continued investments in WASH infrastructure and public health systems.
Unsolved Challenges	Environmental degradation, water contamination, and inadequate hygiene services remain critical concerns. Rising mortality linked to unsafe WASH conditions indicates the need for stronger environmental health policies, expanded climate-resilient water infrastructure, improved sanitation management, and greater investment in sustainable water resource management.

Clean Energy

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has focused on diversifying its energy mix through renewable energy initiatives and improved energy efficiency to ensure sustainable and inclusive energy access. The government has continued investments in both grid and off-grid electrification systems to strengthen national energy security.
Challenges	Despite near-universal electricity access, renewable energy adoption remains limited. In 2023, only 4.11% of total final energy consumption came from renewable sources, well below the 2030 target of 10%. Bangladesh also faces investment barriers in solar and wind energy projects, inadequate modern grid systems, and insufficient energy storage infrastructure.
Progress/ Solution	Access to electricity increased significantly from 78% in 2015 to 99.53% in 2023. The use of clean fuels also rose, with 29.67% of the population predominantly using clean fuel technologies in 2023. Energy efficiency improved as energy intensity declined from 2.81 ktoe/BDT billion in FY 2015–16 to 1.28 ktoe/BDT billion in FY 2022–23. Clean energy funding from international donors also increased from USD 301 million in 2015 to USD 497 million in 2019.
Unsolved Challenges	Bangladesh still requires stronger private sector participation, concessional financing, and public–private partnerships to accelerate renewable energy expansion. The intermittent nature of solar and wind energy and the absence of advanced grid and storage systems remain major obstacles to achieving the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) 2023 target of 10% renewable electricity generation by 2030.

Decent Work

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised economic growth, employment generation, labour protection, and youth empowerment as central drivers of sustainable development. Post-pandemic economic recovery efforts have focused on improving productivity, formalising employment, and enhancing workforce skills.
Challenges	Informal employment remains a major concern, accounting for 84.08% of total employment in 2023. Women are disproportionately affected, with over 95% of employed women working informally between 2015 and 2023. Youth employment is similarly vulnerable, as 92.1% of employed youth aged 15–29 worked in informal arrangements in 2023. Persistent gender wage gaps also continue, with women aged above 65 earning 70% less than men of the same age group in 2023.
Progress/ Solution	Bangladesh maintained relatively stable economic growth after the COVID-19 pandemic. Total unemployment declined to 3.35% in 2023. Initiatives such as the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) for ready-made garment workers and UNDP’s Futurenation platform have strengthened labour protection, skills development, and youth employability through digital and vocational training opportunities.
Unsolved Challenges	Unsafe working conditions, labour underutilisation, skill mismatches, and unfair pricing practices in the ready-made garment sector remain unresolved. The report highlights the need for stronger labour inspections, expanded vocational training, increased social protection coverage, and fair trade practices to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Industry & Infrastructure

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised industrialisation, infrastructure expansion, digital connectivity, and innovation to support economic transformation and competitiveness. Investments in rural roads, mobile connectivity, and greener industrial production have contributed to improved national infrastructure development.
Challenges	Bangladesh continues to face structural weaknesses in manufacturing and innovation. Although manufacturing contributed 23.82% of GDP in 2024 compared to 20.35% in 2016, the share of manufacturing employment declined from 14.4% to 11.56%. Medium- and high-tech manufacturing accounted for only 5.48% of value added in 2024, while research and development expenditure fell from 0.35% of GDP in FY19 to 0.3% in FY20.
Progress/ Solution	Infrastructure access improved considerably, with 91.1% of rural residents living within 2 kilometres of an all-season road in 2023, compared to 88.5% in 2022. Mobile phone usage reached 89.6% in rural households and 90.9% in urban households by 2022, while 4G network coverage expanded to 98.3% of the population. Official development assistance for infrastructure also rose from USD 1.2 billion in 2015 to more than USD 6.3 billion in 2023.
Unsolved Challenges	Persistent barriers include weak infrastructure maintenance, vulnerability of transport systems to natural disasters, limited industrial diversification, low employment generation, and inadequate investment in research and development. Bangladesh still requires climate-resilient transport systems, stronger public–private partnerships, and industry-aligned vocational training to improve innovation and industrial competitiveness.

Inequality

Score: 2
Justification	Bangladesh has pursued inclusive growth and social protection measures to reduce income and social inequalities. Policies have focused on expanding financial inclusion, improving remittance flows, and increasing support for vulnerable populations through social safety net programmes.
Challenges	Income inequality remains a major concern. The Gini coefficient increased from 0.482 in 2010 to 0.499 in 2022, indicating widening income disparities. Wage growth among the poorest 40% of the population remained lower than the national average, while disparities persisted between rural and urban areas, gender groups, and vulnerable communities.
Progress/ Solution	Bangladesh increased social protection coverage significantly, with around 50% of the population receiving at least one social protection benefit in 2022. Remittance inflows also rose steadily, strengthening household incomes and reducing vulnerability among migrant families. The country continued promoting inclusive financial systems and labour migration policies to improve economic opportunities for disadvantaged populations.
Unsolved Challenges	Persistent regional disparities, unequal access to quality education and healthcare, gender wage gaps, and limited economic opportunities for marginalised groups remain unresolved. The report stresses the need for progressive taxation, stronger labour rights, improved rural infrastructure, and more targeted social protection to achieve equitable development.

Sustainable Cities

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised sustainable urbanisation, resilient infrastructure, and disaster risk reduction to address rapid urban population growth and climate vulnerability. Urban development initiatives have focused on housing, transportation, waste management, and resilience planning.
Challenges	Rapid urbanisation has created major pressures on housing, transport, and public services. In 2022, only 56.4% of urban households had access to improved sanitation services, while air pollution and unmanaged waste continued to threaten public health. Limited green spaces, traffic congestion, and informal settlements remain persistent urban challenges.
Progress/ Solution	Bangladesh strengthened disaster preparedness and urban resilience mechanisms. Access to all-season roads improved, and disaster mortality rates declined significantly due to enhanced early warning systems and community preparedness programmes. The government also expanded urban infrastructure projects and climate adaptation initiatives to improve the sustainability of cities and settlements.
Unsolved Challenges	Urban governance weaknesses, inadequate waste management systems, insufficient affordable housing, and growing environmental degradation continue to hinder sustainable urban development. The report highlights the need for climate-resilient urban planning, improved public transport systems, expanded green infrastructure, and stronger local government capacity.

Responsible Consumption

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh has emphasised sustainable production, resource efficiency, and environmentally responsible industrial practices to support long-term economic growth and environmental sustainability. Policies have encouraged cleaner production methods and efficient resource management.
Challenges	Bangladesh continues to face increasing industrial waste, inefficient resource utilisation, and inadequate recycling systems. Rapid industrialisation and urban consumption patterns have intensified environmental pollution and waste management pressures. Sustainable consumption awareness and implementation remain limited across many sectors.
Progress/ Solution	The country expanded green industrial practices, particularly in the ready-made garment sector, where Bangladesh became home to a large number of internationally certified green factories. Resource-efficient technologies, sustainable agricultural practices, and cleaner energy initiatives have also been promoted to improve environmental performance and production efficiency.
Unsolved Challenges	Bangladesh still requires stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, improved waste segregation and recycling infrastructure, and greater investment in circular economy practices. Industrial pollution, plastic waste, and weak monitoring systems remain significant barriers to achieving sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Climate Action

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised climate action due to its high vulnerability to cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion, and sea-level rise. The country has integrated climate resilience into national planning through policies such as the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.
Challenges	Bangladesh continues to experience severe climate-related losses and environmental stress. Climate-induced disasters threaten livelihoods, agriculture, water security, and infrastructure. Limited local adaptation financing, inadequate disaster-resilient infrastructure, and insufficient local-level climate planning remain significant barriers.
Progress/ Solution	The country strengthened disaster preparedness systems, early warning mechanisms, and climate adaptation programmes. Bangladesh reduced disaster mortality significantly through community-based resilience initiatives and expanded climate financing mechanisms. The government also promoted renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and coastal resilience projects to address environmental vulnerabilities.
Unsolved Challenges	Bangladesh still faces financing gaps for climate adaptation, increasing displacement risks, and insufficient technological capacity for large-scale resilience building. Rising sea levels, salinity intrusion, and extreme weather events continue to threaten sustainable development and require greater international climate finance and stronger institutional coordination.

Life Below Water

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh has emphasised the sustainable use of marine resources and coastal ecosystem protection because of the importance of fisheries, the blue economy, and coastal livelihoods to national development. Policies have focused on marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries management.
Challenges	Marine pollution, overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate-related impacts continue to threaten coastal and marine ecosystems. Unsustainable fishing practices and inadequate waste management have contributed to declining marine biodiversity and ecosystem stress.
Progress/ Solution	Bangladesh expanded marine protected areas, strengthened fisheries regulations, and promoted sustainable coastal resource management. Conservation measures, including seasonal fishing bans and habitat protection initiatives, have contributed to preserving fish stocks and supporting coastal livelihoods.
Unsolved Challenges	Weak enforcement capacity, marine pollution, illegal fishing, and inadequate scientific monitoring continue to limit effective ocean governance. The report highlights the need for stronger regional cooperation, improved waste management, and increased investment in marine research and coastal ecosystem restoration.

Life on Land

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised biodiversity conservation, forest protection, and sustainable ecosystem management to address environmental degradation and protect natural resources. National efforts have focused on afforestation, wildlife conservation, and restoring degraded ecosystems.
Challenges	Deforestation, land degradation, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline remain major environmental concerns. Urbanisation, industrial expansion, and climate change continue to place pressure on forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitats across the country.
Progress/ Solution	Bangladesh expanded protected forest areas, strengthened biodiversity conservation measures, and promoted social forestry programmes involving local communities. Reforestation and ecosystem restoration initiatives have contributed to improving environmental sustainability and supporting climate resilience.
Unsolved Challenges	Illegal logging, weak enforcement mechanisms, human–wildlife conflict, and inadequate funding continue to undermine conservation efforts. The report stresses the need for stronger ecosystem governance, increased community participation, and improved land-use planning to ensure long-term biodiversity protection and sustainable land management.

Peace & Justice

Score: 3
Justification	Bangladesh strengthened governance and institutional reforms through digitalisation and public service modernisation. Birth registration coverage among children under five increased significantly from 9.2% in 2013 to 56.2% in 2019, reflecting progress in legal identity systems and access to public services.
Challenges	Bangladesh continues to face institutional and governance challenges, including corruption, cybercrime, limited access to justice, and violence against vulnerable groups. The report notes that institutional capacity and law enforcement effectiveness remain uneven, while case backlogs and delays in judicial processes continue to affect justice delivery.
Progress/ Solution	The country expanded e-governance and digital public service delivery systems to improve transparency and accountability. Bangladesh also strengthened anti-trafficking initiatives, legal aid services, and child protection systems. Improvements in civil registration and institutional modernisation have contributed to better governance outcomes and wider citizen access to public services.
Unsolved Challenges	Despite progress, corruption risks, judicial inefficiencies, limited institutional transparency, and cyber security threats remain unresolved. The report highlights the need for stronger judicial reforms, improved institutional accountability, and greater citizen participation to achieve peaceful, inclusive, and effective governance systems by 2030.

Partnerships

Score: 4
Justification	Bangladesh has prioritised global partnerships, financing cooperation, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate SDG implementation. Official development assistance (ODA) for infrastructure increased from USD 1.2 billion in 2015 to more than USD 6.3 billion in 2023, supporting major development sectors including transport, energy, and social services.
Challenges	Bangladesh faces widening financing gaps, declining concessional support, and constraints in domestic resource mobilisation. Poverty-focused ODA declined from 19.1% in 2015 to 11.4% in 2021, limiting available resources for inclusive and climate-resilient development programmes. External economic pressures and technology transfer limitations also remain major concerns.
Progress/ Solution	The country strengthened partnerships with international organisations, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to improve SDG implementation and monitoring. Bangladesh also enhanced statistical systems and digital coordination platforms for SDG reporting and policy integration. Increased international financing and infrastructure investments contributed to improvements in energy access, transport connectivity, and social development programmes between 2015 and 2023.
Unsolved Challenges	Bangladesh still requires greater climate finance, technology transfer, concessional funding, and private sector participation to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Weak inter-agency coordination, long-term financing constraints, and limited access to sustainable investment mechanisms continue to hinder implementation progress.

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDG17

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

SDGs World Progress: Off-Track

Country Challenges

Bangladesh continues to face high climate vulnerability from floods, cyclones, salinity intrusion, and sea-level rise, affecting agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
Income inequality increased, with the Gini coefficient rising from 0.482 in 2010 to 0.499 in 2022.
Informal employment remained very high at 84.08% of total employment in 2023, with more than 95% of employed women working informally between 2015 and 2023.
Renewable energy adoption remained limited, accounting for only 4.11% of total final energy consumption in 2023 against the 2030 target of 10%.
Out-of-pocket health expenditure remained extremely high at 73% of total health expenditure in 2022, limiting access to healthcare for vulnerable groups.
WASH-related mortality increased from 119 deaths per 100,000 population in 2016 to 161 in 2023.
Research and development expenditure declined from 0.35% of GDP in FY2018–19 to 0.30% in FY2019–20, constraining innovation and industrial diversification.

Country Lessons Learned

Strong political commitment and integration of SDGs into national planning frameworks can accelerate sustainable development implementation.
Community-based disaster preparedness and early warning systems can significantly reduce disaster-related mortality and improve resilience.
Expanding social protection programmes and targeted poverty reduction policies can rapidly reduce extreme poverty and vulnerability.
Investment in women’s education, political participation, and gender-responsive budgeting strengthens inclusive development outcomes.
Digital governance, e-learning platforms, and technology-driven public services improve institutional efficiency and service delivery.
Public–private partnerships and international cooperation are essential for infrastructure, energy, and climate financing.

Country Contribution

Bangladesh reduced the national poverty rate from 24.3% in 2016 to 18.7% in 2022, while extreme poverty declined to 5% in 2022 from 13.47% in 2016.
Access to electricity increased from 78% in 2015 to 99.53% in 2023, demonstrating major progress in energy access.
Maternal mortality declined from 181 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 136 in 2023. Skilled birth attendance increased from 42% in 2014 to 69.7% in 2023.
Youth literacy improved from 95.1% in 2020 to 96% in 2023, while reading proficiency at grade 5 reached 94% in 2023.
Social protection coverage expanded from 28.7% in 2016 to around 50% of the population in 2022, exceeding the SDG target.
Infrastructure financing increased from USD 1.2 billion in 2015 to over USD 6.3 billion in 2023, supporting transport and energy development.
Bangladesh became a global leader in green ready-made garment factories through environmentally sustainable industrial practices.

Bangladesh

Overview

Social Networks

SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

Location

Region

No Poverty

Zero Hunger

Good Health

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Water & Sanitation

Clean Energy

Decent Work

Industry & Infrastructure

Inequality

Sustainable Cities

Responsible Consumption

Climate Action

Life Below Water

Life on Land

Peace & Justice

Partnerships

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

SDGs World Progress: Off-Track

Country Challenges

Country Lessons Learned

Country Contribution

You May Also Be Interested In

European Union

The European Union’s (EU) 2023 Voluntary National Review (VNR) marks a historic milestone as the first…

Saudi Arabia

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global framework to…

Bangladesh

Overview

Social Networks

SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

Location

Region

No Poverty

Zero Hunger

Good Health

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Water & Sanitation

Clean Energy

Decent Work

Industry & Infrastructure

Inequality

Sustainable Cities

Responsible Consumption

Climate Action

Life Below Water

Life on Land

Peace & Justice

Partnerships

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

SDGs World Progress: Off-Track

Country Challenges

Country Lessons Learned

Country Contribution

You May Also Be Interested In

European Union

The European Union’s (EU) 2023 Voluntary National Review (VNR) marks a historic milestone as the first…

Canada

Canada’s 2023 Voluntary National Review (VNR), titled A Continued Journey for Implementing the 2030 Agenda…

Saudi Arabia

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global framework to…