Bangladesh to surpass India in per capita GDP this year: IMF

Bangladesh is projected to overtake neighbouring India in nominal per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026, with its per capita GDP expected to reach US$2,886, compared with US$2,749 for India, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF's October 2026 World Economic Outlook projects Bangladesh's per capita GDP to exceed India's by US$137 this year, marking a reversal of the trend in recent years, when India moved ahead of Bangladesh on this measure.

Per capita GDP is calculated by dividing a country's total economic output by its population.

Bangladesh has made significant economic progress over the past two decades, driven largely by the expansion of its ready-made garment (RMG) industry, strong remittance inflows and increased participation of women in the labour force.