Bangladesh’s per capita external debt rose by $22.05 to reach $579.28 (equivalent to Tk 63,048) in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, compared to $557.23 in the previous year. Over the past five fiscal years, per capita debt increased by 53%. In FY19, it was $378.2 or Tk 31,776, according to Bangladesh Bank data.
Total external debt nearly doubled in the past five fiscal years, reaching 21.8% of GDP in FY23, up from 17.8% in FY19. Foreign debt grew from $62.63 billion in FY19 to $98.94 billion in the last fiscal year, a 57.97% increase. Despite increasing external debt, short-term external debt decreased by 29% to $16.03 billion in FY23 compared to the previous fiscal year.
Economists suggest that when external debt exceeds 40% of GDP, it becomes risky. The government’s need for loans to fund large-scale projects, a shortage of revenue, and changing lending conditions pose challenges. To address this, experts recommend a focus on boosting remittances and exports.