Top 1% hold nearly a quarter of Bangladesh's total wealth: Report
Globally, the report ranks Bangladesh in the middle range for overall inequality while persistent structural issues continue to impede progress toward equity
Despite a decade of economic growth, wealth inequality in Bangladesh remains severe and largely unchanged, with the richest 1% of the population controlling almost a quarter (24%) of the nation's total wealth, according to "World Inequality Report 2026", published by the Paris-based World Inequality Lab.
The report, which assesses income and wealth distribution across 40 countries, reveals that Bangladesh's wealth disparity is significantly more severe than its income inequality, although both metrics have remained stable compared to the last decade.
The findings show a persistent concentration of financial power: the wealthiest 10% of the population holds approximately 58% of the country's total wealth. In contrast, the lower 50% of the population hold only about 4.7% of the national wealth.
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The income gap also remains substantial.
The top 10% of earners capture about 41% of the total national income, while the bottom 50% capture only 19%. The inequality report notes that the income gap between the top and bottom halves of the population decreased only slightly, from 22 to 21, between 2014 and 2024, confirming the overall stability of inequality metrics.
Globally, the report ranks Bangladesh in the middle range for overall inequality. However, persistent structural issues continue to impede progress toward equity.
A key challenge highlighted is the very low rate of female labour participation, which stands at only 22.3%, reflecting enduring gender disparities in economic activity.
The World Inequality Report 2026 underscores that the pattern of income and wealth distribution in Bangladesh has remained obstinate. The middle 40% of the people hold 36.9% of the wealth of Bangladesh's economy, and the top 10% hold 58.4%.
According to the report, the average wealth of the richest 1% of people in Bangladesh is €7,23,238. At Tk142 per euro in the approximate exchange rate, this amounts to Tk10.26 crore. On the other hand, the average wealth of the bottom 50%, who only hold 4.7% of the wealth, is €1,422 or about Tk2 lakh.
