Bangladesh
People's Republic of Bangladesh │ গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ
Bangladesh is the world's second largest exporter of garments and textiles after China, making it one of the most important players in the global textile industry. More than 4.5 million people in Bangladesh work in the textile industry, the majority of whom are women. By 2021, the government's stated goal is to continue to grow the industry and increase annual exports of textiles and garments to a value of US$50 billion, nearly double the 2016 figure.
Legislation and enforcement has evolved significantly in many areas since the Rana Plaza disaster. These include union representation, minimum wage, and job security. Nevertheless, ILO’s International Labour Standards are still not being met in many factories. The continued growth of the industry also has an impact on the environment: In particular, the production of textiles (e.g. dyeing, printing) involves very high consumption of water, chemicals and energy.
Population
Total
172,954,319 (2023)
Gross Domestic Product
GDP per Capita (constant USD, thousand)
$2,621.29 (2023)
Human Development Index Ranking
HDI Rank (out of 191 countries)
129 (2022)
Garment/Textile Workers
Number of workers in the garment/textile sector
4,000,000 (2019)
Women Workers in the Garment/Textile Industry
Percentage of women workers employed in the garment/textile industry
44.1% (2023)
Number of Garment/Textile Factories
Number of factories in the garment/textile industry
3,925 (2024)
Garment/Textile Industry Exports
(USD$ billion)
USD 46.991 billion (2022)
Garment/Textile Industry Size
Percentage of total exports
84.58% (2022)
Minimum Wage
Monthly minimum wage in USD
USD 113 ≅ 12,800 BDT (2024)
Key Garment/Textile Export Markets
Top five countries ($USD value exported and subsequent percentage)
| Country | Percentage of Exports |
|---|---|
| European Union | 49.34% |
| United States | 17.45% |
| United Kingdom | 11.27% |
| Canada | 3.19% |
| Japan | 3.53% |
Government Entities
Government agencies actively involved in the garment/textile industry
- Ministry of Labour and Employment
- Ministry of Commerce
- Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE)
- Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE)
Worker Organizations
Trade unions, Union federations, and other worker organizations
- National Coordination Committee on Workers Education (NCCWE)
- IndustriAll Bangladesh Council (IBC)
- Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation
Employer/Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce
Employers and industry related associations, private sectors associations and chambers of commerce
- Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)
- Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA)
- Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF)
Development Agencies/ International Organizations
National and international development organizations working within the garment/textile industry
- Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia (ILO)
- GIZ FABRIC Asia
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
- Better Work Bangladesh (BWB)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- UNICEF
- UN Women
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Civil Society Organizations/ Non-governmental Organizations
Organizations working within the garment/textile industry
- Awaj Foundation
- Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
- CARE Bangladesh
- Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
- Fairwear Foundation
- Oxfam International
- Plan International
- Solidarity Center
- SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
Sources of data provided
- Population: https://population.un.org/dataportal/data/indicators/49/locations/586,50,116,608,764,144,704/start/2023/end/2023/table
- GDP Per Capita: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=513,514,516,522,924,819,534,536,826,544,548,556,867,868,948,518,836,558,565,853,566,862,813,524,578,537,866,869,846,582,&s=NGDPDPC,&sy=2023&ey=2023&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1
- HDI: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/BGD
- Garment / Textile Workers: https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/d6556cd1_dc6f_41f5_a766_042b69cb1687/2021-06-30-09-25-67bbe4c5c15d7773d82c86adbd26bba9.pdf
- Women Workers in the Garment /Textile Industry: https://webapps.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/discrimination/garment-gender#the-global-garment-industry-a-bird%E2%80%99s-eye-view-(1)
- Number of Garment / Textile Factories: https://bgmea.com.bd/page/member-list
- Garment / Textile Industry Exports: https://bgmea.com.bd/page/Export_Performance
- Garment / Textile Industry Size: https://bgmea.com.bd/page/Export_Performance
- Key Garment / Textile Export Market: https://bgmea.com.bd/page/Export_Performance
- Minimum Wage (2024): https://www.dpp.gov.bd/upload_file/gazettes/51593_44441.pdf USD 113 (12,800 BDT)
What's going on in Bangladesh?
Smita Nimilita is the country representative for HERproject in Bangladesh. We speak to her about the current situation in the RMG sector, the importance of creating equal pathways for women to participate in decision and policy making, and the benefits that wage digitization can bring to workers and factories.
News on Bangladesh
Apparel Exporters Seek Fair Pricing from Brands
Bangladeshi apparel exporters urge foreign buyers to adopt fair pricing policies to address rising production costs. At a seminar by the Fair Wear Foundation, industry leaders highlighted cost surges from higher wages and energy prices, while apparel prices stagnate. Brands pledged collaboration.
Read MoreAutomation Cuts 31% of Jobs in Bangladesh's Garment Industry
Automation has cut 31% of Bangladesh's garment jobs, mostly low-skill roles like helpers, with women hit hardest. Cutting-stage jobs saw a 48% drop. With 80% of factories planning more automation, upskilling and better integration are vital to sustain workers and global competitiveness.
Read MoreExtreme Heat Threatens Workers in Asia Amid New EU Rules
Rising heat in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan jeopardizes garment workers’ safety, with “wet-bulb” temperatures exceeding safe thresholds 42% more often than before. New EU laws demand multinational brands address these risks by improving factory cooling systems and worker protections.
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