Photo: Niaz morshed Shovon · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Bangladesh: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Bangladesh is placed 136th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 74.67 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 30.5 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
136th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 74.67Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 30.5Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 23.56Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- —Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Bangladesh on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
74.67
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Bangladesh: 74.67. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Southern Asia
- 81.04 Maldives
- Land neighbours
- India 72 · Myanmar 66.89
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
30.5
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Bangladesh: 30.5. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Southern Asia
- 5.439 Maldives
- Land neighbours
- India 26.58 · Myanmar 36.93
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Bangladesh’s is from 2022 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
23.56
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Bangladesh: 23.56. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Southern Asia
- 4.8 Iran
- Land neighbours
- India 35.47 · Myanmar 26.7
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Bangladesh, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Southern Asia
- 1.1 Sri Lanka
- Land neighbours
- Myanmar 7.9
02Over time
Which way Bangladesh is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
BangladeshWorld median
Bangladesh rose from 62.05 in 2000 to 74.67 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Bangladesh World median 2023 74.67 74.630 2022 74.26 74.313 2021 71.10 72.433 2020 71.42 73.063 2019 72.63 74.196 2018 72.12 74.081 2017 71.61 74.029 2016 71.08 74.013 2015 70.54 73.783 2014 70.02 73.330 2013 69.49 73.386 2012 68.99 73.210 2011 68.50 73.003 2010 68.01 72.827 2009 67.53 72.426 2008 67.05 72.264 2007 66.46 72.113 2006 66.05 72.027 2005 65.51 71.876 2004 64.91 71.477 2003 64.29 71.409 2002 63.59 71.173 2001 62.84 70.926 2000 62.05 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
BangladeshWorld median
Bangladesh fell from 85.51 in 2000 to 30.5 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Bangladesh World median 2024 30.5 14.5 2023 30.6 15.2 2022 30.7 14.7 2021 30.9 15.1 2020 31.4 15.3 2019 32.3 15.7 2018 33.5 16.3 2017 35.0 16.8 2016 36.7 17.5 2015 38.5 17.9 2014 40.5 18.3 2013 42.4 18.7 2012 44.4 18.8 2011 46.5 19.0 2010 48.7 19.2 2009 51.1 20.8 2008 53.6 20.7 2007 56.5 21.8 2006 59.6 22.8 2005 63.0 24.0 2004 66.8 25.9 2003 70.8 26.9 2002 75.3 28.0 2001 80.2 29.1 2000 85.5 30.4
03In context
Bangladesh beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Bangladesh and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 136th | 74.67 | 30.5 | 23.56 | — |
 Indiacompare | 150th | 72 | 26.58 | 35.47 | — |
 Myanmar | 155th | 66.89 | 36.93 | 26.7 | 7.9 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Bangladesh in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Bangladesh is ahead of the world, and behind
57 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median11
Statistics on which Bangladesh does better than the middle country measured.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6597.9177.65No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 97.91 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 1st of 144 · derived.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.51.6215.5▲ Improved since 2014
Bangladesh: 1.621 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 157th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.573.841.5No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 73.8 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 7th of 127 · derived.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.470.26952.47▲ Improved since 2015
Bangladesh: 0.269 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7453.2940.74No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 53.29 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 36th of 136 · derived.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.1060.5828.106▲ Improved since 2014
Bangladesh: 0.582 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3820.331.382No real change since 2015
Bangladesh: 0.33 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.5216.39▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 17.52 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 222 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2574.771.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Bangladesh: 74.7 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 81st of 196 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919291▼ Worsened since 2015
Bangladesh: 92 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7125.07133.7▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 125.07 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 122nd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median31
Statistics on which Bangladesh does worse than the middle country measured.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0670.039▲ Improved since 2018
Bangladesh: 0.067 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.926.220.9▲ Improved since 2015
Bangladesh: 26.2 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 61st of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.13.43.1▼ Worsened since 2020
Bangladesh: 3.4 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 31st of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.438.626.4▲ Improved since 2017
Bangladesh: 38.6 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 58th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Report on Food CrisesFSIN · 2024 · world median 222622▲ Improved since 2017
Bangladesh: 26 · world median 22 · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population). Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3 to 56; lower is better.
Position 16th of 44 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8584.3982.858▲ Improved since 2014
Bangladesh: 4.398 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 66th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.6850.762▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 0.685 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 130th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.210.45.2▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 10.4 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 54th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65115.1146.65▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 115.11 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.4640.564▼ Worsened since 2017
Bangladesh: 0.464 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 121st of 172 · derived.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4824.93.48▼ Worsened since 2015
Bangladesh: 24.9 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2624.4412.26No real change since 2014
Bangladesh: 24.44 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 57th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.4870.351▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 0.487 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 125th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6952.15102.69▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 52.15 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13417.918.134▲ Improved since 2014
Bangladesh: 17.91 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 51st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9822,6392,982▲ Improved since 2014
Bangladesh: 2,639 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 117th of 155 · derived.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.956.282.9No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 56.2 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 84th of 109 · derived.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.885.775.8No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 85.7 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 19th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9536.9352.95No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 36.93 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 110th of 136 · derived.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.746.467.7No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 46.4 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 104th of 127 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4673.1827.46▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 73.18 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 37th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.97196.9No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 71 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16320.378.163▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 20.37 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 21st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8330.3584.83▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 30.35 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.54610.713.546No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 10.71 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 15th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.369.799.3▲ Improved since 2013
Bangladesh: 69.7 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 80th of 84 · derived.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8138.381No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 38.3 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 146th of 153 · derived.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 417241▲ Improved since 2012
Bangladesh: 72 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.5365.5▼ Worsened since 2023
Bangladesh: 3 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2123.0510.21No real change since 2010
Bangladesh: 23.05 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4568.214.45No real change since 2013
Bangladesh: 68.2 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 1st of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare4
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.250.25▲ Improved since 2014
Bangladesh: 0.25 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5737.5737.57No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 37.57 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 58th of 115 · derived.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2621.2621.26No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 21.26 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 57th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909090▼ Worsened since 2015
Bangladesh: 90 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
No better end11
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8825.636.88No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 25.63 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.655220.65No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 52 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8946.5638.89Moved since 2015
Bangladesh: 46.56 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 10th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1726.9816.17Moved since 2013
Bangladesh: 26.98 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2552.641.25Moved since 2013
Bangladesh: 52.6 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.445.435.4No real change since 2013
Bangladesh: 45.4 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.594.55No real change since 2017
Bangladesh: 4.59 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.731.761.73Moved since 2014
Bangladesh: 1.76 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 90th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0519.7820.05No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 19.78 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 138.313No earlier reading
Bangladesh: 8.3 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.834.4957.83No real change since 2013
Bangladesh: 4.49 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
No current reading for Bangladesh
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Insecticide-Treated Net Use and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Bangladesh’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Bangladesh’s 8th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Digital & Technologyjoint 59th of 1984/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 61st of 1864/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture79th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality73rd of 1593/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 103rd of 1824/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade112th of 1773/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation117th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing136th of 2003/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions135th of 1944/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital138th of 1963/3 keys
- Peace & Security130th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge150th of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties156th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 168th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy155th of 1653/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience187th of 1934/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Bangladesh can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Southern Asia
Sri Lanka51st4/4 keysThis page
Bangladesh136th3/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Bangladesh and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Bangladesh on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Bangladesh rank on health & wellbeing?
Bangladesh is placed 136th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate and Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Bangladesh?
74.67 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Bangladesh?
30.5 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Bangladesh compare with India on health & wellbeing?
India is placed 150th of 200, and Bangladesh 136th. Life Expectancy at Birth: India 72, Bangladesh 74.67; Under-Five Mortality Rate: India 26.58, Bangladesh 30.5; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: India 35.47, Bangladesh 23.56.
How have Bangladesh’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 62.05 in 2000 to 74.67 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 85.51 in 2000 to 30.5 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Bangladesh?
No current reading is published for Bangladesh on Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Insecticide-Treated Net Use and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 57 statistics on this page come from 19 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Bangladesh’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Bangladesh (banner) — Niaz morshed Shovon, Public domain
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Bangladesh: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/bangladesh/health