Bangladesh to edge past India in per capita GDP for 2026: IMF
Bangladesh will marginally overtake India in GDP per capita income during the 2026 fiscal year.
The projection was shared by the International Monetary Fund in its latest World Economic Outlook data – which also showed India slipping from the fourth largest economy in the world to sixth position.
According to the IMF, Bangladesh will see its per capita income reach $2,911 in 2026.
The figure is marginally higher than the $2,812 projected for neighboring India. While the gap is narrow, this is the second time in recent years that Dhaka has outpaced its larger neighbor on this specific metric, report The Indian EXPRESS.
IMF projections suggest India will again overtake Bangladesh in 2027 – with an estimated per capita GDP of $3,074. Data suggests India will maintain that lead until at least 2031.
Per capita GDP measures the average economic output per person and is calculated by dividing a country’s total GDP by its population, offering a broad indicator of average income levels.
The Scroll cited IMF data showing that while Bangladesh is projected to edge ahead in 2026, India had already moved slightly in front in 2025, with per capita income of $2,675 against Bangladesh’s $2,635.
Bangladesh, however, had maintained a lead over India in 2023 and 2024.
The trajectory is expected to shift again from 2027, when India’s per capita GDP is forecast at $3,074, compared with Bangladesh’s $3,048.
The IMF projects India will remain ahead of Bangladesh in per capita terms at least through 2031.
The Scroll reported, for broader context, the IMF says the average per capita GDP in emerging market and developing economies is around $7,500, while the global average stands at approximately $15,600, placing both South Asian economies well below global benchmarks.
India’s overall economy is projected to reach $4.1 trillion in 2026, significantly larger than Bangladesh’s estimated $510 billion, underscoring the scale gap between the two economies despite close per capita figures.
