Bangladesh, Oct. 19 -- Nearly half of households across Bangladesh are in debt as rising living costs continue to outpace incomes, forcing families to borrow to meet everyday expenses.

The burden is particularly acute in rural areas, where more than half of households reported taking loans over the past year.

The findings, from a special survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), highlight the growing financial strain on ordinary people amid persistent inflation, weak income growth and mounting household expenditure.

The BBS's Living Standard Survey 2025, conducted by its Poverty and Livelihood Statistics Cell at the request of the National Pay Commission, found that 47.42 per cent of households nationwide were in debt.

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