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Bangladesh has a population of nearly 173 million, making it the eighth most populous country in the world. The country has a predominantly young demographic, with over 60 percent of its citizens under the age of 35.
The country’s literacy rate stands at about 76 percent, showing steady progress in education and human resource development. Supported by strong performance in manufacturing, remittances, and services, and development in infrastruture Bangladesh’s GDP reached approximately USD 460 billion in 2024, positioning it among the fastest-growing economies in South Asia.
In terms of digital adoption, As of August 2025 Bangladesh has nearly 190 million mobile connections, 132 million internet users, and around 15 million fixed broadband subscribers, according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Mobile internet remains the dominant mode of connectivity, while broadband subscriptions and smartphone usage are rising rapidly, helping to bring more citizens into the digital economy.
Between 2020 and 2024, Bangladesh’s performance in the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI) improved significantly, showing real progress in digital governance, infrastructure, and human capacity. The EGDI, developed by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), measures how effectively governments use digital technologies to deliver services and promote citizen participation.
It combines three equally weighted components: the Online Service Index (OSI), the Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII), and the Human Capital Index (HCI). Together, these components reflect how well a country integrates technology into governance.
Bangladesh’s EGDI score increased from 0.5189 in 2020 (rank 119th) to 0.5630 in 2022 (rank 111th), and further to 0.6570 in 2024 (rank 100th), placing it first among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This improvement highlights the country’s growing digital capability supported by investments in online services, digital inclusion programs, and ICT infrastructure.
Among its regional peers, India ranks 97th, Vietnam 71st, the Philippines 73rd, Nepal 119th, and Pakistan 136th in 2024, indicating that while Bangladesh has made strong strides, it still trails the more advanced digital ecosystems of Vietnam, the Philippines, and India.
In 2024, Bangladesh achieved an overall EGDI score of 0.657, higher than both the world average (0.638) and the sub-regional average (0.586), though slightly below the Asian regional average (0.699). This shows that Bangladesh is now one of the stronger digital performers in South Asia.
Bangladesh performed well above the world average (0.575), the regional average (0.640), and the sub-regional average (0.554). This strong performance reflects progress in digitizing public services, expanding e-service portals, and ensuring easier access for citizens.
Bangladesh performed well in the Online Service Index (OSI). Much of this progress came from private sector initiatives such as e-commerce, mobile financial services, and app-based platforms. These services have made digital access easier for citizens, while government-led digital programs are still developing.
Out of more than 700 government online services, none are fully end-to-end digitized, and most still require some level of physical interaction or manual verification. Moreover, these platforms are not interoperable, meaning data cannot flow seamlessly across ministries or agencies, which leads to duplication, inefficiency, and poor user experience.
Government digital systems are often developed in isolated silos without adherence to a common digital architecture or integration standards. This fragmentation prevents the creation of unified citizen databases, coordinated service delivery, and cross-sector analytics. Additionally, digital security and operational frameworks remain weak, with inconsistent enforcement of cybersecurity standards and limited institutional capacity for risk management.
As a result, despite visible progress in service availability, Bangladesh’s e-government ecosystem still lacks the structural coherence, reliability, and resilience necessary for a mature, citizen-centered digital governance model.
Bangladesh remains slightly below the world average (0.690) and down by a big margin from the regional average (0.774), though it has made strong gains in mobile and broadband access. However, infrastructure quality, network reliability, and affordability still need improvement. Expanding fiber connectivity and introducing 5G services could help close this gap.
Despite the high number of mobile and internet users, Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure still faces major quality limitations. Many individuals own multiple SIM cards or devices, which inflates user counts, while millions remain without real access. Likewise, users who consume as little as 5 MB per year are counted as internet users, which exaggerates connectivity levels. A more realistic benchmark would be at least 1 GB per year to reflect genuine digital engagement.
In terms of speed, Bangladesh’s mean mobile download rate is 9.2 Mbps, compared to the global average of 64.2 Mbps and the Asian average of 56.3 Mbps. The median fixed broadband speed is 48.1 Mbps, which is above the South Asian average of 42.4 Mbps, but far below the global benchmark of 145.8 Mbps.
Although broadband costs are relatively low at USD 13.7 per month (USD 0.36 per Mbps), inconsistent speeds and reliability reduce the real value of access. These figures show that while connectivity coverage has expanded, the overall quality of the digital experience remains uneven, limiting productivity and digital inclusion.
Bangladesh’s HCI score remains lower than the world average (0.650) and the Asian average (0.683), but higher than the South Asian sub-regional average (0.538). This shows that while education levels are improving, digital skills have not yet caught up with the country’s infrastructure development.
The country’s literacy rate of 76 percent is lower than the global average of 87 percent, the Asian average of 85 percent, and the South Asian average of 79 percent. This means that a significant portion of the population still lacks the educational foundation required to participate effectively in the digital economy.
The digital literacy situation is even more concerning. A 2022 study by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) found that only 8 percent of households possess basic computer skills, such as using word processors, spreadsheets, or accessing online services. This limited skill base restricts people’s ability to engage with e-government systems, participate in online learning, or benefit from digital job opportunities.
The internet penetration rate stands at 44.5 percent, well below the global average of 88.6 percent, the Asian average of 86.4 percent, and the South Asian average of about 62 percent, meaning that more than half of the population remains offline. These combined gaps in education, technology skills, and connectivity explain why Bangladesh’s human capital performance lags its governance and infrastructure achievements.
Bangladesh scored above all benchmarks, surpassing the world average (0.489), the regional average (0.540), and the sub-regional average (0.406). This demonstrates strong citizen engagement through feedback platforms, open data portals, and participatory digital channels.
Overall, Bangladesh’s EGDI profile reflects strong progress in online service delivery and civic participation, supported by moderate infrastructure development and a growing but still limited human capacity base.
While Bangladesh’s progress in digital governance has been notable, the next stage of transformation requires strategic interventions to overcome structural, institutional, and human capacity challenges. To consolidate recent achievements and sustain momentum toward a fully inclusive, citizen-centric digital ecosystem, a coordinated policy framework is essential.
The following table summarizes the key challenges identified across the three core pillars of the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), the Online Service Index, the Telecommunication and Infrastructure Index, and the Human Capital Index—along with proposed strategic solutions. These recommendations aim to enhance interoperability, improve infrastructure reliability, and strengthen human capital to ensure a resilient and equitable digital future for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s digital transformation journey has been remarkable, marked by steady progress in online services, infrastructure, and citizen participation. Its rise to 100th position in 2024 EGDI demonstrates meaningful improvement in digital governance and inclusion.
However, the country’s e-government systems remain fragmented and heavily reliant on private-sector innovation rather than unified public-sector digital architecture. To sustain its momentum, Bangladesh must focus on building stronger institutional capacity, establishing interoperable systems, and improving human capital and cybersecurity readiness.
Enhancing digital literacy, ensuring affordable and reliable internet, and integrating data across ministries will be critical for achieving a coherent, secure, and citizen-centered digital governance model that supports inclusive growth and long-term resilience.
The article was authored by Ridwanur Rahman, Senior Business Consultant at LightCastle Partners. For more information, please reach out to us at: [email protected]
1. UN EGDI Report 2024
2. World Population Review
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