The population story of Bangladesh has long been regarded as a major development success. Fertility fell considerably, child survival improved, life expectancy increased, and the country entered a favourable period in which working-age people outnumbered dependants.

Bangladesh is now home to more than 17.5 crore people. Roughly one in four is 15-29 years of age, a cohort of around 4.7 crore, larger than the population of many countries.

Talking to the Bangladeshi elite—the people with real power and influence—you might think they recognise the education crisis facing the country.

The dividend is not automatic—it requires a healthy, educated, and productively employed workforce.

With over 60 percent of its population under the age of 35, the country holds immense promise in the form of a demographic dividend.

Bangladesh risks missing the full benefits of its demographic dividend.

Today, Bangladesh stands at the edge of a demographic paradox.

The major challenge lies in prioritisation of the policies and the lack of consistent follow-up mechanisms.

The present leadership must prioritise the development of these two assets of Bangladesh for a sustainable and prosperous future.

The proportion of working-age people declined to 65.08 percent in 2023 from 66.58 percent in 2021, according to a survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). A year before, the proportion was 65.67 percent.

Government must be serious about decreasing women NEET

As per the Labour Force Survey 2022, the number of unemployed graduates doubled in five years.

BBS survey again highlights the plight of unemployed youth

The country has an unprecedented upsurge of young people in its demography.

Quality education is a requirement for “Smart Bangladesh,” and it will be an irremediable loss if the country fails to educate its young generation in order to reap the benefits of a demographic dividend that will slip away in the 2030s.

To fully benefit from its demographic dividend, Bangladesh needs to prioritise improvement in education, healthcare and job opportunities for the youth, while ensuring social welfare and healthcare for the growing elderly population.

Education abroad does not always come with golden opportunities

We need a strategy to deal with youth unemployment and improve women's inclusion into the economy

For Bangladesh, the window of achieving demographic dividend will close around 2040.

Government must address rising unemployment as a matter of priority