Women in Bangladesh and Poverty Reduction

Most girls in rural Bangladesh, 20 years ago, did not attend secondary school. Today, they outnumber boys in nearly every district. This shift shows how women in Bangladesh and poverty reduction efforts have become two sides of the same coin. By opening doors to education and the workforce, the country has moved from a period of high poverty to a time of visible growth and resilience.

Poverty in Bangladesh: A Long-Term Decline

Bangladesh has made steady progress in reducing poverty since 2000, cutting its national poverty levels in half. Between 2010 and 2022, the extreme poverty rate fell from 12.2% to 5.6%, while moderate poverty dropped from 37.1% to 18.7%. These changes lifted about 34 million people out of poverty in just over a decade.

Dr. Selim Raihan, economist and professor at the University of Dhaka, told The Borgen Project in an interview that women’s labor force participation has been “one of the quiet engines” behind this transformation. He explained that poverty reduction did not occur solely through macroeconomic growth, but also through the entry of millions of women into paid work. As families shifted from relying on a single male income to dual incomes, even modest wages helped smooth consumption and reduce vulnerability to shocks.

Despite this success, progress has slowed since 2016. Income inequality has widened, with wealthier families benefiting more than poorer households from recent economic growth. Approximately 62 million people, about one-third of the population, live just above the poverty line and remain at risk from shocks like illness, political unrest or flooding. Because of this fragility, the link between women in Bangladesh and poverty reduction is vital to the nation’s future.

Girls’ Education: Closing the Gender Gap

One of the clearest success stories in Bangladesh is the growth of girls’ education. In 1999, girls made up 43% of secondary students, but by 2019, that number rose to 54%. In 63 out of 64 districts, there are now more girls in school than boys.

Government initiatives played a central role in this shift. Programs like the Female Secondary School Assistance Program provided stipends to families to help keep girls enrolled in school. As the garment industry grew, families also saw a path to employment, as many factory jobs required basic schooling. Raihan noted that women’s economic participation has also had a demographic impact, contributing to lower fertility rates and greater investment per child.

In his view, women’s employment has not only shaped short-term poverty reduction but also laid the foundations for long-term human development.

Women in the Workforce: Progress and New Risks

Research shows that as more women earn income, household stability increases. Currently, the female labor force participation rate is 35.6%, which is lower than the 81.9% rate for men. Most working women, about 95% hold informal jobs such as unpaid family labor or small self-run businesses.

The garment industry has been a primary employer of women, with female workers once making up 80% of the workforce. However, as factories automate and adopt new technologies, the number of women in these roles has dropped to about 60%. To counter these changes, organizations like BRAC use microfinance programs to help rural women start their own businesses, providing a stable way to earn money at the community level.

Raihan explained that regular wages from the garment sector brought predictability to low-income households. A steady monthly income allowed families to plan spending, repay small loans and avoid distress sales of assets. He added that households with a female garment worker are more likely to invest in children’s education, especially for girls.

The Road Ahead

Raihan cautioned that the gains are substantial but not guaranteed. Bangladesh’s export economy remains concentrated and the garment sector is vulnerable to shifts in global demand and trade pressures. Many women remain in low-wage or informal jobs and without skills development and diversification, wage growth may stagnate.

The story of women in Bangladesh and poverty reduction shows that long-term investment in people pays off. Bangladesh has cut extreme poverty by more than half in just over a decade. Its future will depend on making sure women continue to have access to safe, formal jobs and stable pay. When girls stay in school and women join the economy, the entire nation moves forward.