Sylhet division has lagged the most in terms of economic activity (units) over the past decade, while Barisal has fallen behind in employment generation during the same period. Dhaka division, however, leads in both economic units and employment, according to the final results of the “Economic Census 2024” published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. The country’s fourth economic census surveyed the industrial and service sectors.
The results were unveiled on Tuesday at an event held at the Statistics Building in Agargaon, Dhaka. Mizanur Rahman, deputy project director of the Economic Census 2024 project, presented the detailed findings. State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki was the chief guest of the event. Special guests included Planning Commission Secretary SM Shakil Akhter; Aleya Akter, secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division; and BBS Director General Md Farhad Hossain Siddique. Project Director of the Economic Census 2024, Dipankar Roy, delivered the welcome address.
According to the census, the number of individual and family-run business establishments in the country has increased by nearly 3.8 million over the past decade. As of December 2024, the total number of economic units stood at around 11.70 million (11,702,792), up from around 7.81 million (7,818,565) in the previous decade ending in 2013. Dhaka division recorded the highest share of economic units, accounting for nearly 27 percent. It was followed by Chattogram with 17.51 percent, Rajshahi with 14.36 percent, Khulna with 12.73 percent, Rangpur with 11.41 percent, Mymensingh with 6.63 percent, and Barisal with 5.61 percent. Sylhet division ranked the lowest, with only 4.67 percent of total units.
At the district level, Dhaka recorded the highest concentration of economic units at around 9 percent. It was followed by Chattogram with 5 percent, Mymensingh with 3 percent, Cumilla with 3 percent, and Bogura with 3 percent. The three hill districts of the Chattogram Hill Tracts — Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari — recorded the lowest figures at 0.27 percent, 0.42 percent, and 0.45 percent, respectively.
The economic units have created employment of around 30.63 million (30,632,661) across the country, up from around 24.50 million (24,500,850) in 2013. This reflects a 25.03 percent increase in employment over the past decade. Of the total workforce, 83.28 percent are male, 16.71 percent female, and 0.01 percent belong to the third gender. In the 2013 census, male participation stood at 83.46 percent and female participation at 16.54 percent.
Dhaka division leads in employment, accounting for 9.51 percent, while Barishal ranks the lowest at 4.18 percent. At the district level, Bandarban records the lowest employment, with 81,644 people employed over the past decade — just 0.26 percent of the total. Other low-ranking districts include Narail (0.32 percent), Jhalakathi (0.37 percent), Rangamati (0.41 percent), and Khagrachhari (0.41 percent).
Among all economic units, 53.57 percent are permanent establishments, 4.91 percent are temporary, and 41.52 percent are household-based economic units. Sectoral analysis shows that the service sector dominates the economy, accounting for 90.02 percent of total economic units, or 10.5 million. In contrast, the industrial sector represents only 9.98 percent of total units. By type of business, wholesale and retail trade, along with motor vehicle repair, holds the largest share at 41.82 percent.
Based on industrial size, micro and cottage industries have dominance in the economy. Micro enterprises account for approximately 6.63 million units (6,631,000), or 56.67 percent, while cottage industries roughly 4.53 million units (4,533,589), or 38.74 percent. Meanwhile, small industries make up 4.20 percent, medium industries 0.31 percent, and large industries just 0.08 percent.
Ownership analysis shows that most economic establishments are individually or family-owned, comprising 87.36 percent of the total. Private limited companies account for 1.82 percent, while partnership-based firms make up 1.44 percent. Economic units are more concentrated in rural areas than in urban areas. Currently, there are roughly 7.38 million units (7,385,828) in rural areas, compared to around 4.31 million (4,316,964) in urban areas. Both areas have seen significant growth compared to the 2013 census data, indicating overall economic expansion.
Overall, the findings of the economic census highlight strong growth in Bangladesh’s economy over the past decade, along with increased employment and a structure heavily reliant on small enterprises and the service sector. At the same time, entrepreneurs face eight major challenges in conducting business according to the census. The most pressing issue is the lack of capital, cited by nearly 86 percent of entrepreneurs or establishments.
Other challenges include difficulties in accessing credit, a shortage of skilled labour, inadequate raw materials, rising production costs, marketing constraints, insufficient infrastructure, and shortages of electricity and fuel.