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Bangladesh Garment Industry Statistics

Bangladesh’s RMG exports reached $47.39 billion in FY2022-23, powering jobs.

Bangladesh’s garment industry is booming in a big way, pulling in $47.39 billion in export receipts in FY2022 to 23 and powering 84.58% of the country’s total exports, so let’s unpack how knitwear and woven production, global market demand, and worker and factory reforms are shaping this $50 billion-at-2030 trajectory.

Alexander EserWritten byAlexander EserCo-Founder, Rawshot.ai
UpdatedApril 19, 2026Read12 minSources17 verified
Bangladesh Garment Industry Statistics

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Research reviewed

Bangladesh’s RMG exports reached $47.39 billion in FY2022-23, powering jobs.

  • The ready-made garment sector earned $47.39 billion in export receipts in FY2022-23

  • Ready-made garments accounted for 84.58% of Bangladesh’s total exports in FY2022-23

  • Knitwear exports were $26.99 billion in FY2022-23

  • The textile, clothing, leather and footwear sector employed 4.22 million people in 2022

  • 53.65% of employment in textile, clothing, leather and footwear was female in 2022

  • 46.35% of employment in textile, clothing, leather and footwear was male in 2022

  • Bangladesh had 3,500 garment factories in operation in 2024

  • BGMEA had 1,838 member factories in FY2022-23

  • BKMEA had 603 member factories in FY2022-23

  • Accord and Alliance inspected more than 5,000 garment factories after Rana Plaza

  • More than 1,600 factories were exporting directly in 2024 after safety reforms

  • The Rana Plaza building collapse killed 1,134 people in 2013

  • Bangladesh’s domestic market apparel sales were estimated at $9 billion in 2023

  • Textile and apparel products meet 98% of Bangladesh’s domestic clothing demand

  • Bangladesh imports 100% of its cotton requirement

Section 01

Domestic Market and Sustainability

  1. Bangladesh’s domestic market apparel sales were estimated at $9 billion in 2023 [1]

  2. Textile and apparel products meet 98% of Bangladesh’s domestic clothing demand [1]

  3. Bangladesh imports 100% of its cotton requirement [1]

  4. Bangladesh imports 95% of its woven fabric requirement [1]

  5. Bangladesh imports 15% of its knit fabric requirement [1]

  6. Bangladesh imports 40% of its yarn requirement [1]

  7. Bangladesh imports 90% of its dyes and chemicals requirement [1]

  8. Bangladesh imports 60% of its accessories and packaging requirement [1]

  9. There were 508 textile weaving factories in Bangladesh in 2022-23 [2]

  10. There were 351 spinning mills in Bangladesh in 2022-23 [2]

  11. There were 241 dyeing-printing-finishing factories in Bangladesh in 2022-23 [2]

  12. Bangladesh’s spinning sector had 8.67 million spindles in 2022-23 [2]

  13. Bangladesh’s weaving sector had 40,222 shuttleless looms in 2022-23 [2]

  14. Bangladesh’s weaving sector had 11,945 power looms in 2022-23 [2]

  15. Bangladesh’s knitting sector had 127,683 circular knitting machines in 2022-23 [2]

  16. Bangladesh’s knitting sector had 32,881 flat knitting machines in 2022-23 [2]

  17. Textile mills produced 2.29 billion kilograms of yarn in 2022-23 [2]

  18. Textile mills produced 4,864 million meters of fabric in 2022-23 [2]

  19. Bangladesh produced 988 million kilograms of knit fabric in 2022-23 [2]

  20. Bangladesh produced 3,876 million meters of woven fabric in 2022-23 [2]

  21. Textile mills produced 2,677 million pieces of garments in 2022-23 [2]

  22. Bangladesh’s textile sector had an investment of Tk 1,11,242 crore in 2022-23 [2]

  23. Bangladesh’s apparel sector had an investment of Tk 1,33,729 crore in 2022-23 [2]

  24. Bangladesh’s textile sector employed 5.2 million people in 2022-23 [2]

  25. The World Bank-supported BEST project will help improve environmental compliance in 1,500 firms [3]

  26. The BEST project will support services for 500,000 workers to strengthen occupational safety and health [3]

  27. The BEST project will leverage $130 million in private investment [3]

  28. The Partnership for Cleaner Textile program mobilized nearly $44 million in investment in cleaner production technologies [4]

  29. The IFC cleaner textile initiative has worked with more than 500 factories since 2016 [4]

  30. By 2030, Bangladesh’s garment sector is projected to exceed $50 billion in annual exports under a World Bank estimate [5]

Section 02

Employment and Workforce

  1. The textile, clothing, leather and footwear sector employed 4.22 million people in 2022 [6]

  2. 53.65% of employment in textile, clothing, leather and footwear was female in 2022 [6]

  3. 46.35% of employment in textile, clothing, leather and footwear was male in 2022 [6]

  4. The average monthly wage in the ready-made garment sector was set at Tk 12,500 under the 2023 minimum wage decision [7]

  5. The previous minimum wage for garment workers was Tk 8,000 [7]

  6. The announced wage increase from Tk 8,000 to Tk 12,500 was 56.25% [7]

  7. The minimum basic pay for grade-7 garment workers was fixed at Tk 7,100 in 2023 [8]

  8. The gross monthly wage for grade-7 garment workers was fixed at Tk 12,500 in 2023 [8]

  9. Grade-1 garment workers’ gross monthly wage was fixed at Tk 28,072 in 2023 [8]

  10. Grade-2 garment workers’ gross monthly wage was fixed at Tk 23,762 in 2023 [8]

  11. Grade-3 garment workers’ gross monthly wage was fixed at Tk 15,035 in 2023 [8]

  12. Grade-4 garment workers’ gross monthly wage was fixed at Tk 14,042 in 2023 [8]

  13. Grade-5 garment workers’ gross monthly wage was fixed at Tk 13,398 in 2023 [8]

  14. Grade-6 garment workers’ gross monthly wage was fixed at Tk 12,794 in 2023 [8]

  15. The RMG sector directly employs about 4 million workers [5]

  16. Around 60.8% of garment workers are women [5]

  17. The RMG sector supports more than 10 million livelihoods indirectly [5]

  18. Average monthly earnings of production workers in wearing apparel were Tk 13,258 in 2022 [6]

  19. Average monthly earnings of female production workers in wearing apparel were Tk 12,721 in 2022 [6]

  20. Average monthly earnings of male production workers in wearing apparel were Tk 14,141 in 2022 [6]

  21. Average weekly hours worked by production workers in wearing apparel were 58.86 hours in 2022 [6]

  22. Average weekly hours worked by female production workers in wearing apparel were 58.59 hours in 2022 [6]

  23. Average weekly hours worked by male production workers in wearing apparel were 59.31 hours in 2022 [6]

Section 03

Exports and Trade

  1. The ready-made garment sector earned $47.39 billion in export receipts in FY2022-23 [9]

  2. Ready-made garments accounted for 84.58% of Bangladesh’s total exports in FY2022-23 [9]

  3. Knitwear exports were $26.99 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  4. Woven garment exports were $20.41 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  5. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union totaled $23.75 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  6. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the United States totaled $8.67 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  7. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Germany totaled $7.35 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  8. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Spain totaled $3.64 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  9. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to France totaled $2.01 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  10. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Italy totaled $1.67 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  11. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the United Kingdom totaled $4.69 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  12. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Canada totaled $1.36 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  13. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the Netherlands totaled $1.90 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  14. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Poland totaled $1.48 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  15. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Japan totaled $1.12 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  16. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Australia totaled $0.97 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  17. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Denmark totaled $0.89 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  18. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to India totaled $0.76 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  19. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Belgium totaled $1.18 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  20. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Sweden totaled $0.83 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  21. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Turkey totaled $0.50 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  22. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Mexico totaled $0.43 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  23. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the Russian Federation totaled $0.64 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  24. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to South Korea totaled $0.39 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  25. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Switzerland totaled $0.57 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  26. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Brazil totaled $0.19 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  27. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to China totaled $0.34 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  28. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the United Arab Emirates totaled $0.32 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  29. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $0.24 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  30. Bangladesh was the world’s second-largest clothing exporter with a 7.9% global market share in 2023 [10]

Section 04

Historical Trends

  1. Bangladesh’s apparel exports were $38.73 billion in FY2018-19 [9]

  2. Bangladesh’s apparel exports were $27.95 billion in FY2019-20 [9]

  3. Bangladesh’s apparel exports were $31.45 billion in FY2020-21 [9]

  4. Bangladesh’s apparel exports were $42.61 billion in FY2021-22 [9]

  5. Bangladesh’s apparel exports were $47.39 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  6. Knitwear exports were $19.14 billion in FY2018-19 [9]

  7. Knitwear exports were $13.97 billion in FY2019-20 [9]

  8. Knitwear exports were $17.14 billion in FY2020-21 [9]

  9. Knitwear exports were $23.21 billion in FY2021-22 [9]

  10. Knitwear exports were $26.99 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  11. Woven garment exports were $19.60 billion in FY2018-19 [9]

  12. Woven garment exports were $13.97 billion in FY2019-20 [9]

  13. Woven garment exports were $14.31 billion in FY2020-21 [9]

  14. Woven garment exports were $19.41 billion in FY2021-22 [9]

  15. Woven garment exports were $20.41 billion in FY2022-23 [9]

  16. Ready-made garments accounted for 83.49% of Bangladesh’s total exports in FY2018-19 [9]

  17. Ready-made garments accounted for 83.00% of Bangladesh’s total exports in FY2019-20 [9]

  18. Ready-made garments accounted for 81.82% of Bangladesh’s total exports in FY2020-21 [9]

  19. Ready-made garments accounted for 81.23% of Bangladesh’s total exports in FY2021-22 [9]

  20. Ready-made garments accounted for 84.58% of Bangladesh’s total exports in FY2022-23 [9]

  21. Bangladesh exported $6.84 billion of apparel to Germany in FY2018-19 [9]

  22. Bangladesh exported $5.64 billion of apparel to Germany in FY2019-20 [9]

  23. Bangladesh exported $5.98 billion of apparel to Germany in FY2020-21 [9]

  24. Bangladesh exported $7.70 billion of apparel to Germany in FY2021-22 [9]

  25. Bangladesh exported $7.35 billion of apparel to Germany in FY2022-23 [9]

  26. Bangladesh exported $5.93 billion of apparel to the United States in FY2018-19 [9]

  27. Bangladesh exported $5.10 billion of apparel to the United States in FY2019-20 [9]

  28. Bangladesh exported $7.15 billion of apparel to the United States in FY2020-21 [9]

  29. Bangladesh exported $10.52 billion of apparel to the United States in FY2021-22 [9]

  30. Bangladesh exported $8.67 billion of apparel to the United States in FY2022-23 [9]

  31. Bangladesh exported $16.38 billion of apparel to the European Union in FY2018-19 [9]

  32. Bangladesh exported $15.49 billion of apparel to the European Union in FY2019-20 [9]

  33. Bangladesh exported $19.58 billion of apparel to the European Union in FY2020-21 [9]

  34. Bangladesh exported $27.31 billion of apparel to the European Union in FY2021-22 [9]

  35. Bangladesh exported $23.75 billion of apparel to the European Union in FY2022-23 [9]

Section 05

Industry Structure and Investment

  1. Bangladesh had 3,500 garment factories in operation in 2024 [5]

  2. BGMEA had 1,838 member factories in FY2022-23 [1]

  3. BKMEA had 603 member factories in FY2022-23 [1]

  4. There were 2,441 woven and knit member factories under BGMEA and BKMEA combined in FY2022-23 [1]

  5. Bangladesh had 229 LEED-certified green garment factories in 2024 [11]

  6. 91 of the world’s top 100 LEED-certified garment factories are in Bangladesh [11]

  7. Bangladesh has 9 of the world’s top 10 LEED platinum-rated garment factories [11]

  8. The RMG sector contributes 11.2% to Bangladesh’s GDP [5]

  9. The World Bank approved $650 million in financing to strengthen social and environmental standards in Bangladesh’s manufacturing sector in 2023 [3]

  10. The financing package included $500 million for the Bangladesh Sustainable Recovery, Emergency Preparedness and Response Development Policy Credit [3]

  11. The financing package included $150 million for the Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation Project [3]

  12. IFC’s Partnership for Cleaner Textile program helped 54 textile factories reduce water use by 10.4 million cubic meters per year [4]

  13. The same IFC-supported factories reduced energy consumption by 1,300 terajoules per year [4]

  14. The IFC-supported factories reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 310,000 tons per year [4]

  15. The IFC-supported factories achieved annual savings of $18 million [4]

  16. Bangladesh accounts for 7.4% of global apparel exports [5]

  17. The textile and clothing industry was responsible for 11.79% of Bangladesh’s manufacturing GDP in 2022-23 [2]

  18. The allocation for the Ministry of Textiles and Jute was Tk 4,348 crore in FY2024-25 [2]

  19. Export growth of the textile and apparel sector was 3.67% in July-January FY2023-24 [2]

  20. The central effluent treatment plant at the BEXIMCO industrial park treats 40,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily [4]

Section 06

Safety and Compliance

  1. Accord and Alliance inspected more than 5,000 garment factories after Rana Plaza [5]

  2. More than 1,600 factories were exporting directly in 2024 after safety reforms [5]

  3. The Rana Plaza building collapse killed 1,134 people in 2013 [12]

  4. About 2,500 people were injured in the Rana Plaza collapse [12]

  5. The collapse of Rana Plaza affected 29 brands from 14 countries [12]

  6. The National Tripartite Plan of Action after Rana Plaza had a budget of $24.5 million [12]

  7. The initial compensation target for Rana Plaza victims was $30 million [12]

  8. The Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund had secured $21.5 million by April 2015 [12]

  9. The Accord completed initial inspections in more than 1,600 factories [13]

  10. The Accord identified 118,500 safety hazards in the factories it inspected [13]

  11. 90% of Accord-identified safety hazards were fixed by the end of its operations in Bangladesh [13]

  12. 1.8 million workers in Accord-covered factories were trained on workplace safety [13]

  13. The Accord’s complaint mechanism handled more than 1,400 complaints [13]

  14. The Alliance assessed 655 factories in Bangladesh [14]

  15. The Alliance inspections covered more than 1.3 million workers [14]

  16. The Alliance found an average of 25 issues per factory during inspections [14]

  17. By July 2018, 84% of issues identified by the Alliance had been fixed [14]

  18. More than 1.5 million workers received basic fire safety training through the Alliance [14]

  19. The Remediation Coordination Cell took over oversight of 1,549 national factories from the Accord and Alliance transition process [15]

  20. Bangladesh’s Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments increased inspectors from 52 to 419 between 2013 and 2022 [5]

  21. Factory safety training reached over 2.5 million workers across the sector [5]

  22. More than 90% of safety remediation identified after Rana Plaza has been completed [5]

  23. The RSC covers more than 1,800 readymade garment factories [16]

  24. The RSC has identified more than 150,000 unique safety hazards [16]

  25. The RSC has facilitated the remediation of more than 91% of identified safety issues [16]

  26. The Better Work Bangladesh programme reaches over 400,000 workers [17]

  27. 56% of workers in Better Work Bangladesh participating factories are women [17]

  28. Better Work Bangladesh has been operating since 2014 [17]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    bgmea.com.bd
    bgmea.com.bd×3
  2. 2
    mof.portal.gov.bd
    mof.portal.gov.bd
  3. 3
    worldbank.org
    worldbank.org×2
  4. 4
    ifc.org
    ifc.org
  5. 6
    bbs.gov.bd
    bbs.gov.bd
  6. 7
    thedailystar.net
    thedailystar.net
  7. 8
    tbsnews.net
    tbsnews.net
  8. 10
    wto.org
    wto.org
  9. 12
    ilo.org
    ilo.org×2
  10. 13
    bangladeshaccord.org
    bangladeshaccord.org
  11. 14
    apparelresources.com
    apparelresources.com
  12. 16
    rsc-bd.org
    rsc-bd.org
  13. 17
    betterwork.org
    betterwork.org

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