Bangladesh is projected to become the world’s 36th-largest economy in 2026, with its gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at $506.36 billion, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The projection is featured in the IMF’s October 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO), which provides an updated picture of the global economy.

With this economic size, Bangladesh is positioned between Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnam’s GDP is projected to reach $542.13 billion, placing it ahead of Bangladesh, while the Philippines is expected to have an economy worth $501.69 billion.

The IMF forecasts that the global economy will exceed $128 trillion by the end of 2026, approximately $20 trillion larger than in 2023. However, global economic output remains heavily concentrated among a handful of major economies.

The United States is expected to remain the world’s largest economy, with a projected GDP of $32.64 trillion, followed by China at $21.55 trillion. Together, the two economies account for more than 42% of global GDP.

Germany ranks third, followed by Japan, the United Kingdom, India, France, Russia, Italy and Brazil in the top 10.

In South Asia, India ranks sixth globally, with its GDP projected at $4.06 trillion—nearly eight times the size of Bangladesh’s economy.

Pakistan ranks 42nd, with an estimated GDP of $450.13 billion, placing it behind Bangladesh.

Among other major Asian economies, South Korea’s GDP is projected at $2.25 trillion, while Indonesia’s is expected to reach $1.48 trillion. Australia, with an estimated GDP of $2.11 trillion, remains the largest economy in Oceania.

Meanwhile, investment in artificial intelligence (AI) is providing fresh momentum to the US economy. Growing investment in AI is driving demand for servers, software, data centres and electricity infrastructure, contributing significantly to economic activity in the technology sector.