Bangladesh lost $24b to extreme heat in 2024: Report

Bangladesh suffered an estimated $24 billion in labour productivity losses due to extreme heat in 2024, according to the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2025 report, marking one of the clearest signs yet that climate change has become an urgent public health and economic crisis for the country.

The new analysis reveals that rising temperatures, worsening air pollution, and a surge in vector-borne diseases are now threatening both the livelihoods and the health of millions of Bangladeshis.

People in Bangladesh experienced an average of 28.8 heatwave days in 2024—of which 13.2 days would not have occurred without human-induced climate change. The intensity and duration of heatwaves have sharply increased since the 1990s, leading to severe productivity losses, particularly among outdoor workers.

The report estimates that 29 billion potential work hours were lost nationwide last year due to extreme heat—92% higher than in the 1990s—with the agricultural sector suffering the greatest impact, accounting for 64% of lost work hours. The resulting $24 billion income loss equals 5% of Bangladesh’s GDP, underscoring the deep economic consequences of rising temperatures.

The report attributes 225,000 deaths in 2022 to anthropogenic air pollution—a 38% increase since 2010. Over 90,000 deaths were linked to fossil fuel combustion, including 30,000 from coal burning, while household air pollution caused 74 deaths per 100,000 people, disproportionately affecting women and rural families.

Despite this growing burden, renewable energy supplied less than 1% of electricity between 2016 and 2022, while carbon emissions rose 30% during the same period. In 2023, Bangladesh spent $8.2 billion on fossil fuel subsidies—far exceeding investments in clean energy or mitigation measures.

The Lancet Countdown highlights a 90% increase in dengue transmission potential between the 1950s and the last decade, driven by higher temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. Urban areas such as Dhaka and Chattogram are at growing risk of large-scale outbreaks due to increased climate suitability for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.