PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Henry Herrera
Phone: +1-301-801-0608
Email: info@menandboys.net
The Reality of Male Disadvantage in Bangladesh
December 12, 2025 – Bangladesh is confronting a growing gender divide, as national statistics reveal that men and boys are falling behind across multiple areas even while public awareness of these trends remains limited.
Education:
Bangladesh’s education data show a clear and persistent pattern of disadvantage for boys. In 2023, the gross enrollment ratio in secondary education reached 83.70% for girls but only 66.55% for boys (1), reflected in a Gender Parity Index of 1.17. Roughly 17% more girls than boys are enrolled (1). This imbalance continues at the tertiary level, with global 2022 figures showing women at 54.69% of higher education enrollment and men at just 45.31% (2).
Health:
Health outcomes also reveal significant gaps. Women in Bangladesh live approximately 76.9 years compared to 73.6 years for men (3). Adult mortality reflects the same trend, with men facing 141.4 deaths per 1,000 adults, higher than the female rate of 109 per 1,000 (4).
Child Labor:
Child labor data show boys bearing a disproportionate burden. In 2022, boys represented 6.6% of all child labor compared to 2.1% for girls, demonstrating a pronounced gender disparity in vulnerability to exploitation (5).
Suicide:
Suicide remains an underrecognized challenge. Bangladesh’s suicide mortality rate stands at 3.6 deaths per 100,000 males compared to 2.0 per 100,000 females, revealing a clear mental-health disparity (6)(7).
Homelessness:
Studies of homelessness, particularly in Dhaka, reveal that approximately 82% of homeless children are boys and 18% are girls, showing heightened risk and reduced protection for boys in urban settings (8).
Workplace:
Workplace safety statistics show a dramatic imbalance. In 2022, 1,034 workers lost their lives and 1,037 were injured in workplace accidents. Of the fatalities, 1,027 (99%) were men and only seven (1%) were women; among the injured, 964 (93%) were male and 73 (7%) were female (9).
Conclusion:
Policymakers and institutions should take immediate, evidence-based action to ensure these disparities receive the visibility and attention required for Bangladesh’s men and boys.
The International Council for Men and Boys is a non-governmental organization that is working to celebrate the contributions of men to society and to end the 12 sex disparities that affect men and boys around the world. Achieving #GenderEqualityForMen will also benefit women.
https://www.menandboys.net/
Links:
2.https://www.ssr.gstu.edu.bd/page10.html
4.https://genderdata.worldbank.org/en/indicator/sp-dyn-amrt?gender=male
6.https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.SUIC.MA.P5
7.https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.SUIC.FE.P5