Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025

New findings from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025 reveal a concerning reality: childhood lead poisoning is widespread, affecting almost 4 in 10 children nationally. For the first time, Bangladesh MICS 2025 tested children’s blood for lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. It found that 38% of children aged 12–59 months—and nearly 8% of pregnant women—have blood lead levels above 5 µg/dL, with higher rates in urban areas and the richest quintile. This first national survey establishes a crucial baseline to tackle the crisis.

The preliminary report of the MICS presents 172 indicators, of which 27 are related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key indicators include child nutrition, stunting, wasting, child mortality, Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), birth registration, child discipline, child functioning, child marriage, family planning, and fertility, among others. This round of the survey covers a wide range of indicators reflecting overall demographic and health conditions in Bangladesh. In addition, it incorporates aspects of child and maternal nutrition through the testing of blood lead levels of mothers and children.

MICS 2025 gives us a clear and compelling picture of the lives of children and women in Bangladesh, a mirror reflecting both how far we have come and how much more must be done for every child. It provides the evidence that decision-makers need to act with urgency and precision to put children at the heart of policies, budgets, and services, while keeping us all accountable as we have more precise information on the needs and challenges affecting children.