Who Is Muhammad Yunus? Age, Biography and Wiki
Muhammad Yunus was born on June 28, 1940, in Chittagong, Bangladesh. As of 2025, he is 84 years old. An esteemed economist and social entrepreneur, Yunus is renowned for founding the Grameen Bank, which pioneered the concept of microcredit, providing small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral. His life reflects his dedication to combatting poverty and uplifting underprivileged communities, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 28, 1940 |
| Age | 85 Years |
| Birth Place | Hathazari, Bengal Province, British India |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | India |
Popularity
Muhammad Yunus's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Muhammad Yunus's height and weight are not widely publicized, it is known that he maintains a slim physique. His approach to health and wellness, particularly in managing stress and staying active, emphasizes the importance of a balanced lifestyle as he continues to engage in various social and economic initiatives.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his accomplished life, Muhammad Yunus has remained relatively private about his personal relationships. He was previously married to his wife, whom he divorced in the 1990s. As of 2025, there is limited information regarding any current romantic relationships, and he often emphasizes his commitment to social entrepreneurship over personal life matters. His focus on family is predominantly channeled towards his daughters, who are also involved in social causes.
His father was Haji Muhammad Dula Mia Saudagar, a Sufi jeweller, and his mother was Sufia Khatun. His early childhood was spent in the village. In 1944, his family moved to the city of Chittagong, and he moved from his village school to Lamabazar Primary School. By 1949, his mother was afflicted with psychological illness.
Later, he passed the matriculation examination from Chittagong Collegiate School ranking 16th out of 39,000 students in East Pakistan. During his school years, he was an active Boy Scout, and travelled to West Pakistan and India in 1952, and to Canada in 1955 to attend Jamborees.
Later, while Yunus was studying at Chittagong College, he became active in cultural activities and won awards for drama. In 1957, he enrolled in the Department of Economics at Dhaka University and completed his BA in 1960 and MA in 1961.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Muhammad Yunus’s estimated net worth is around $10 million. This wealth primarily stems from his successful ventures in microfinance, writing, and public speaking. His numerous awards and accolades, combined with his prominent status as a global leader in social entrepreneurship, have allowed him to command high speaking fees at international conferences and events.
In 1976, during visits to the poorest households in the village of Jobra near Chittagong University, Yunus discovered that very small loans could make a disproportionate difference to a poor person. Village women who made bamboo furniture had to take usurious loans to buy bamboo, and repay their profits to the lenders.
Traditional banks did not want to make tiny loans at reasonable interest to the poor due to high risk of default. But Yunus believed that, given the chance, the poor will not need to pay high interest on the money, can keep any profits from their own labour, and hence microcredit was a viable business model.
Yunus lent US$27 of his money to 42 women in the village, who made a profit of BDT 0.50 (US$0.02) each on the loan. Thus, Yunus is credited with the idea of microcredit.
Career, Business and Investments
Yunus’s career began as an academic in economics before shifting towards social entrepreneurship with the establishment of the Grameen Bank in 1983. His innovative approach to microfinance has transformed countless lives, providing the poor with opportunities to secure small loans and start businesses. Apart from Grameen Bank, he has expanded his ventures into various sectors, including healthcare and education, all aiming to uplift society and reduce poverty.
Additionally, Yunus has invested in several startups and social enterprises that align with his vision of sustainable development and economic empowerment. His work continues to inspire new generations of entrepreneurs to seek solutions that bridge the gap between profit and purpose.
Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, and civil society leader who has been serving as the Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh since 8 August 2024. Yunus pioneered the modern concept of microcredit and microfinance, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 as the first Bangladeshi. He is the founder of Grameen Bank.
Social Network
Muhammad Yunus is active across multiple social media platforms, where he shares insights on social entrepreneurship, economic development, and poverty alleviation. His official accounts on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn serve as channels for engaging with the public and fostering discussions around social issues.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Yunus founded a citizen's committee and ran the Bangladesh Information Center, with other Bangladeshis in the United States, to raise support for liberation. He also published the Bangladesh Newsletter from his home in Nashville.
After the War, he returned to Bangladesh and was appointed to the government's Planning Commission headed by Nurul Islam. However, he found the job boring and resigned to join Chittagong University as head of the Economics department.
After observing the famine of 1974, he became involved in poverty reduction and established a rural economic programme as a research project. In 1975, he developed a Nabajug Tebhaga Khamar (lit. 'New Era Three-share Farm') which the government adopted as the Packaged Input Programme.
To make the project more effective, Yunus and his associates proposed the Gram Sarkar (lit. 'Village government') programme. Introduced by President Ziaur Rahman in the late 1970s, the government formed 40,392 village governments as a fourth layer of government in 2003.
On 2 August 2005, in response to a petition by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), the High Court declared village governments illegal and unconstitutional.
Education
Yunus’s educational journey began in Bangladesh and extended to the United States, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Dhaka University and a Ph.D. in Economics from Vanderbilt University. His academic background laid the foundation for his theoretical approach to economic development, which he later put into practice through his groundbreaking work in microfinance.
In conclusion, Muhammad Yunus continues to be an influential figure as of 2025, and his contributions to social entrepreneurship remain unparalleled. His personal life, business achievements, and commitment to education showcase a complete portrait of a man dedicated to changing the world for the better.
Born in Hathazari, Chittagong, Yunus passed his matriculation and intermediate examinations from Chittagong Collegiate School and Chittagong College, respectively. He completed his BA from University of Dhaka and joined as a lecturer in Chittagong College. He obtained his PhD in economics from Vanderbilt University in the United States.
