Despite being a country smaller than the U.S. state of Iowa, Bangladesh is home to a staggering population of nearly 170 million people, making it one of the most densely populated nations on Earth.
Key Takeaways
- The total population of Bangladesh as of July 1, 2023, was estimated at 169,828,911 people
- Bangladesh's population density in 2023 stood at 1,350 people per square kilometer, making it one of the most densely populated countries globally
- From 2022 to 2023, Bangladesh's population grew by 1,265,491 people, representing a 0.75% annual growth rate
- 0-4 years age group: 9.2% of population (15.6 million) in 2022
- 5-9 years: 9.8% (16.6 million) in 2022 UN estimates
- 10-14 years: 9.5% (16.1 million) population share in 2022
- Sex ratio at birth: 105 males per 100 females in 2023
- Overall sex ratio: 97.3 males per 100 females in 2023 population
- Male population: 84.9 million (49.8%), female: 85.6 million (50.2%) in 2023
- Urban population percentage: 39.37% (67.2 million) in 2023
- Rural population: 102.8 million (60.63%) in 2023 estimates
- Urban growth rate: 3.28% annually vs rural 0.45% in 2020-2025
- Crude birth rate: 17.05 births per 1,000 population in 2023
- Total fertility rate: 1.95 children per woman (2023)
- Crude death rate: 5.42 deaths per 1,000 in 2023
Bangladesh is an extremely densely populated country with over 169 million people.
Age Structure
10-4 years age group: 9.2% of population (15.6 million) in 2022
Verified25-9 years: 9.8% (16.6 million) in 2022 UN estimates
Verified310-14 years: 9.5% (16.1 million) population share in 2022
Verified415-19 years age cohort: 9.1% (15.4 million) in 2022
Directional520-24 years: 8.7% (14.7 million)
Single source625-29 years: 8.2% (13.9 million) in 2022 data
Verified730-34 years: 7.5% (12.7 million)
Verified835-39 years: 6.8% (11.5 million) population in 2022
Verified940-44 years: 6.2% (10.5 million)
Directional1045-49 years: 5.6% (9.5 million) in 2022 estimates
Single source1150-54 years: 5.0% (8.5 million)
Verified1255-59 years: 4.3% (7.3 million) share
Verified1360-64 years: 3.7% (6.3 million) in 2022
Verified1465-69 years: 2.5% (4.2 million)
Directional1570-74 years: 1.8% (3.0 million)
Single source1675-79 years: 1.2% (2.0 million)
Verified1780+ years: 1.0% (1.7 million) in 2022 UN data
Verified18Median age in Bangladesh rose from 23.3 in 2000 to 27.9 in 2023
Verified19Dependency ratio total: 47.6% (youth 41.2%, old 6.4%) in 2023
Directional20Youth population (0-24) is 46.5% of total in 2023
Single source21Population aged 15-24: 18.5% (31.4 million) in 2022
Verified22Age structure shows broad base narrowing, indicating demographic transition
Verified232023 age pyramid: 27.15% under 15, 5.12% over 64
Verified24Mean age of childbearing women: 28.5 years in latest DHS survey
Directional25Proportion 65+ projected to reach 12% by 2050
Single source26Child population (0-14) declined from 34% in 2011 to 27% in 2023
Verified27Working age bulge peaks at 68% around 2030-2040
Verified28Population under 18: 45 million (26.5%) in 2022
Verified29Adolescent population (10-19): 28 million (16.5%)
Directional30Elderly dependency ratio: 7.5% in 2023, rising to 20% by 2050
Single sourceAge Structure Interpretation
Bangladesh is balancing a colossal youth dividend with a ticking demographic clock, as nearly half its population is under 25 yet the median age steadily climbs toward 30.
Gender Distribution
1Sex ratio at birth: 105 males per 100 females in 2023
Verified2Overall sex ratio: 97.3 males per 100 females in 2023 population
Verified3Male population: 84.9 million (49.8%), female: 85.6 million (50.2%) in 2023
Verified4Sex ratio 0-14 years: 103.5 males/100 females
Directional5Sex ratio 15-64 years: 96.2 males/100 females in 2023
Single source6Sex ratio 65+ years: 72.1 males/100 females due to higher female longevity
Verified7Female-headed households: 13.7% in 2019 census data
Verified8Gender ratio in urban areas: 92 males/100 females, rural: 99/100
Verified9Male life expectancy: 71.6 years, female: 74.7 years in 2023
Directional10Women of reproductive age (15-49): 38.5 million (2022)
Single source11Male literacy rate: 76.6%, female: 72.8% in 2022
Verified12Gender parity index in primary education: 1.01 (near equal)
Verified13Female labor force participation: 42.5% vs male 81.2% in 2022
Verified14Sex ratio at birth improved from 106.6 in 1990s to 105 in 2020s
Directional15Female population growth rate slightly higher at 0.8% vs male 0.7% annually
Single source16In Dhaka Division, sex ratio 95 males/100 females due to migration
Verified17Chittagong Division sex ratio: 98/100
Verified18Maternal mortality reflects gender health disparities at 173/100,000 births
Verified19Female median age: 28.5 years vs male 27.2 in 2023
Directional20Gender imbalance in elderly: 68 males/100 females over 65
Single source21Boys under 5: 51.2%, girls 48.8% stunting prevalence higher in girls
Verified22Female voters: 51% of electorate in recent elections
Verified23Male unemployment: 3.6%, female: 6.7% in 2022 labor survey
Verified24Sex-selective practices minimal with sex ratio stabilizing
DirectionalGender Distribution Interpretation
Bangladesh’s population tells a tale of two sexes: boys start with a slight numerical head start at birth, but women steadily outpace them in longevity, education, and urban migration, ultimately becoming the resilient majority who live longer, vote more, and increasingly head their own households.
Population Size and Growth
1The total population of Bangladesh as of July 1, 2023, was estimated at 169,828,911 people
Verified2Bangladesh's population density in 2023 stood at 1,350 people per square kilometer, making it one of the most densely populated countries globally
Verified3From 2022 to 2023, Bangladesh's population grew by 1,265,491 people, representing a 0.75% annual growth rate
Verified4The population of Bangladesh reached 150 million in 2013 and has since increased by over 19 million
Directional5In 2021, Bangladesh's mid-year population was 164,689,383 according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
Single source6Bangladesh's population growth rate declined from 1.37% in 2010 to 0.92% in 2022
Verified7The projected population of Bangladesh for 2025 is 174,701,211
Verified8Bangladesh overtook Indonesia as the 8th most populous country in 2023 with 171 million inhabitants
Verified9Dhaka Division holds 20.1% of Bangladesh's total population with 34,402,000 people in 2022
Directional10Chittagong Division's population was 30,478,000 in 2022, accounting for 17.8% of national total
Single source11Bangladesh's population in 1951 census was 44,224,643, growing to 169 million by 2023
Verified12Annual population increase in Bangladesh averaged 1.5 million per year between 2000-2020
Verified13By 2030, Bangladesh's population is forecasted to reach 186 million according to UN medium variant
Verified14Sylhet Division population: 10,612,000 (6.2%) in 2022
Directional15Rangpur Division: 17,135,000 people (10%) in 2022 census projection
Single source16Mymensingh Division newly formed with 11,804,000 (6.9%) population in 2022
Verified17Barisal Division population: 9,735,000 (5.7%) as per 2022 estimates
Verified18Khulna Division: 17,126,000 (10%) in 2022
Verified19Rajshahi Division: 19,375,000 (11.3%) population in 2022
Directional20Dhaka city's population exceeds 21 million in metro area as of 2023
Single source21Population growth rate in Bangladesh was 0.95% in 2021 per World Bank data
Verified22Bangladesh population doubled from 71.38 million in 1975 to 142.76 million in 2000
Verified232024 projection: Bangladesh population at 173,562,563
Verified24Net migration rate: -4.9 migrants per 1,000 population annually
Directional25Infant population (0-14 years) constitutes 27.2% of total in 2023
Single source26Working-age population (15-64) is 67.8% in 2023 estimates
Verified27Elderly (65+) make up 5% of population in 2023
Verified28Bangladesh's land area is 130,170 sq km supporting 1,300+ people/km²
Verified29Population at 2011 census: 149,772,364
Directional301974 census population: 76,381,000
Single source31Projected peak population around 2050 at 200 million+
VerifiedPopulation Size and Growth Interpretation
Bangladesh has transformed its land into a meticulously efficient human mosaic, where 169.8 million people, growing at a more thoughtful pace of under 1%, are packed with a density that would make even Manhattan blush, all while its capital Dhaka swells to a staggering 21-million-person symphony of controlled chaos.
Urban and Rural Population
1Urban population percentage: 39.37% (67.2 million) in 2023
Verified2Rural population: 102.8 million (60.63%) in 2023 estimates
Verified3Urban growth rate: 3.28% annually vs rural 0.45% in 2020-2025
Verified4Dhaka metro urban agglomeration: 23.9 million (2023)
Directional5Chittagong city population: 5.6 million in metro area 2023
Single source6Khulna urban population: 1.0 million
Verified7Rajshahi city: 760,000 urban dwellers in 2022
Verified8Sylhet urban: 700,000 in 2022 estimates
Verified9Barisal urban population: 450,000 (2022)
Directional10Urbanization rate projected to reach 50% by 2040
Single source11Slum population in urban Bangladesh: 22% of city dwellers (15 million)
Verified12Rural density: 1,100/km² vs urban 12,000/km² in 2023
Verified13Dhaka Division urban share: 45%, highest in country
Verified14Chittagong Division urban: 35% of divisional population
Directional15Rural-to-urban migration: 400,000 net migrants annually
Single source16Urban literacy: 84% vs rural 73% in 2022
Verified17Rural households: 70% use improved sanitation vs 90% urban
Verified18Urban poor: 30% live below poverty line vs rural 25%
Verified19Projected urban population 2030: 85 million (45%)
Directional20Rangpur Division urban share lowest at 18%
Single source21Mymensingh urban: 20% of 11.8 million divisional pop
Verified22Urban fertility rate: 1.8 vs rural 2.1 children per woman
Verified23Rural electricity access: 90% vs near 100% urban in 2022
Verified24Urban density in major cities exceeds 20,000/km²
Directional25Rural landlessness affects 15% of households
Single source26Urban migration driven by 60% employment opportunities
VerifiedUrban and Rural Population Interpretation
Bangladesh’s countryside is gently emptying while its cities swell fiercely, creating a lopsided future where opportunity and congestion race each other and no one's quite sure who's winning.
Vital Rates and Health
1Crude birth rate: 17.05 births per 1,000 population in 2023
Verified2Total fertility rate: 1.95 children per woman (2023)
Verified3Crude death rate: 5.42 deaths per 1,000 in 2023
Verified4Life expectancy at birth: 73.9 years total (male 71.6, female 76.4) 2023
Directional5Infant mortality rate: 25.8 deaths per 1,000 live births (2023)
Single source6Under-5 mortality: 32.5 per 1,000 in 2022 UNICEF data
Verified7Maternal mortality ratio: 113 deaths per 100,000 live births (2020)
Verified8Net reproduction rate: 0.91 (below replacement)
Verified9Contraceptive prevalence: 64.5% among married women 15-49
Directional10Annual births: 2.9 million estimated in 2023
Single source11Annual deaths: 920,000 in 2023 projection
Verified12Natural increase: 1.06% per year (2023)
Verified13Healthy life expectancy: 64.1 years (2021 WHO)
Verified14Neonatal mortality: 18 per 1,000 live births (2022)
Directional15Post-neonatal mortality: 7.8 per 1,000
Single source16Stillbirth rate: 21.2 per 1,000 births
Verified17Adolescent birth rate: 71 per 1,000 women 15-19 (2021)
Verified18HIV prevalence: 0.01% adult population (2022)
Verified19Tuberculosis death rate: 37 per 100,000 (2021)
Directional20Suicide rate: 6.8 per 100,000 (female higher)
Single source21Immunization coverage DTP3: 97.5% children under 1 (2022)
Verified22Stunting prevalence under 5: 28.1% (2022)
VerifiedVital Rates and Health Interpretation
Bangladesh is a nation in the midst of a profound transition, where the triumphant decline in fertility to below replacement level and the impressive extension of life expectancy are starkly contrasted by the stubborn, sobering shadows of maternal, infant, and neonatal mortality that still demand urgent attention.
Sources & References
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