Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
8 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
12.9 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) broadcasts nationally; some channels operate via satellite; the government also owns a medium-wave radio channel and some private FM radio news channels; of the 41 approved TV stations, 26 are currently being used to broadcast, and 23 operate under private management via cable distribution
Communications: Internet country code
.bd
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
53.42% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2024 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
285,000 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
108 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
188 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, milk, potatoes, maize, sugarcane, onions, jute, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, tropical fruits (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
2.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
52.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$51.558 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$39.849 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$2.058 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$755.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$2.580 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$931.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$5.985 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$7.095 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$2.949 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$1.193 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$15.775 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$14.438 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$4.388 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$1.87 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$96.944 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$58.02 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
115.604 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
taka (BDT) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
78.1032 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
77.6414 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
77.9469 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
78.4681 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
80.4375 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
83.4662 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
84.4535 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
84.8714 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
85.0838 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
91.7455 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
106.309 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
115.604 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
garments, footwear, fabric, textiles, trunks and cases (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$25.621 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$32.831 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$33.832 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$36.922 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$37.656 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$40.732 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$45.993 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$39.054 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$44.386 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$60.066 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$58.885 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$53.848 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
10.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
5.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
70.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-16.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
30.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
11.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
34.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
51.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$9,647 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$450.119 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$1.674 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
32.4 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
30.9 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
27.4% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cotton fabric, natural gas, cotton, fabric (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$25.106 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$48.297 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$46.183 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$50.463 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$63.758 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$64.919 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$59.196 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$71.021 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$93.635 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$73.172 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$74.96 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
3.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
6.19% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
5.51% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
5.70% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
5.54% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
5.59% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
5.69% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5.55% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.70% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
9.88% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
10.47% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
77.355 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
18.70% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
33.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$627.517 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$671.360 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$736.379 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$791.891 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$997.250 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$1.104 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$1.248 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.336 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.413 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.473 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
6.55% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
7.11% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
6.59% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
7.32% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
7.88% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
3.45% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.94% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
7.10% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.78% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.22% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$3,973 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$4,212 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$4,579 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$4,883 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$6,047 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$6,641 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$7,441 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$8,451 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$9,148 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$13.867 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$14.988 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$15.296 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$21.752 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$22.206 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$27.493 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$32.284 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$33.431 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$32.028 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$32.697 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$43.172 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$46.166 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$33.747 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$21.86 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$21.395 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
7.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.50% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.54% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.46% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.59% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.35% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.63% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
9.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
13.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
11.5% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
14.05 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
13.305 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
767,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
3.26 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
99.3%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
99.4% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
98.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
107.285 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
9.407 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
22.699 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
8.279 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
11.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
29.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
6.785 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
22.334 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
126.293 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors under construction
2 (2025)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
28 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
263,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
26.967 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
56.906 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
42.083 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
125.956 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Environment: Environmental issues
flooding; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, from the use of commercial pesticides; groundwater pollution from naturally occurring arsenic; falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; destruction of wetlands; severe overpopulation with noise pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
72.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 60.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
14.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
13.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
2,391.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
544 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
38.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
693 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
42.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
1.227 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
31.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
770 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
3.6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
32.68% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
14.778 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15.7% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Geography: Area: land
130,170 sq km
Geography: Area: water
18,290 sq km
Geography: Coastline
580 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Bay of Bengal 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
85 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
24 00 N, 90 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal
Geography: Irrigated land
83,690 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Burma 271 km; India 4,142 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,413 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
72.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 60.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
14.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
13.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Brahmaputra river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,969 km; Ganges river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 2,704 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
18 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
to the outer limits of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Geography: Terrain
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Government: Administrative divisions
8 divisions; Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Government: Capital: etymology
the origins of the name are unclear, but it may be derived from either the dhak tree or Dhakeshwari, a goddess with a shrine in the city
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
23 43 N, 90 24 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Bangladesh
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes, but limited to select countries
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the House of the Nation; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the House membership and assent of the president of the republic
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (pre-independence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Bangladesh
Government: Country name: etymology
the name is a compound of the Bengali words Bangla (Bengali) and desh (country)
Government: Country name: former
East Bengal, East Pakistan
Government: Country name: local long form
Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
Government: Country name: local short form
Bangladesh
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Brent CHRISTENSEN (since 12 January 2026)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
DhakaACS@state.gov https://bd.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka - 1212
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[880] (2) 5566-2907
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6120 Dhaka Place, Washington DC 20521-6120
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[880] (2) 5566-2000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful ISLAM (since 5 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
mission.washington@mofa.gov.bd Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Washington, DC (mofa.gov.bd)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 244-2771
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 244-0183
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi (since 24 April 2023)
Government: Executive branch: election results
President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi (AL) elected unopposed by the National Parliament; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister for a fifth term following the 7 January 2024 parliamentary election but fled the country on 5 August 2024 following mass protests against her government in July and August 2024; Mohammad YUNIS was appointed as interim Prime Minister on 8 August 2024
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad YUNUS (since 8 August 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
13 February 2023
Government: Flag
description: green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the left meaning: the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Bangladesh (organized into the Appellate Division with 7 justices and the High Court Division with 99 justices)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
civil courts include: Assistant Judge's Court; Joint District Judge's Court; Additional District Judge's Court; District Judge's Court; criminal courts include: Court of Sessions; Court of Metropolitan Sessions; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court; special courts/tribunals
Government: Legal system
common law, incorporating elements of English common law; since independence, statutory law has been the primary form of legislation; Islamic law applies to Muslims in family and inheritance laws, with Hindu personal law applying to Hindus and Buddhists
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
February 2026
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Rabindranath TAGORE
Government: National coat of arms
the water lily is the national flower and symbolizes promise, aesthetics, and elegance; the water under the lily, the rice sheaves on the sides, and the jute leaves at the top represent the Bangladeshi landscape and economy; the four stars represent the aims and ambition of the nation
Government: National color(s)
green, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Bagerhat Historic Mosque (c); Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (c); Sundarbans (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971)
Government: National symbol(s)
Bengal tiger, water lily
Government: Political parties
Awami League or AL Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami or JIB Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP Islami Andolan Bangladesh Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) Jatiya Party or JP (Manju faction) National Socialist Party (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) or JSD Workers Party or WP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
The huge delta region at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems -- now referred to as Bangladesh -- was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, which is primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. After the partition of India in 1947, the Muslim-majority area became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western areas of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971. The military overthrew the post-independence AL government in 1975, the first of a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and the subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that took power in 1979. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections were held in 1991. The BNP and AL alternated in power from 1991 to 2008, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime in 2007. The country returned to fully democratic rule in 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh is on track to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 2026. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6.25% for the last two decades. Poverty declined from 11.8 percent in 2010 to 5.0 percent in 2022, based on the international poverty line of $2.15 a day (using 2017 Purchasing Power Parity exchange rate). The country made a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but still faces economic challenges.
Military and Security: Military - note
the military’s primary responsibility is external defense but it also has a domestic security role; following widespread domestic protests in September 2024, the Army was given law enforcement powers, including making arrests, conducting searches, and dispersing unlawful assemblies; the military has traditionally been a significant player in the country's politics and has commercial business interests in such areas as banking, food, hotels, manufacturing, real estate, and shipbuilding, and manages government infrastructure and construction projects the military has a long history of participating in UN peacekeeping missions, which has provided operational experience and a source of funding; it runs an international institute for the training of peacekeepers; the military also conducts multinational and bilateral exercises with foreign partners, particularly India (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Bangladesh (aka Bangladesh Defense Force): Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force Ministry of Home Affairs: Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansars, Village Defense Party (VDP) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 170,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
approximately 1,400 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,700 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO; plus about 200 police); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,600 South Sudan (UNMISS); 500 Sudan (UNISFA) (2024)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
much of the military's inventory is comprised of Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment, but in recent years suppliers have expanded to include Germany, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.21% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.23% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.13% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.15% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.24% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.24% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.17% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.99% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.92% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.94% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
varies by service, but generally 17-23 for voluntary military service; length of service also varies (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
25.1% (male 21,540,493/female 20,800,712)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
67.1% (male 55,071,592/female 58,180,322)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
7.8% (2024 est.) (male 6,096,167/female 7,007,898)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
19.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
15.5% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
51.4% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
21.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
2.17% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
80.6% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
11.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
54.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
43.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.9% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.03% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Bengali at least 99%, other indigenous ethnic groups 1% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
2.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
1.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.9 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
26.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
24.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
76.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
73.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
76.5% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
81.4% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
79.00% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
23.210 million DHAKA (capital), 5.380 million Chittagong, 955,000 Khulna, 962,000 Rajshahi, 964,000 Sylhet, 906,000 Bogra (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
115 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
30.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
28.7 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
18.6 years (2017/18 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Bangladeshi
People and Society: Net migration rate
-4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
3.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.72 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
173,562,364 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.91% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
90,461,816
People and Society: Population: male
83,908,720
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 81.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 84.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 90.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 18.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 15.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 9.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.95 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
12.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
47.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
29.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.14 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
32.68% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2017 - first educational/scientific nanosatellite (BRAC-Onnesha) acquired from Japan and launched by US 2018 - first communications satellite (Bangabandhu-1) built by a French company and launched by US 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for the safe and responsible exploration of space
Space: Space agency/agencies
Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO; established as a statutory body in 1991 and designated as the country's national focal point for space-related activities in 1995) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
has a modest space program focused on designing, building, and operating satellites, particularly those with remote sensing (RS) capabilities; SPARSSO's mandate is to use space and RS technology in areas such as agriculture, education, environmental studies, fisheries, forestry, geology, land use, mapping, meteorology, and oceanography; has a government-owned company for acquiring and operating satellites (Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited, established in 2017); works with several foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of France, Japan, Russia, and the US; member of several international space organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) in Bangladesh (ISB); al-Qa'ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
756,743 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
1,005,637 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
1,005,520 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
17 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
S2
Transportation: Heliports
36 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 68, container ship 10, general cargo 170, oil tanker 162, other 148
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
558 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Chittagong, Mongla
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Transportation: Railways: broad gauge
659 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
1,801 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
2,460 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.