Demographics of Bangladesh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bangladesh is the eighth-most populated country in the world, accounting for approximately 2.2% of the global population. According to the final results of the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, the country's population was 169,828,911.[10] Bangladesh has one of the highest population densities in the world and is the only country ranked among the top ten globally in both population density and total population.
Population173,562,364 (2024 est.)[1]
Density1,333 people/km² (2024 est.)[2]
Growth rate
1.22% (2024 est.)[3]
1.22% (2024 est.)[3]Birth rate
19.99 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)[4]
19.99 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)[4]| Demographics of Bangladesh | |
|---|---|
Bangladesh population pyramid in 2020 | |
| Population | 173,562,364 (2024 est.)[1] |
| Density | 1,333 people/km² (2024 est.)[2] |
| Growth rate | 1.22% (2024 est.)[3] |
| Birth rate | 19.99 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)[4] |
| Death rate | 5.10 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)[4] |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 years (2024 est.)[5] |
| • male | 73.3 years (2024 est.) |
| • female | 76.7 years (2024 est.) |
| Fertility rate | 2.1 children born/woman (2024 est.)[4] |
| Infant mortality | 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)[6] |
| Net migration rate | -4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)[7] |
| Sex ratio | |
| Total | 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[8] |
| At birth | 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[8] |
| Under 15 | 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[8] |
| 15–64 years | 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[8] |
| 65 and over | 0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[8] |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Major ethnic | Bengalis (99%)[9] |
| Minor ethnic | Chakma Tripuri Marma Mundas Garos Oraons Santhals Mro Manipuri Zomi Bihari Khasi |
| Language | |
| Official | Standard Bengali |
| Spoken | Bengali and its regional dialects |
Bangladesh is largely ethnically homogeneous, with the Bengali ethnolinguistic group comprising around 99% of the population. The Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Barisal, and parts of North Bengal are home to diverse indigenous communities. Numerous dialects of Bengali are spoken across the country, with the dialects of Chittagong and Sylhet being particularly distinctive.
According to the 2022 census, approximately 91.04% of Bangladeshis are Muslims, followed by Hindus (7.95%), Buddhists (0.61%), Christians (0.30%), and others (0.12%).
Bangladesh has experienced a significant decline in fertility rates since its independence in 1971. The total fertility rate (TFR) decreased from over 6 births per woman in the 1970s to approximately 2.1 births per woman in 2024, nearing replacement-level fertility.[11]
Population
The population of Bangladesh has grown rapidly since 1947, when the region was part of East Pakistan. According to United Nations estimates, the population increased from approximately 44 million in 1950 to around 175.7 million in 2025. Population growth accelerated during the second half of the 20th century before gradually slowing due to declining fertility rates.
As of mid-2025, the population of Bangladesh was estimated at 175,686,899 people, according to the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 revision.[12]
Population growth rate
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Bangladesh had high rates of population growth in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then however it has seen significant reduction in its total fertility rate. Over a period of three decades it dropped from almost 7 to 2 in 2005–2018.[13]
Census
The latest decennial census was conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in 2022.[10]
| Census date | Census population (millions) | Adjusted population (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 14.5 | |
| 1851 | 20.3 | |
| 1901 | 28.928 | |
| 1911 | 31.555 | |
| 1921 | 33.255 | |
| 1931 | 35.602 | |
| 1941 | 41.997 | |
| 1951 | 41.932 | |
| 1961 | 50.840 | |
| 1974 | 71.479 | 76.398 |
| 1981 | 87.120 | 89.912 |
| 1991 | 106.313 | 111.455 |
| 2001 | 124.355 | 130.523 |
| 2011 | 142.319 | 152.518 |
| 2022 | 165.159 | 169.829 |
UN estimates
| Year[13] | Total population (millions) | Population percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aged 0–14 | aged 15–64 | aged 65+ | ||
| 1950 | 37.895 | |||
| 1955 | 43.444 | |||
| 1960 | 50.102 | |||
| 1965 | 57.792 | |||
| 1970 | 66.881 | |||
| 1975 | 70.582 | |||
| 1980 | 80.624 | |||
| 1985 | 92.284 | |||
| 1990 | 105.256 | |||
| 1995 | 117.487 | |||
| 2000 | 127.658 | |||
| 2005 | 139.036 | |||
| 2010 | 147.575 | |||
| 2015 | 156.256 | |||
| 2020 | 164.689 | |||
Population by sex and age group
Population by sex and age group (Census 15.III.2011):
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 72 109 796 | 71 933 901 | 144 043 697 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 7 638 523 | 7 423 447 | 15 061 970 | 10.46 |
| 5–9 | 9 322 514 | 8 850 715 | 18 173 229 | 12.62 |
| 10–14 | 8 614 889 | 8 031 726 | 16 646 615 | 11.56 |
| 15–19 | 6 509 492 | 6 352 398 | 12 861 890 | 8.93 |
| 20–24 | 5 777 370 | 7 522 419 | 13 299 789 | 9.23 |
| 25–29 | 6 225 252 | 7 254 256 | 13 479 508 | 9.36 |
| 30–34 | 5 079 106 | 5 420 659 | 10 499 765 | 7.29 |
| 35–39 | 4 697 349 | 4 859 079 | 9 556 428 | 6.63 |
| 40–44 | 4 280 923 | 3 980 739 | 8 261 662 | 5.74 |
| 45–49 | 3 363 273 | 3 016 800 | 6 380 073 | 4.43 |
| 50–54 | 2 952 596 | 2 599 675 | 5 552 271 | 3.85 |
| 55–59 | 1 923 534 | 1 577 463 | 3 500 997 | 2.43 |
| 60–64 | 2 081 306 | 1 852 708 | 3 934 014 | 2.73 |
| 65–69 | 1 149 569 | 963 921 | 2 113 490 | 1.47 |
| 70–74 | 1 206 398 | 1 025 314 | 2 231 712 | 1.55 |
| 75–79 | 488 338 | 386 389 | 874 727 | 0.61 |
| 80–84 | 443 239 | 436 840 | 880 079 | 0.61 |
| 85–89 | 138 268 | 124 343 | 262 611 | 0.18 |
| 90–94 | 116 916 | 133 273 | 250 189 | 0.17 |
| 95+ | 100 941 | 121 737 | 222 678 | 0.15 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| 0–14 | 25 575 926 | 24 305 888 | 49 881 814 | 34.63 |
| 15–64 | 42 890 201 | 44 436 196 | 87 326 397 | 60.62 |
| 65+ | 3 643 669 | 3 191 817 | 6 835 486 | 4.75 |
Population census by sex and age group (2022 census):
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 84 077 203 | 85 653 120 | 169 828 909 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 7 940 000 | 7 630 000 | 9.44 | |
| 5–9 | 7 920 000 | 7 400 000 | 9.28 | |
| 10–14 | 8 510 000 | 7 820 000 | 9.89 | |
| 15–19 | 8 060 000 | 8 490 000 | 10.03 | |
| 20–24 | 6 710 000 | 8 270 000 | 9.08 | |
| 25–29 | 6 460 000 | 7 910 000 | 8.71 | |
| 30–34 | 5 650 000 | 6 460 000 | 7.34 | |
| 35–39 | 6 040 000 | 6 680 000 | 7.7 | |
| 40–44 | 5 120 000 | 4 920 000 | 6.08 | |
| 45–49 | 4 130 000 | 4 130 000 | 5.01 | |
| 50–54 | 4 000 000 | 3 780 000 | 4.72 | |
| 55–59 | 2 950 000 | 2 770 000 | 3.48 | |
| 60–64 | 3 010 000 | 2 590 000 | 3.39 | |
| 65–69 | 2 150 000 | 1 770 000 | 2.38 | |
| 70–74 | 1 570 000 | 1 260 000 | 1.71 | |
| 75–79 | 670 000 | 550 000 | 0.74 | |
| 80+ | 820 000 | 920 000 | 1.06 | |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Per cent |
| 0–14 | 24 535 272 | 23 929 621 | 48 464 893 | 28.81 |
| 15–64 | 54 843 936 | 55 713 243 | 110 557 179 | 65.72 |
| 65+ | 4 810 792 | 4 387 136 | 9 197 928 | 5.47 |
Gender ratio
| Age range (years) | Sex ratio (males/females) (2015 est.)[17] |
|---|---|
| at birth | 1.04 |
| 0–14 | 1.03 |
| 15–24 | 0.89 |
| 25–54 | 0.90 |
| 55–64 | 1.01 |
| 65 and over | 0.97 |
| total population | 0.95 |
Urban and rural
The sprawling mega-city of Dhaka has a huge population, but the majority of the people nonetheless still live in villages in rural areas.
- Urban population: 37.4% of total population (2019 est.)
- Rate of urbanisation: 3.13% annual rate of change (2019 est.)
- Bangladesh is considered an urban country based on their population density[citation needed]
Population
Vital statistics
UN estimates
The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. Population estimates account for under numeration in population censuses.[18]
| Year | Mid-year population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Crude migration rate (per 1000) | Total fertility rate (TFR) | Infant mortality (per 1000 live births) | Life expectancy (in years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 39,729,000 | 1,848,000 | 1,072,000 | 776,000 | 46.5 | 27.0 | 19.5 | 6.30 | 219.2 | 38.18 | |
| 1951 | 40,549,000 | 1,907,000 | 1,066,000 | 842,000 | 47.0 | 26.3 | 20.8 | −0.2 | 6.34 | 213.6 | 38.86 |
| 1952 | 41,427,000 | 1,960,000 | 1,056,000 | 904,000 | 47.3 | 25.5 | 21.8 | −0.1 | 6.35 | 208.1 | 39.69 |
| 1953 | 42,329,000 | 2,016,000 | 1,067,000 | 949,000 | 47.6 | 25.2 | 22.4 | −0.6 | 6.38 | 203.1 | 39.94 |
| 1954 | 43,282,000 | 2,079,000 | 1,047,000 | 1,032,000 | 48.0 | 24.2 | 23.8 | −1.3 | 6.44 | 197.6 | 41.16 |
| 1955 | 44,316,000 | 2,140,000 | 1,044,000 | 1,096,000 | 48.3 | 23.5 | 24.7 | −0.8 | 6.49 | 192.8 | 41.89 |
| 1956 | 45,408,000 | 2,198,000 | 1,048,000 | 1,150,000 | 48.4 | 23.1 | 25.3 | −0.7 | 6.53 | 188.4 | 42.42 |
| 1957 | 46,561,000 | 2,262,000 | 1,037,000 | 1,225,000 | 48.6 | 22.3 | 26.3 | −0.9 | 6.57 | 183.5 | 43.41 |
| 1958 | 47,743,000 | 2,329,000 | 1,043,000 | 1,286,000 | 48.7 | 21.8 | 26.9 | −1.5 | 6.62 | 179.5 | 43.93 |
| 1959 | 49,005,000 | 2,405,000 | 1,045,000 | 1,360,000 | 49.0 | 21.3 | 27.7 | −1.3 | 6.71 | 175.4 | 44.60 |
| 1960 | 50,396,000 | 2,493,000 | 1,070,000 | 1,423,000 | 49.5 | 21.2 | 28.2 | 0.2 | 6.78 | 173.4 | 44.74 |
| 1961 | 51,883,000 | 2,574,000 | 1,064,000 | 1,510,000 | 49.6 | 20.5 | 29.1 | 0.4 | 6.83 | 168.3 | 45.66 |
| 1962 | 53,462,000 | 2,650,000 | 1,055,000 | 1,595,000 | 49.6 | 19.7 | 29.8 | 0.6 | 6.87 | 164.3 | 46.70 |
| 1963 | 55,094,000 | 2,704,000 | 1,084,000 | 1,620,000 | 49.1 | 19.7 | 29.4 | 1.1 | 6.84 | 162.6 | 46.66 |
| 1964 | 56,774,000 | 2,760,000 | 1,068,000 | 1,692,000 | 48.6 | 18.8 | 29.8 | 0.7 | 6.84 | 158.7 | 47.74 |
| 1965 | 58,500,000 | 2,816,000 | 1,130,000 | 1,686,000 | 48.2 | 19.3 | 28.8 | 1.6 | 6.83 | 159.0 | 46.86 |
| 1966 | 60,265,000 | 2,881,000 | 1,088,000 | 1,792,000 | 47.8 | 18.1 | 29.7 | 0.5 | 6.82 | 154.7 | 48.58 |
| 1967 | 62,104,000 | 2,966,000 | 1,107,000 | 1,859,000 | 47.8 | 17.8 | 29.9 | 0.6 | 6.85 | 153.3 | 48.87 |
| 1968 | 63,996,000 | 3,046,000 | 1,130,000 | 1,916,000 | 47.6 | 17.6 | 29.9 | 0.6 | 6.85 | 152.5 | 49.09 |
| 1969 | 65,867,000 | 3,134,000 | 1,159,000 | 1,975,000 | 47.5 | 17.6 | 29.9 | −0.7 | 6.86 | 152.0 | 49.17 |
| 1970 | 67,542,000 | 3,209,000 | 1,509,000 | 1,701,000 | 47.4 | 22.3 | 25.1 | 0.3 | 6.88 | 165.3 | 42.59 |
| 1971 | 68,376,000 | 3,262,000 | 2,811,000 | 451,000 | 47.6 | 41.0 | 6.6 | 5.7 | 6.87 | 199.4 | 26.00 |
| 1972 | 69,347,000 | 3,300,000 | 1,189,000 | 2,112,000 | 47.5 | 17.1 | 30.4 | −16.2 | 6.85 | 151.3 | 49.59 |
| 1973 | 71,145,000 | 3,349,000 | 1,211,000 | 2,137,000 | 47.0 | 17.0 | 30.0 | −4.1 | 6.82 | 151.1 | 49.83 |
| 1974 | 72,948,000 | 3,414,000 | 1,275,000 | 2,139,000 | 46.7 | 17.4 | 29.2 | −3.9 | 6.79 | 153.6 | 49.16 |
| 1975 | 74,700,000 | 3,461,000 | 1,246,000 | 2,215,000 | 46.2 | 16.6 | 29.5 | −5.5 | 6.74 | 149.3 | 50.29 |
| 1976 | 76,380,000 | 3,540,000 | 1,260,000 | 2,280,000 | 46.2 | 16.4 | 29.7 | −7.2 | 6.67 | 147.9 | 50.65 |
| 1977 | 78,138,000 | 3,610,000 | 1,266,000 | 2,344,000 | 46.1 | 16.1 | 29.9 | −6.9 | 6.59 | 146.1 | 51.20 |
| 1978 | 80,008,000 | 3,661,000 | 1,289,000 | 2,372,000 | 45.6 | 16.1 | 29.5 | −5.6 | 6.52 | 143.9 | 51.25 |
| 1979 | 81,908,000 | 3,735,000 | 1,306,000 | 2,429,000 | 45.5 | 15.9 | 29.6 | −5.9 | 6.42 | 141.3 | 51.46 |
| 1980 | 83,930,000 | 3,793,000 | 1,313,000 | 2,479,000 | 45.1 | 15.6 | 29.5 | −4.8 | 6.32 | 138.6 | 51.85 |
| 1981 | 86,155,000 | 3,859,000 | 1,324,000 | 2,535,000 | 44.7 | 15.4 | 29.4 | −2.9 | 6.24 | 135.7 | 52.17 |
| 1982 | 88,555,000 | 3,922,000 | 1,332,000 | 2,590,000 | 44.3 | 15.0 | 29.2 | −1.3 | 6.12 | 132.6 | 52.54 |
| 1983 | 91,045,000 | 3,899,000 | 1,327,000 | 2,572,000 | 42.8 | 14.6 | 28.2 | −0.1 | 5.89 | 129.2 | 53.01 |
| 1984 | 93,534,000 | 3,914,000 | 1,318,000 | 2,596,000 | 41.8 | 14.1 | 27.7 | −0.4 | 5.73 | 125.8 | 53.54 |
| 1985 | 95,959,000 | 3,913,000 | 1,317,000 | 2,597,000 | 40.7 | 13.7 | 27.0 | −1.1 | 5.54 | 122.6 | 53.90 |
| 1986 | 98,272,000 | 3,880,000 | 1,301,000 | 2,579,000 | 39.4 | 13.2 | 26.2 | −2.1 | 5.30 | 118.4 | 54.42 |
| 1987 | 100,490,000 | 3,858,000 | 1,286,000 | 2,572,000 | 38.3 | 12.8 | 25.6 | −3.0 | 5.07 | 114.7 | 54.93 |
| 1988 | 102,689,000 | 3,803,000 | 1,290,000 | 2,513,000 | 37.0 | 12.5 | 24.4 | −2.5 | 4.84 | 110.9 | 55.03 |
| 1989 | 104,894,000 | 3,801,000 | 1,299,000 | 2,501,000 | 36.2 | 12.4 | 23.8 | −2.3 | 4.68 | 106.9 | 55.09 |
| 1990 | 107,148,000 | 3,750,000 | 1,257,000 | 2,492,000 | 35.1 | 12.0 | 23.2 | −1.7 | 4.48 | 103.0 | 55.99 |
| 1991 | 109,243,000 | 3,660,000 | 1,375,000 | 2,285,000 | 33.6 | 12.9 | 20.7 | −1.3 | 4.26 | 103.6 | 54.15 |
| 1992 | 111,272,000 | 3,604,000 | 1,178,000 | 2,426,000 | 32.4 | 11.2 | 21.2 | −3.2 | 4.03 | 95.2 | 57.64 |
| 1993 | 113,419,000 | 3,579,000 | 1,174,000 | 2,404,000 | 31.4 | 10.9 | 20.5 | −1.9 | 3.83 | 91.3 | 57.93 |
| 1994 | 115,615,000 | 3,627,000 | 1,153,000 | 2,474,000 | 31.1 | 10.5 | 20.6 | −2.0 | 3.74 | 87.3 | 58.62 |
| 1995 | 117,793,000 | 3,593,000 | 1,120,000 | 2,472,000 | 30.4 | 10.1 | 20.2 | −2.2 | 3.59 | 83.4 | 59.47 |
| 1996 | 119,877,000 | 3,597,000 | 1,138,000 | 2,458,000 | 30.0 | 9.8 | 20.3 | −2.8 | 3.51 | 79.5 | 59.49 |
| 1997 | 122,039,000 | 3,692,000 | 1,047,000 | 2,646,000 | 30.4 | 9.4 | 21.0 | −3.6 | 3.50 | 75.5 | 61.43 |
| 1998 | 124,350,000 | 3,711,000 | 936,000 | 2,775,000 | 30.2 | 9.0 | 21.1 | −3.4 | 3.43 | 71.8 | 63.92 |
| 1999 | 126,755,000 | 3,723,000 | 846,000 | 2,877,000 | 29.9 | 8.6 | 21.2 | −3.4 | 3.36 | 68.1 | 66.23 |
| 2000 | 129,193,000 | 3,747,000 | 887,000 | 2,860,000 | 29.6 | 8.3 | 21.3 | −2.9 | 3.28 | 64.6 | 65.78 |
| 2001 | 131,670,000 | 3,756,000 | 890,000 | 2,866,000 | 29.2 | 7.9 | 21.2 | −2.5 | 3.20 | 61.3 | 66.14 |
| 2002 | 134,140,000 | 3,758,000 | 886,000 | 2,872,000 | 28.5 | 7.6 | 20.9 | −2.6 | 3.13 | 58.2 | 66.61 |
| 2003 | 136,503,000 | 3,736,000 | 896,000 | 2,841,000 | 27.7 | 7.3 | 20.4 | −3.2 | 3.03 | 55.3 | 66.82 |
| 2004 | 138,790,000 | 3,697,000 | 896,000 | 2,801,000 | 27.0 | 7.1 | 19.9 | −3.3 | 2.94 | 52.6 | 67.19 |
| 2005 | 140,913,000 | 3,603,000 | 908,000 | 2,696,000 | 26.1 | 6.8 | 19.2 | −3.8 | 2.85 | 50.0 | 67.30 |
| 2006 | 142,629,000 | 3,529,000 | 930,000 | 2,600,000 | 25.3 | 6.6 | 18.6 | −6.0 | 2.76 | 47.5 | 67.24 |
| 2007 | 144,136,000 | 3,467,000 | 982,000 | 2,485,000 | 24.5 | 6.5 | 18.0 | −6.6 | 2.67 | 45.4 | 66.71 |
| 2008 | 145,421,000 | 3,379,000 | 979,000 | 2,400,000 | 23.7 | 6.3 | 17.4 | −7.5 | 2.58 | 43.0 | 67.05 |
| 2009 | 146,707,000 | 3,275,000 | 972,000 | 2,302,000 | 22.8 | 6.2 | 16.6 | −6.9 | 2.48 | 41.0 | 67.40 |
| 2010 | 148,391,000 | 3,177,000 | 907,000 | 2,269,000 | 21.9 | 6.0 | 15.8 | −3.8 | 2.38 | 39.0 | 68.64 |
| 2011 | 150,211,000 | 3,093,000 | 919,000 | 2,174,000 | 21.1 | 5.9 | 15.2 | −2.2 | 2.31 | 37.2 | 68.81 |
| 2012 | 152,091,000 | 3,062,000 | 893,000 | 2,169,000 | 20.7 | 5.8 | 14.9 | −1.7 | 2.26 | 35.6 | 69.55 |
| 2013 | 154,030,000 | 3,067,000 | 921,000 | 2,146,000 | 20.6 | 5.8 | 14.8 | −1.2 | 2.25 | 33.9 | 69.57 |
| 2014 | 155,961,000 | 3,049,000 | 919,000 | 2,130,000 | 20.3 | 5.7 | 14.6 | −1.1 | 2.23 | 32.4 | 69.99 |
| 2015 | 157,830,000 | 3,026,000 | 912,000 | 2,114,000 | 20.3 | 5.6 | 14.6 | −1.4 | 2.23 | 30.9 | 70.49 |
| 2016 | 159,785,000 | 3,037,000 | 900,000 | 2,137,000 | 20.2 | 5.6 | 14.7 | −1.0 | 2.23 | 29.4 | 71.09 |
| 2017 | 161,794,000 | 2,994,000 | 881,000 | 2,113,000 | 20.0 | 5.5 | 14.5 | −0.5 | 2.21 | 28.0 | 71.79 |
| 2018 | 163,684,000 | 3,025,000 | 859,000 | 2,166,000 | 20.1 | 5.4 | 14.6 | −1.5 | 2.19 | 26.6 | 72.57 |
| 2019 | 165,516,000 | 3,041,000 | 875,000 | 2,166,000 | 20.1 | 5.4 | 14.8 | −1.9 | 2.18 | 25.2 | 72.81 |
| 2020 | 167,421,000 | 3,023,000 | 974,000 | 2,049,000 | 20.3 | 6.1 | 14.2 | −0.7 | 2.18 | 24.0 | 71.97 |
| 2021 | 169,356,000 | 3,020,000 | 962,000 | 2,057,000 | 20.4 | 6.3 | 14.1 | −0.5 | 2.17 | 22.9 | 72.38 |
| 2022 | 3,486,416 | 853,189 | 2,633,227 | 20.6 | 5.0 | 15.5 | 2.18 | ||||
| 2023 | 3,489,953 | 859,075 | 2,630,878 | 20.4 | 5.0 | 15.3 | 2.16 | ||||
| 2024 | 3,469,124 | 885,972 | 2,583,152 | 20.0 | 5.1 | 14.9 | 2.14 | ||||
| 2025 | 3,441,259 | 899,880 | 2,541,379 | 19.6 | 5.1 | 14.5 | 2.11 | ||||
Sample vital registration system
| Year | Population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Fertility rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (urban/rural) | ||||||||
| 1981 | 87,119,965[20] | 3,098,000 | 1,038,000 | 2,060,000 | 34.6 (24.8/35.7) | 11.5 (7.2/12.2) | 23.1 (17.6/23.5) | 5.04 (3.20/5.28) |
| 1982 | 92,300,000 | 3,189,000 | 1,107,000 | 2,082,000 | 34.8 (22.9/36.9) | 12.2 (6.9/12.8) | 22.6 (16.0/24.1) | 5.21 (3.01/5.50) |
| 1983 | 94,300,000 | 3,280,000 | 1,163,000 | 2,117,000 | 35.0 (27.1/36.4) | 12.3 (7.5/13.2) | 22.7 (19.6/23.2) | 5.07 (3.45/5.36) |
| 1984 | 96,300,000 | 3,335,000 | 1,182,000 | 2,153,000 | 34.8 (25.0/36.1) | 12.3 (8.5/12.9) | 22.5 (16.5/23.2) | 4.83 (3.10/5.08) |
| 1985 | 98,400,000 | 3,392,000 | 1,183,000 | 2,209,000 | 34.6 (28.0/35.3) | 12.0 (8.3/12.9) | 22.6 (19.7/22.4) | 4.71 (3.52/4.91) |
| 1986 | 100,500,000 | 3,448,000 | 1,183,000 | 2,265,000 | 34.4 (25.9/35.4) | 12.1 (8.1/12.3) | 22.3 (17.8/23.1) | 4.70 (3.26/4.89) |
| 1987 | 102,800,000 | 3,414,000 | 1,173,000 | 2,241,000 | 33.3 (24.8/34.6) | 11.5 (7.6/11.8) | 21.8 (17.2/22.8) | 4.42 (3.05/4.64) |
| 1988 | 105,000,000 | 3,477,000 | 1,179,000 | 2,298,000 | 33.2 (24.9/34.6) | 11.3 (7.5/11.9) | 21.9 (17.4/22.7) | 4.45 (3.08/4.70) |
| 1989 | 107,400,000 | 3,531,000 | 1,196,000 | 2,335,000 | 33.0 (24.4/34.5) | 11.3 (7.3/11.9) | 21.7 (17.1/22.6) | 4.35 (2.90/4.59) |
| 1990 | 109,800,000 | 3,559,000 | 1,106,000 | 2,453,000 | 32.8 (24.6/34.3) | 11.4 (7.8/11.8) | 21.4 (16.8/22.5) | 4.33 (2.90/4.57) |
| 1991 | 106,314,992[20] | 3,561,000 | 1,110,000 | 2,451,000 | 31.6 (23.9/32.9) | 11.2 (7.8/11.5) | 20.4 (16.1/21.4) | 4.24 (2.89/4.51) |
| 1992 | 114,400,000 | 3,455,000 | 1,139,000 | 2,316,000 | 30.8 (23.7/32.2) | 11.0 (7.5/11.3) | 19.8 (16.2/20.9) | 4.18 (2.88/4.33) |
| 1993 | 116,500,000 | 3,350,000 | 1,100,000 | 2,250,000 | 28.8 (21.0/30.0) | 10.0 (7.2/10.4) | 18.8 (13.8/19.6) | 3.84 (2.62/4.00) |
| 1994 | 118,400,000 | 3,289,000 | 1,067,000 | 2,222,000 | 27.0 (20.2/29.1) | 9.3 (7.1/9.3) | 17.7 (13.1/19.8) | 3.58 (2.58/3.79) |
| 1995 | 120,200,000 | 3,228,000 | 1,007,000 | 2,221,000 | 26.5 (19.4/28.5) | 8.7 (6.7/9.0) | 17.8 (12.7/19.5) | 3.45 (2.50/3.78) |
| 1996 | 122,100,000 | 3,143,000 | 989,000 | 2,154,000 | 25.6 (19.0/27.8) | 8.2 (6.5/8.8) | 17.4 (12.5/19.0) | 3.41 (2.48/3.76) |
| 1997 | 123,900,000 | 2,746,000 | 719,000 | 2,027,000 | 21.0 (16.2/24.5) | 5.5 (4.2/6.5) | 15.5 (12.0/18.0) | 3.10 (2.28/3.32) |
| 1998 | 125,700,000 | 2,608,000 | 652,000 | 1,956,000 | 19.9 (14.0/21.0) | 5.1 (3.7/5.4) | 14.8 (10.3/15.6) | 2.98 (2.24/3.00) |
| 1999 | 127,500,000 | 2,542,000 | 649,000 | 1,893,000 | 19.2 (13.8/20.9) | 5.1 (3.5/5.4) | 14.1 (10.3/15.5) | 2.64 (1.76/2.91) |
| 2000 | 129,300,000 | 2,454,000 | 640,000 | 1,814,000 | 19.0 (13.7/20.8) | 4.9 (3.5/5.3) | 14.1 (10.2/15.5) | 2.59 (1.68/2.89) |
| 2001 | 124,355,263[20] | 2,439,000 | 638,000 | 1,801,000 | 18.9 (13.6/20.7) | 4.8 (4.3/5.2) | 14.1 (9.3/15.5) | 2.56 (1.73/2.84) |
| 2002 | 132,900,000 | 2,674,000 | 679,000 | 1,995,000 | 20.1 (16.6/21.0) | 5.1 (3.8/5.4) | 15.0 (12.8/15.6) | 2.55 (1.94/2.69) |
| 2003 | 134,800,000 | 2,814,000 | 783,000 | 2,031,000 | 20.9 (17.9/21.7) | 5.9 (4.7/6.2) | 15.0 (13.2/15.5) | 2.57 (1.91/2.70) |
| 2004 | 136,700,000 | 2,830,000 | 794,000 | 2,036,000 | 20.8 (17.8/21.6) | 5.8 (4.4/6.1) | 15.0 (13.4/15.5) | 2.51 (1.91/2.67) |
| 2005 | 138,600,000 | 2,879,000 | 823,000 | 2,056,000 | 20.7 (17.8/21.7) | 5.8 (4.9/6.1) | 14.9 (12.9/15.6) | 2.46 (1.87/2.65) |
| 2006 | 140,600,000 | 2,901,000 | 789,000 | 2,112,000 | 20.6 (17.5/21.7) | 5.6 (4.4/6.0) | 15.0 (13.1/15.7) | 2.41 (1.81/2.63) |
| 2007 | 142,600,000 | 2,986,000 | 792,000 | 2,194,000 | 20.9 (17.4/22.1) | 6.2 (5.1/6.6) | 14.7 (12.3/15.5) | 2.39 (1.79/2.61) |
| 2008 | 144,700,000 | 3,022,000 | 885,000 | 2,137,000 | 20.5 (17.2/22.4) | 6.0 (5.1/6.5) | 14.5 (12.1/15.9) | 2.30 (1.79/2.60) |
| 2009 | 146,700,000 | 2,832,000 | 842,000 | 1,990,000 | 19.4 (16.8/20.4) | 5.8 (4.7/6.1) | 13.6 (12.1/14.3) | 2.15 (1.65/2.28) |
| 2010 | 148,600,000 | 2,868,494 | 842,095 | 2,026,399 | 19.2 (17.1/20.1) | 5.6 (4.9/5.9) | 13.6 (12.2/14.2) | 2.12 (1.72/2.26) |
| 2011 | 150,600,000 | 2,891,000 | 828,000 | 2,063,000 | 19.2 (17.4/20.2) | 5.5 (4.8/5.8) | 13.7 (12.6/14.4) | 2.11 (1.71/2.25) |
| 2012 | 152,700,000 | 2,933,000 | 826,000 | 2,107,000 | 18.9 (17.1/20.0) | 5.3 (4.6/5.7) | 13.6 (12.5/14.3) | 2.12 (1.84/2.30) |
| 2013 | 154,700,000 | 19.0 (18.2/19.3) | 5.3 (4.6/5.6) | 13.7 (13.6/13.7) | 2.11 (1.84/2.19) | |||
| 2014 | 156,800,000 | 18.9 (17.2/19.4) | 5.2 (4.1/5.6) | 13.7 (13.1/13.8) | 2.11 (1.77/2.22) | |||
| 2015 | 158,900,000 | 18.8 (16.5/20.3) | 5.1 (4.6/5.5) | 13.7 (11.9/14.8) | 2.10 (1.72/2.30) | |||
| 2016 | 160,800,000 | 18.7 (16.1/20.9) | 5.1 (4.2/5.7) | 13.6 (11.9/15.2) | 2.10 (1.68/2.38) | |||
| 2017 | 163,780,000 | 3,009,950 | 829,770 | 2,180,180 | 18.5 (16.1/20.4) | 5.1 (4.2/5.7) | 13.4 (11.9/14.7) | 2.05 (1.68/2.37) |
| 2018 | 164,600,000 | 18.3 (16.1/20.1) | 5.0 (4.4/5.4) | 13.3 (11.7/14.7) | 2.05 (1.68/2.38) | |||
| 2019 | 166,500,000 | 18.1 (15.9/20.0) | 4.9 (4.4/5.4) | 13.2 (11.5/14.6) | 2.04 (1.67/2.37) | |||
| 2020 | 168,220,000 | 3,040,667 | 852,254 | 2,188,413 | 18.1 (15.3/20.4) | 5.1 (4.9/5.2) | 13.0 (10.4/15.2) | 2.04 (1.66/2.37) |
| 2021 | 170,260,000 | 18.8 (16.4/19.5) | 5.7 (4.8/6.0) | 13.1 (11.6/13.5) | 2.05 (1.66/2.18) | |||
| 2022 | 169,828,911[21] | 19.8 (16.6/20.8) | 5.8 (5.1/6.0) | 14.0 (11.5/14.8) | 2.20 (1.71/2.37) | |||
| 2023 | 2.17 | |||||||
Total fertility rate
| Years | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935[22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Fertility Rate in Bangladesh | 6.68 | 6.66 | 6.64 | 6.63 | 6.61 | 6.59 | 6.57 | 6.55 | 6.53 | 6.51 |
| Years | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945[22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Fertility Rate in Bangladesh | 6.49 | 6.48 | 6.46 | 6.44 | 6.42 | 6.4 | 6.38 | 6.36 | 6.35 | 6.33 |
| Years | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949[22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Fertility Rate in Bangladesh | 6.31 | 6.29 | 6.27 | 6.25 |
Total fertility rate by divisions in 2020
| Division | TFR (total fertility rate) | Crude birth rate | Death rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mymensingh | 2.69 | 21.8 | 5.0 |
| Barishal | 2.07 | 17.7 | 5.2 |
| Chittagong | 2.36 | 21.6 | 5.3 |
| Dhaka | 1.71 | 15.8 | 4.5 |
| Rajshahi | 1.99 | 16.8 | 5.4 |
| Rangpur | 2.11 | 18.2 | 5.2 |
| Sylhet | 1.94 | 17.7 | 5.3 |
| Khulna | 1.98 | 17.1 | 5.0 |
Demographic and Health Surveys
| Year(s) | Total fertility rate (TFR) |
|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 3.4 |
| 1996–97 | 3.3 |
| 1999–2000 | 3.3 |
| 2004 | 3.0 |
| 2007 | 2.7 |
| 2011 | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 2.3 |
| 2017–18 | 2.3 |
| 2022 | 2.3 |
| 2025 | 2.4 (urban: 2.2, rural: 2.5) |
Life expectancy at birth
- Total population: 72.7 years (2018)[24]
- Male: 71.1 years
- Female: 74.4 years
| Period | Life expectancy in Years |
Period | Life expectancy in Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950–1955 | 40.7 | 1985–1990 | 57.0 |
| 1955–1960 | 44.2 | 1990–1995 | 60.0 |
| 1960–1965 | 47.2 | 1995–2000 | 63.7 |
| 1965–1970 | 49.3 | 2000–2005 | 66.7 |
| 1970–1975 | 46.3 | 2005–2010 | 69.1 |
| 1975–1980 | 52.2 | 2010–2015 | 71.2 |
| 1980–1985 | 54.3 |
Source: UN World Population Prospects[25]
Ethnic group
The vast majority (about 99%) of Bangladeshis are of the Bengali ethno-linguistic group. This group also spans the neighbouring Indian province of West Bengal. Minority ethnic groups include Meitei, Tripuri, Marma, Tanchangya, Barua, Khasi, Santhals, Chakma, Rakhine, Garo, Biharis, Oraons, and Mundas.
Biharis are Urdu-speaking, non-Bengalis who emigrated from the state of Bihar and other parts of northern India during the 1947 partition. They are concentrated in the Dhaka and Rangpur areas and number some 300,000.[26][27] In the 1971 independence war many of them sided with Pakistan, as they stood to lose their positions in the upper levels of society.[28] Hundreds of thousands went to Pakistan and those that remained were interned in refugee camps. Their population declined from about 1 million in 1971 to 600,000 in the late 1980s.[28] Refugees International has called them a "neglected and stateless" people as they are denied citizenship by the governments of Bangladesh and Pakistan.[29] As nearly 40 years has passed, two generations of Biharis have been born in these camps. Biharis were granted Bangladeshi citizenship and voting rights in 2008.[30]
Bangladesh's tribal population was enumerated at 897,828 in the 1981 census.[28] These tribes are concentrated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and around Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Rajshahi. They are of mixed Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan descent and differ markedly in their social customs, religion, language and level of development. They speak Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman languages and most are Buddhist or Hindu.[28] The four largest tribes are Chakmas, Marmas, Tipperas, Tanchangya, and Mros. Smaller groups include the Santals in Rajshahi and Dinajpur, and Khasis, Garos, and Khajons in Mymensingh and Sylhet regions.[28]
There are small communities of Meitei people (alias Manipuri people) in the Sylhet district, which is close to the Meitei homeland across the border in Manipur, India.[31][32]
There is a large population of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar near the border in the southeast. There are 28,000 living in two UN refugee camps in Cox's Bazar as well as some 200,000 "unregistered people of concern" living outside of the camps.[33] The refugee crisis originated in the early 1990s when the first wave numbering some 250,000 of the predominantly Muslim ethnic group fled persecution from their home in Rakhaine—Myanmar's westernmost state. Bangladesh seeks to repatriate the refugees back to Myanmar.[34] Since 2017, there are approximately 1.1 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh.
Languages
- Official language: Bengali (also known as Bangla)
- Other varieties that are variously considered as the dialects of Bengali: Chittagonian, Noakhailla, Sylheti, and Rajbongshi.[36]
- Bengali–Meitei creole language: Bishnupriya Manipuri[37][38]
- Other Indic languages: Assamese, Rohingya, Chakma, Tanchangya and various Bihari languages
- Tibeto-Burman languages: A'Tong, Chak, Koch, Garo, Megam, Tripuri, Meitei language (Manipuri language[39][40]), Mizo, Mru, Pangkhua, Rakhine/Marma, various Chin languages[36]
- Austroasiatic languages: Khasi, Koda, Mundari, Pnar, Santali, War[36]
- Dravidian languages: Kurukh[36]
- Other languages: English (spoken and known widely in upper-class & politics), Arabic (sometimes spoken and known by many Muslims, due to Islam being the primary religion[citation needed]), Hindi/Urdu (understood by some, and spoken by Biharis)
Bangladesh has 44 indigenous languages according to Professor Shameem Reza.[41]
According to the Ethnologue, there are 36 indigenous living languages, which include 17 Sino-Tibetan, 10 Indo-European, 7 Austro-Asiatic and 2 Dravidian languages.[36]
Religion
Migration
Immigration
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Bangladesh hosted approximately 2.9 million international migrants in 2024, representing about 1.7% of the country's population.[48] The majority are Rohingya refugees who fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar following the Rohingya genocide and subsequent conflict in Rakhine State.[49]
As of 2025, Bangladesh was hosting more than 1 million Rohingya refugees, primarily in camps in Cox's Bazar District, making it one of the world's largest refugee-hosting countries.[50]
Other migrant communities in Bangladesh include expatriate workers, diplomats, students, and business professionals from South Asia, East Asia, and the Middle East.[51]
| Country/territory of origin | Population |
|---|---|
 Myanmar(primarily Rohingya refugees) |
1,000,000+ |
 Malaysia |
210,000+ |
 China |
170,000+ |
 Afghanistan |
160,000+ |
 India |
40,000+ |
 Nepal |
40,000+ |
 United States |
50,000+ |
 United Kingdom |
35,000+ |
| Source: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024, UNHCR | |
Emigration
Bangladesh is one of the world's largest sources of migrant labour. According to UNDESA estimates, the Bangladeshi diaspora reached approximately 8.7 million people in 2024.[52] The country has a strongly negative net migration rate of approximately −4.3 migrants per 1,000 population.[53]
Labour migration plays a major role in the Bangladeshi economy, with remittances constituting one of the country's largest sources of foreign exchange earnings.[54]
The principal destinations for Bangladeshi migrants are countries in the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.[55]
| Country | Population |
|---|---|
 Saudi Arabia |
1,800,000+ |
 United Arab Emirates |
1,200,000+ |
| Malaysia |
800,000+ |
 Oman |
700,000+ |
| United Kingdom |
600,000+ |
| United States |
350,000+ |
 Qatar |
300,000+ |
 Kuwait |
280,000+ |
 Italy |
200,000+ |
 Singapore |
160,000+ |
| Sources: United Nations International Migrant Stock 2024, BMET | |
