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). Moreover, human development outcomes improved along many dimensions. The country made a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but faces several economic challenges.
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Geography
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates
24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries
total: 4,413 km
border countries (2): Burma 271 km; India 4,142 km
Coastline
580 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation
highest point: Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 85 m
Natural resources
natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use
agricultural land: 70.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 59% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 6.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 11.1% (2018 est.)
other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
81,270 sq km (2020)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
Major aquifers
Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Natural hazards
droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
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
People and Society
Population
total: 168,697,184
male: 82,708,252
female: 85,988,932 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 8; male 8; total 8
Nationality
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups
Bengali at least 99%, other indigenous ethnic groups 1% (2022 est.)
note: Bangladesh's government recognizes 27 indigenous ethnic groups under the 2010 Cultural Institution for Small Anthropological Groups Act; other sources estimate there are about 75 ethnic groups
Languages
Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
major-language sample(s):
বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 91%, Hindu 8%, other 1% (2022 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 25.1% (male 21,540,493/female 20,800,712)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 55,071,592/female 58,180,322)
65 years and over: 7.8% (2024 est.) (male 6,096,167/female 7,007,898)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 47.7
youth dependency ratio: 39.1
elderly dependency ratio: 8.6
potential support ratio: 11.6 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 29.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 28.7 years
female: 30.4 years
comparison ranking: total 144
Urbanization
urban population: 40.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
18.6 years (2017/18 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Infant mortality rate
total: 28.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.3 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 52
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 73.1 years
female: 77.5 years
comparison ranking: total population 129
Gross reproduction rate
1.01 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
62.7% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99% of population
rural: 98.7% of population
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 1% of population
rural: 1.3% of population
total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
2.6% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
0.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 85.3% of population
rural: 73.5% of population
total: 78% of population
unimproved: urban: 14.7% of population
rural: 26.5% of population
total: 22% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
water contact diseases: leptospirosis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 187
Tobacco use
total: 34.7% (2020 est.)
male: 52.2% (2020 est.)
female: 17.1% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 17
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
80.1% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 15.5%
women married by age 18: 51.4% (2019 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.9%
male: 77.8%
female: 72% (2020)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of 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 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Land use
agricultural land: 70.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 59% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 6.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 11.1% (2018 est.)
other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 40.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Food insecurity
severe localized food insecurity: due to economic constraints and high prices of important food items - food insecurity is expected to remain fragile, given persisting economic constraints; domestic prices of wheat flour and palm oil, important food items, were at high levels in January 2023; the result of elevated international prices of energy, fuel and food, having been transmitted to the domestic markets (2023)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 45.99 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 84.25 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 59.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 14,778,497 tons (2012 est.)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
Major aquifers
Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 3.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 770 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 31.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
1.23 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
local short form: Bangladesh
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
etymology: the name - a compound of the Bengali words "Bangla" (Bengal) and "desh" (country) - means "Country of Bengal"
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the origins of the name are unclear, but some sources state that the city's site was originally called "dhakka," meaning "watchtower," and that the area served as a watch-station for Bengal rulers
Administrative divisions
8 divisions; Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Independence
16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December (Victory Day) memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Legal system
common law; since independence, statutory law enacted by the Parliament of Bangladesh has been the primary form of legislation; Bangladeshi law incorporates elements of English common law; Islamic law applies to Bangladeshi Muslims in family and inheritance laws, with Hindu personal law applying to Bangladeshi Hindus and Buddhists
Constitution
history: previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986
amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2018
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bangladesh
dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Mohammad Shahabuddin CHUPPI (since 24 April 2023)
head of government: Interim Prime Minister Muhammad YUNUS (since 8 August 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 February 2023 (next to be held by 2028); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament
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
Legislative branch
description: unicameral House of the Nation or Jatiya Sangsad (350 seats; 300 members in single-seat territorial constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote; 50 members - reserved for women only - indirectly elected by the House of the Nation membership by proportional representation vote using single transferable vote method; all members serve 5-year terms); note - on 5 August 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wazed resigned, and the following day, President Mohammad Shahabuddin CHUPPI dissolved House of the Nation
elections: last held on 7 January 2024 (next to be held in 2029)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party as of December 2023 - AL 306, JP 27, BNP 0, other 14, independent 3; composition - men 280, women 70, percentage women 20%
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)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
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
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad IMRAN (since 12 December 2022)
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771
email address and website:
[email protected]
Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Washington, DC (mofa.gov.bd)
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter HAAS (since 15 March 2022)
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka - 1212
mailing address: 6120 Dhaka Place, Washington DC 20521-6120
telephone: [880] (2) 5566-2000
FAX: [880] (2) 5566-2907
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://bd.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
National symbol(s)
Bengal tiger, water lily; national colors: green, red
National anthem
name: "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
note: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Bagerhat Historic Mosque (c); Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (c); Sundarbans (n)
Economy
Economic overview
one of the fastest growing emerging market economies; strong economic rebound following COVID-19; significant poverty reduction; exports dominated by textile industry; weakened exports and remittances resulted in declining foreign exchange reserves and 2022 IMF loan request
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.413 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.336 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.248 trillion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 23
Real GDP growth rate
5.78% (2023 est.)
7.1% (2022 est.)
6.94% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 35
Real GDP per capita
$8,200 (2023 est.)
$7,800 (2022 est.)
$7,400 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 154
GDP (official exchange rate)
$437.415 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9.88% (2023 est.)
7.7% (2022 est.)
5.55% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 177
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: BB- (2014)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2012)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2010)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.3% (2017 est.)
services: 56.5% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 148; industry 83; agriculture 68
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 30.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 15% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -20.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, milk, potatoes, maize, sugarcane, onions, vegetables, jute, mangoes/guavas, tropical fruits (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
cotton, textiles and clothing, jute, tea, paper, cement, fertilizer, sugar, light engineering
Industrial production growth rate
8.37% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 26
Labor force
74.914 million (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 8
Unemployment rate
5.06% (2023 est.)
5.25% (2022 est.)
5.82% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 95
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 15.7% (2023 est.)
male: 13.5% (2023 est.)
female: 20.4% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 92
Population below poverty line
18.7% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
33.4 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 99
Average household expenditures
on food: 52.7% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.1% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.5% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 27.4% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
5.26% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.67% of GDP (2022 est.)
5.33% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $30.023 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $46.379 billion (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
7.64% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 192
Current account balance
$4.388 billion (2023 est.)
-$14.438 billion (2022 est.)
-$15.775 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 37
Exports
$58.885 billion (2023 est.)
$60.066 billion (2022 est.)
$49.291 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 63
Exports - partners
US 18%, Germany 16%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Poland 6% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
garments, footwear, fabric, textiles, jute yarn (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$73.172 billion (2023 est.)
$93.635 billion (2022 est.)
$85.299 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 54
Imports - partners
China 32%, India 17%, Singapore 6%, Malaysia 5%, Indonesia 5% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cotton fabric, cotton, fabric, fertilizers (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$21.86 billion (2023 est.)
$33.747 billion (2022 est.)
$46.166 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 50
Debt - external
$50.26 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$41.85 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 68
Exchange rates
taka (BDT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
106.309 (2023 est.)
91.745 (2022 est.)
85.084 (2021 est.)
84.871 (2020 est.)
84.454 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 99.4% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 100%
electrification - rural areas: 99.3%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 22.449 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 99.553 billion kWh (2022 est.)
imports: 8.643 billion kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 11.09 billion kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 182; imports 29; consumption 36; installed generating capacity 44
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 98.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2023)
Coal
production: 754,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
consumption: 7.514 million metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 5.62 million metric tons (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 3.26 billion metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 160,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 28 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 24.62 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
consumption: 30.384 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
imports: 5.765 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 126.293 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
99.57 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 15.102 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 25.09 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 59.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 42
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 274,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 111
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 180.198 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 10
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Bangladesh’s economic resurgence over the last decade took a battering in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; the country had been on track to move off the United Nation’s Least Developed Countries list by 2026, however the crisis may have pushed that back a few years; the telecommunications sector experienced a set of challenges, with mobile data usage exploding at the same time as many consumers were being forced to curb their spending in other areas; the demand on data grew so large and so rapidly that Bangladesh came close to running out of bandwidth; at the start of 2020, Bangladesh was consuming around 900Gb/s on average, well below the 2,642GB/s capacity of its submarine cables; this ballooned to over 2,300Gb/s during the pandemic; Bangladesh was looking forward to adding 7,200Gb/s capacity when the SEA-ME-WE-6 submarine cable goes into service in mid-2024, but the sudden upsurge in downloads is forcing state-run company Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) to scramble to find alternatives before the country’s internet supply is maxed out; the increased demand during the Covid-19 crisis also put pressure on the country’s existing mobile networks, already under strain as a result of strong growth in the mobile broadband market coupled with significant untapped potential for mobile services in general across the country; this led to premium prices being paid at auction for spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands, most of which will be used to enhance and expand LTE services; a 5G spectrum auction had been anticipated for 2020, but low interest from the MNOs in going down that path when there are still so many areas waiting for LTE access means that 5G will likely be deferred until 2023 (2021)
domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 107 per 100 persons; mobile subscriber growth is anticipated over the next five years to 2023 (2021)
international: country code - 880; landing points for the SeaMeWe-4 and SeaMeWe-5 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2019)
Broadcast media
state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) broadcasts throughout the country. Some channels, such as BTV World, operate via satellite. The government also owns a medium wave radio channel and some private FM radio broadcast news channels. Of the 41 Bangladesh approved TV stations, 26 are currently being used to broadcast. Of those, 23 operate under private management via cable distribution. Collectively, TV channels can reach more than 50 million people across the country.
Internet users
total: 66.3 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 39% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 15
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 10,052,819 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 19
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 30
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,984,155 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 63.82 million (2018) mt-km
Heliports
35 (2024)
Pipelines
2,950 km gas (2013)
Railways
total: 2,460 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
broad gauge: 659 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge
comparison ranking: total 66
Waterways
8,370 km (2011) (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season)
comparison ranking: 18
Merchant marine
total: 558 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 68, container ship 10, general cargo 170, oil tanker 162, other 148
comparison ranking: total 40
Ports
total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Chittagong, Mongla
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: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansars, Village Defense Party (VDP) (2024)
note 1: the Armed Forces of Bangladesh are jointly administered by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Armed Forces Division (AFD), both under the Prime Minister's Office; the AFD has ministerial status and parallel functions with MOD; the AFD is a joint coordinating headquarters for the three services and also functions as a joint command center during wartime; to coordinate policy, the prime minister and the president are advised by a six-member board, which includes the three service chiefs of staff, the principal staff officer of the AFD, and the military secretaries to the prime minister and president
note 2: the RAB, Ansars, and VDP are paramilitary organizations for internal security; the RAB is a joint task force founded in 2004 and composed of members of the police, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guards seconded to the RAB from their respective units; its mandate includes internal security, intelligence gathering related to criminal activities, and government-directed investigations
Military expenditures
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 126
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 160,000 total active personnel (130,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force) (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
much of the military's inventory is comprised of Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment; in recent years, China has been the leading provider of arms to Bangladesh (2023)
Military service age and obligation
16-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi nationality and 10th grade education required; officers: 17-21 years of age, Bangladeshi nationality, and 12th grade education required (2023)
Military deployments
approximately 1,400 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,650 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO; plus about 200 police); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 100 Mali (MINUSMA; plus about 150 police); 1,600 South Sudan (UNMISS); 500 Sudan (UNISFA) (2024)
note: as of early 2024, Bangladesh had nearly 6,000 total military and police personnel deployed on UN missions
Military - note
the military’s primary responsibility is external defense but it also has a domestic security role and has traditionally been a significant player in the country’s politics, as well as its economy; following widespread domestic protests in September 2024, the Army was given law enforcement powers for 60 days, including making arrests, conducting searches, and dispersing unlawful assemblies; 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; it has commercial business interests in such areas as banking, food, hotels, manufacturing, real estate, and shipbuilding, and manages government infrastructure and construction projects (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO; established 1980) (2024)
Space program overview
has a modest space program focused on designing, building, and operating satellites, particularly those with remote sensing (RS) capabilities; researching a variety of other space-related capabilities and technologies; has a government-owned company for acquiring and operating satellites (Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited or BSCL, established in 2017); has relations with several foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of France, Japan, Russia, and the US (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in Bangladesh (ISB); al-Qa'ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 976,507 (Burma) (2024)
IDPs: 427,000 (conflict, development, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2022)
stateless persons: 929,606 (2022)
Illicit drugs
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries; does not manufacture precursor chemicals with the exception of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and toluene