Bangladesh — Country profile

South Asia

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.

Economy

Budget: revenues:
$39.849 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures:
$51.558 billion (2021 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Exports: Exports 2022:
$60.066 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023:
$58.885 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024:
$53.848 billion (2024 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports: Imports 2022:
$93.635 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023:
$73.172 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024:
$74.96 billion (2024 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Industries: cotton, textiles and clothing, jute, tea, paper, cement, fertilizer, sugar, light engineering
Labor force: 77.355 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Public debt: Public debt 2016:
33.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2022:
4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023:
5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024:
6% of GDP (2024 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Exchange rates: Currency:
taka (BDT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020:
84.871 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021:
85.084 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022:
91.745 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023:
106.309 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024:
115.604 (2024 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023:
$58.02 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
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
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022:
4.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023:
4.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024:
4.7% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Exports - partners: USA 16%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Poland 6% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners: China 34%, India 17%, Indonesia 5%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022:
$7,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023:
$8,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024:
$8,500 (2024 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022:
7.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023:
5.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024:
4.2% (2024 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Agricultural products: rice, milk, potatoes, maize, sugarcane, onions, jute, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, tropical fruits (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Exports - commodities: garments, footwear, fabric, textiles, trunks and cases (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cotton fabric, natural gas, cotton, fabric (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Current account balance: Current account balance 2022:
-$14.438 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023:
$4.388 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024:
$1.87 billion (2024 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues: 7.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
GDP (official exchange rate): $450.119 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:
70.1% (2024 est.)
government consumption:
5.9% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories:
0% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
30.7% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services:
10.5% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-16.3% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Population below poverty line: 18.7% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Average household expenditures: on food:
52.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco:
2.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022:
7.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023:
9.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024:
10.5% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022:
$1.336 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023:
$1.413 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024:
$1.473 trillion (2024 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male:
13.7% (2024 est.)
total:
11.5% (2024 est.)
female:
9.2% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022:
$33.747 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023:
$21.86 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024:
$21.395 billion (2024 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry:
34.1% (2024 est.)
services:
51.4% (2024 est.)
agriculture:
11.2% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
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
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022:
33.4 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Energy

Coal: imports:
13.305 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production:
767,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption:
14.05 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves:
3.26 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production:
13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves:
28 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption:
263,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity: imports:
9.407 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption:
107.285 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity:
22.699 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses:
8.279 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas: imports:
6.785 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production:
22.334 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption:
29.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves:
126.293 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors under construction:
2 (2025)
Electricity access: electrification - rural areas:
99.3%
electrification - urban areas:
100%
electrification - total population:
99.4% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023:
11.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: solar:
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels:
98.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity:
0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

More about Bangladesh

People and Society

Literacy: male:
81.4% (2022 est.)
female:
76.5% (2022 est.)
total population:
79% (2022 est.)
Languages: 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.)
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
total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over:
0.87 male(s)/female
Birth rate: 19.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age: male:
28.7 years
total:
27.8 years (2025 est.)
female:
30.4 years
Population: male:
83,908,720
total:
174,370,536 (2025 est.)
female:
90,461,816
Nationality: noun:
Bangladeshi(s)
adjective:
Bangladeshi
Tobacco use: male:
47.6% (2025 est.)
total:
29.7% (2025 est.)
female:
12.5% (2025 est.)
Urbanization: urban population:
40.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
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
Child marriage: women married by age 15:
15.5% (2019)
women married by age 18:
51.4% (2019)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:
54.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio:
43.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio:
9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:
11.1 (2025 est.)
Physician density: 0.72 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP):
2.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget):
1.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: rural:
rural: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total:
total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban:
urban: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural:
rural: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total:
total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban:
urban: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP):
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget):
11.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate: male:
31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total:
22 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female:
26.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.1 (2025 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: male:
73.1 years
female:
77.5 years
total population:
75.2 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 115 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: rural:
rural: 81.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total:
total: 84.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban:
urban: 90.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural:
rural: 18.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total:
total: 15.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban:
urban: 9.7% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita: beer:
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine:
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total:
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits:
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols:
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 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)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.6% (2016)
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
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 80.6% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male:
11 years (2023 est.)
total:
11 years (2023 est.)
female:
12 years (2023 est.)

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
Capital: name:
Dhaka
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
time difference:
UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates:
23 43 N, 90 24 E
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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
Constitution: history:
previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (pre-independence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986
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
Country name: former:
East Bengal, East Pakistan
etymology:
the name is a compound of the Bengali words Bangla (Bengali) and desh (country)
local long form:
Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
local short form:
Bangladesh
conventional long form:
People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form:
Bangladesh
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
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 type: parliamentary republic
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)
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
judge selection and term of office:
chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
Executive branch: cabinet:
Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president
chief of state:
President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi (since 24 April 2023)
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
head of government:
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad YUNUS (since 8 August 2024)
most recent election date:
13 February 2023
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
expected date of next election:
2028
note: On August 5, 2024, former prime minister Sheikh HASINA fled the country as protesters stormed her official residence, and army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government would be formed to run Bangladesh; the President dissolved Parliament on 6 August and swore in Nobel laureate Muhammad YUNUS as interim prime minister on 8 August
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
National color(s): green, red
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)
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
Legislative branch: expected date of next election:
February 2026
note: the Parliament (House of the Nation) was dissolved on 6 August 2024 by President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wazed on 5 August 2024; new national elections will be held in February 2026
National anthem(s): title:
"Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
history:
adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem
lyrics/music:
Rabindranath TAGORE
National symbol(s): Bengal tiger, water lily
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
Administrative divisions: 8 divisions; Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX:
[1] (202) 244-2771
chancery:
3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-0183
chief of mission:
Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful ISLAM (since 5 September 2025)
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles, Miami, New York
email address and website:

mission.washington@mofa.gov.bd

Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Washington, DC (mofa.gov.bd)
Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX:
[880] (2) 5566-2907
embassy:
Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka - 1212
telephone:
[880] (2) 5566-2000
mailing address:
6120 Dhaka Place, Washington DC 20521-6120
chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate Brent CHRISTENSEN (since 12 January 2026)
email address and website:

DhakaACS@state.gov

https://bd.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Communications

Internet users: percent of population:
45% (2023 est.)
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
Internet country code: .bd
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions:
285,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
(2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions:
188 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
108 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total:
12.9 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
8 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Ports: large:
0
small:
1
medium:
1
key ports:
Chittagong, Mongla
very small:
0
total ports:
2 (2024)
ports with oil terminals:
0
Airports: 17 (2025)
Railways: total:
2,460 km (2014)
broad gauge:
659 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge:
1,801 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Heliports: 36 (2025)
Merchant marine: total:
558 (2023)
by type:
bulk carrier 68, container ship 10, general cargo 170, oil tanker 162, other 148
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S2

Geography

Area: land:
130,170 sq km
water:
18,290 sq km
total :
148,460 sq km
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
Land use: other:
13.3% (2023 est.)
forest:
14.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land:
72.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land:
arable land: 60.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops:
permanent crops: 7.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture:
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Coastline: 580 km
Elevation: lowest point:
Bay of Bengal 0 m
highest point:
Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
mean elevation:
85 m
Irrigated land: 83,690 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Map references: Asia
Land boundaries: total:
4,413 km
border countries:
Burma 271 km; India 4,142 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone:
18 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
continental shelf:
to the outer limits of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
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
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage:
Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
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

Environment

Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Land use: other:
13.3% (2023 est.)
forest:
14.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land:
72.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land:
arable land: 60.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops:
permanent crops: 7.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture:
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population:
40.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions: other:
38.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste:
693 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy:
544 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture:
2,391.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually:
14.778 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
15.7% (2022 est.)
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
Total water withdrawal: municipal:
3.6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial:
770 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural:
31.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions:
125.956 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas:
56.906 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke:
26.967 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids:
42.083 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 42.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.227 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

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 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 expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020:
1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021:
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022:
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023:
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024:
0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
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)
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

note 2: the RAB, Ansars, and VDP are paramilitary organizations for internal security; the RAB is a joint task force comprised of Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guards personnel seconded to the RAB; its mandate includes internal security, intelligence gathering related to criminal activities, and government-directed investigations
Military service age and obligation: varies by service, but generally 17-23 for voluntary military service; length of service also varies (2025)
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 service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 170,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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 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)
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

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs:
756,743 (2024 est.)
refugees:
1,005,637 (2024 est.)
stateless persons:
1,005,520 (2024 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain).

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