Country Profile: Bangladesh

Bangladesh, located in Southern Asia, is positioned between the Bay of Bengal, India, and Burma. With a population of over 174 million, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The nation has a rapidly growing economy, primarily driven by its textile industry, and has made significant strides in poverty reduction. Governed as a parliamentary republic, Bangladesh is noted for its democratic evolution post-independence and ongoing development challenges.

Geography

Bangladesh is characterized by its vast delta region formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers. The country covers an area of 148,460 sq km, with most of its terrain consisting of flat alluvial plains, while the southeastern region is more hilly. It experiences a tropical climate, with mild winters and a hot humid summer, and is prone to natural hazards such as flooding and cyclones.

Area: 148,460 sq km
Land Boundaries: Total of 4,413 km (India: 4,142 km, Burma: 271 km)
Coastline: 580 km
Elevation Range: Highest point is 1,060 m at Mowdok Taung.

People and Society

Bangladesh has a diverse demographic with over 174 million people and a median age of 27.8 years. The vast majority of the population identify as Bengali, with 91% practicing Islam and 8% Hinduism. The country has a literacy rate of 79% and continues to improve its urban living conditions, with 40.5% of the population residing in urban areas.

Population (2025 est.): 174,370,536
Urbanization Rate (2023): 40.5%
Birth Rate (2025): 19.45 births/1,000 population
Life Expectancy (2024): 75.2 years

Economy

Bangladesh boasts one of the fastest-growing emerging market economies, with an average growth rate of about 6.25% over the last two decades. The economy is largely driven by the textile sector, but declining remittances and export challenges led to a request for an IMF loan in 2022. The GDP per capita is estimated at $8,500 (2024).

Real GDP (PPP, 2024): $1.473 trillion
GDP Growth Rate (2023): 5.8%
Unemployment Rate (2024): 4.7%
Population Below Poverty Line (2022): 18.7%

Government

Bangladesh operates as a parliamentary republic, with the President as the head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government. The nation has gone through significant political changes since its independence in 1971, including military coups and a return to democratic rule in 2008. The current President is Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppi, and the government continues to evolve amidst challenges.

Capital: Dhaka
Legal System: Common law with elements of Islamic law for personal matters.
Suffrage: Universal at age 18.
Independence: Achieved on December 16, 1971.

Military and Security

The Armed Forces of Bangladesh include the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with approximately 170,000 active personnel. The military plays a dual role in external defense and domestic security, particularly in response to civil unrest. The country has a history of involvement in international peacekeeping missions.

Military Expenditures (2024): 0.9% of GDP
Total Military Personnel: Approximately 170,000
Military Deployments (2024): Around 1,400 in peacekeeping operations.

Energy

Electricity access in Bangladesh is nearly universal at 99.4%, with the majority of its power generated from fossil fuels. The country is working to expand its energy portfolio with plans for nuclear energy and increased renewable sources.

Installed Electricity Capacity (2023): 22.699 million kW
Electricity Consumption (2023): 107.285 billion kWh
Natural Gas Production (2023): 22.334 billion cubic meters

Environment

Environmental challenges in Bangladesh include flooding, water pollution, and deforestation, exacerbated by its dense population and natural disasters. The country actively participates in various international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

Total Water Resources: 1.227 trillion cubic meters
Urban Population with Access to Improved Water Sources (2022): 98.3%
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 125.956 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023)

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure in Bangladesh encompasses a variety of options, including extensive air, rail, and maritime networks. The country has 17 airports and 2 major ports that facilitate both domestic and international travel and trade.

Total Railways: 2,460 km
Merchant Marine Fleet: 558 vessels
Number of Airports (2025): 17

Communications

The communication infrastructure is expanding, with 97 million mobile cellular subscriptions and growing internet access. About 45% of the population had internet access as of 2023.

Total Mobile Subscriptions (2024): 188 million
Broadband Subscriptions (2023): 12.9 million
Internet Users (2023): 45% of population

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	174,370,536 (2025 est.)
Area	148,460 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$1.473 trillion (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	4.7% (2024 est.)
Birth Rate	19.45 births/1,000	(2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	75.2 years (2024 est.)
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	11.472 million Btu/person	(2023 est.)