Historical chart and dataset showing total population for Bangladesh by year from 1950 to 2025.

Bangladesh: Buddhists as percent of the total population: The latest value from 2013 is 0.6 percent, unchanged from 0.6 percent in 2012. In comparison, the world average is 36.4 percent, based on data from 21 countries. Historically, the average for Bangladesh from 1971 to 2013 is 0.6 percent. The minimum value, 0.6 percent, was reached in 1971 while the maximum of 0.6 percent was recorded in 1971.

The population density in Bangladesh reached its highest in 2020, amounting to approximately 1.27 thousand people per square kilometer. The South Asian country was the tenth most densely populated country in the world in 2019. Within the Asia Pacific region, Bangladesh’s population density was only exceeded by Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Maldives. Overall, Asia had the highest population density in the world in 2018.

Population growth in Bangladesh

In 1971, Bangladesh gained its independence from Pakistan. Bangladesh’s birth rate and mortality rate had declined significantly in the past years with a life expectancy of 72.59 years in 2019. In general, the population in Bangladesh had been growing at a slow pace, slightly fluctuating around an annual rate of one percent. This growth was forecasted to continue, although it was estimated to halve by 2040. As of today, Dhaka is the largest city in Bangladesh.

Population density explained

According to the source, “population density is the mid-year population divided by land area in square kilometers.” Further, “population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents.” Bangladesh’s population reached an estimated number of 164.69 million inhabitants in 2020. In 2018, the country’s land area amounted 130.2 thousand square kilometers.

Bangladesh BD: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data was reported at 9.873 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.988 % for 2022. Bangladesh BD: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 8.820 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.139 % in 2003 and a record low of 7.954 % in 1971. Bangladesh BD: Population: Female: Ages 20-24: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 20 to 24 as a percentage of the total female population.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;;

Bangladesh BD: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data was reported at 2.803 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.741 % for 2022. Bangladesh BD: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.944 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.861 % in 2018 and a record low of 1.858 % in 1971. Bangladesh BD: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 60 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;;

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Dhaka, Bangladesh metro area from 1950 to 2025.

In 1800, the population of the area of modern-day Pakistan was estimated to be just over 13 million. Population growth in the 19th century would be gradual in the region, rising to just 19 million at the turn of the century. In the early 1800s, the British Empire slowly consolidated power in the region, eventually controlling the region of Pakistan from the mid-19th century onwards, as part of the British Raj. From the 1930s on, the population's growth rate would increase as improvements in healthcare (particularly vaccination) and sanitation would lead to lower infant mortality rates and higher life expectancy. Independence In 1947, the Muslim-majority country of Pakistan gained independence from Britain, and split from the Hindu-majority country of India. In the next few years, upwards of ten million people migrated between the two nations, during a period that was blemished by widespread atrocities on both sides. Throughout this time, the region of Bangladesh was also a part Pakistan (as it also had a Muslim majority), known as East Pakistan; internal disputes between the two regions were persistent for over two decades, until 1971, when a short but bloody civil war resulted in Bangladesh's independence. Political disputes between Pakistan and India also created tension in the first few decades of independence, even boiling over into some relatively small-scale conflicts, although there was some economic progress and improvements in quality of life for Pakistan's citizens. The late 20th century was also characterized by several attempts to become democratic, but with intermittent periods of military rule. Between independence and the end of the century, Pakistan's population had grown more than four times in total. Pakistan today Since 2008, Pakistan has been a functioning democracy, with an emerging economy and increasing international prominence. Despite the emergence of a successful middle-class, this is prosperity is not reflected in all areas of the population as almost a quarter still live in poverty, and Pakistan ranks in the bottom 20% of countries according to the Human Development Index. In 2020, Pakistan is thought to have a total population of over 220 million people, making it the fifth-most populous country in the world.

Bangladesh BD: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 5.010 Ratio in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.037 Ratio for 2022. Bangladesh BD: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 11.602 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.876 Ratio in 1971 and a record low of 5.010 Ratio in 2023. Bangladesh BD: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude death rate indicates the number of deaths occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics; (4) United Nations Statistics Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years).;Weighted average;

Bangladesh fertility rate for 2025 is 1.89, a 1.1% decline from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Bangladesh fertility rate for 2024 was <strong>1.91</strong>, a <strong>11.79% decline</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>Bangladesh fertility rate for 2023 was <strong>2.16</strong>, a <strong>0.73% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Bangladesh fertility rate for 2022 was <strong>2.18</strong>, a <strong>0.28% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.

BD: Survival To Age 65: Male: % of Cohort data was reported at 75.828 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 70.643 % for 2021. BD: Survival To Age 65: Male: % of Cohort data is updated yearly, averaging 52.386 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2022, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75.828 % in 2022 and a record low of 5.037 % in 1971. BD: Survival To Age 65: Male: % of Cohort data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Survival to age 65 refers to the percentage of a cohort of newborn infants that would survive to age 65, if subject to age specific mortality rates of the specified year.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Weighted average;

As of July 2024, 70.4 percent of the Malaysian population were classified as Bumiputera, 22.4 percent were classified as ethnic Chinese, and 6.5 percent as ethnic Indians. Those who do not fall under these three main ethnic groups are classified as ‘Other’. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with three main ethnicities and language groups. Who are Malaysia’s Bumiputera? Bumiputera, meaning sons of the soil, is a term used to categorize the Malays, as well as the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, also known as orang asli, and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak. As of July 2023, the Bumiputera share of the population in Sabah was 89 percent, while that in Sarawak was 76.1 percent. Thus, the incorporation of the states of Sabah and Sarawak during the formation of Malaysia ensured that the ethnic Malays were able to maintain a majority share of the Malaysian population. Bumiputera privileges and ethnic-based politics The rights and privileges of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are enshrined in Article 153 of Malaysia’s constitution. This translated, in practice, to a policy of affirmative action to improve the economic situation of this particular group, through the New Economic Policy introduced in 1971. 50 years on, it is questionable whether the policy has achieved its aim. Bumiputeras still lag behind the other ethnic two major groups in terms of monthly household income. However, re-thinking this policy will certainly be met by opposition from those who have benefitted from it.

Bangladesh BD: Net Migration data was reported at -473,362.000 Person in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of -549,918.000 Person for 2023. Bangladesh BD: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging -395,408.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2024, with 65 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 224,369.000 Person in 1971 and a record low of -1,158,420.000 Person in 2008. Bangladesh BD: Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Sum;

Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data was reported at 76.373 Year in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 76.051 Year for 2022. Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 55.989 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 76.373 Year in 2023 and a record low of 32.715 Year in 1971. Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics.;Weighted average;

Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data was reported at 74.672 Year in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.265 Year for 2022. Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 56.207 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 74.672 Year in 2023 and a record low of 26.522 Year in 1971. Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; or derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics.;Weighted average;

Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data was reported at 73.032 Year in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 72.566 Year for 2022. Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 56.410 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 73.032 Year in 2023 and a record low of 22.803 Year in 1971. Bangladesh BD: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics.;Weighted average;