Country Guide

Bangladesh Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

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:
total:143,998 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 95
land:130,168 sq km
water:13,830 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Iowa


Land boundaries:
total:4,413 km
border countries: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:up 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 extremes:
lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Keokradong 1,230 m


    Natural resources:
natural gas, arable land, timber, coal


Land use:
arable land:52.97%
permanent crops:6.25%
other:40.78% (2011)


Irrigated land:
50,500 sq km (2008)


Total renewable water resources:
1,227 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
1,227 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season


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; severe overpopulation


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


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

Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective:Bangladeshi


Ethnic groups:
Bengali 98%, other 2% (includes tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims) (1998)


Languages:
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English


Religions:
Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9% (2004)


Population:
166,280,712 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 9


Age structure:
0-14 years:32.3% (male 27,268,560/female 26,468,883)
15-24 years:18.8% (male 14,637,526/female 16,630,766)
25-54 years:38% (male 29,853,531/female 33,266,733)
55-64 years:5.9% (male 4,964,130/female 4,870,447)
65 years and over:5% (male 4,082,544/female 4,237,592) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:52.2 %
youth dependency ratio:44.9 %
elderly dependency ratio:7.3 %
potential support ratio:13.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:24.3 years
male:23.8 years
female:24.8 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.6% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 77


Birth rate:
21.61 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 76


Death rate:
5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 174


Net migration rate:
-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 110


Urbanization:
urban population:28.4% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.96% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
DHAKA (capital) 15.391 million; Chittagong 5.239 million; Khulna 1.781 million; Rajshahi 932,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.88 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.9 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.96 male(s)/female
total population:0.95 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
18.1


Maternal mortality rate:
240 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:45.67 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 45
male:48.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female:43.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:70.65 yearscountry comparison to the world: 149
male:68.75 years
female:72.63 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.45 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 83


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
61.2% (2011/12)


Health expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.36 physicians/1,000 population (2011)


Hospital bed density:
0.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 85.8% of population
rural: 84.4% of population
total: 84.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14.2% of population
rural: 15.6% of population
total: 15.2% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 55.2% of population
rural: 57.8% of population
total: 57% of population
unimproved:
urban: 44.8% of population
rural: 42.2% of population
total: 43% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 126


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,000 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 113


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
400 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 97


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2008)country comparison to the world: 190


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
36.8% (2011)country comparison to the world: 5


Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2009)country comparison to the world: 161

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:57.7%
male:62%
female:53.4% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:10 years
male:10 years
female:10 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:9.3%country comparison to the world: 114
male:8%
female:13.6% (2005)

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


Government type:
parliamentary democracy


Capital:
name:Dhaka
geographic coordinates:23 43 N, 90 24 E
time difference:UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
7 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet


Independence:
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day; note - March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December, known as Victory Day, memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh


Constitution:
previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986; amended many times, last in 2011 (2011)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Abdul HAMID (since 24 April 2013); note - Abdul HAMID served as acting president following the death of Zillur RAHMAN in March 2013; HAMID was subsequently elected by the National Parliament and was sworn in 24 April 2013
head of government:Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 6 January 2009; reelected 5 January 2014)
cabinet:Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president
elections:president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 29 April 2013 (next must be held by 2018)
election results:President Abdul HAMID was elected by the National Parliament unopposed


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats (45 reserved for women) elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies; members serve five-year terms
elections:last held on 5 January 2014 (next to be held by January 2019); note - the 5 January 2014 poll was marred by widespread violence, boycotts, general strikes, and low voter turnout
election results:percent of vote by party - AL-led Alliance 79%, JP 34%; seats by party - AL 234, JP 34, other 32


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; special courts/tribunals; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court


    Political parties and leaders:
Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]
Communist Party of Bangladesh or CPB [Manjurul A. KHAN]
Bangladesh Nationalist Front or BNF [Abdul Kalam AZADI]
Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA]
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh or BDB [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY]
Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [multiple leaders]
Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED]
National Socialist Party or JSD [KHALEQUZZAMAN]
Tarikat Foundation [Syed Nozibul Bashar MAIZBHANDARI]
Workers Party or WP [Rashed Khan MENON]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Advocacy to End Gender-based Violence through the MoWCA (Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs)


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, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Akramul QADER (since 1 September 2009)
chancery:3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 244-0183
FAX:[1] (202) 244-7830/2771
consulate(s) general:Los Angeles, New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Dan W. MOZENA (since 11 November 2011)
embassy:Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address:G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone:[880] (2) 885-5500
FAX:[880] (2) 882-3744


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 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

Economy

Economy - overview:
Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 1996 despite political instability, poor infrastructure, corruption, insufficient power supplies, slow implementation of economic reforms, and the 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector with rice as the single-most-important product. Garment exports, the backbone of Bangladesh’s industrial sector and 80% of total exports, surpassed $21 billion last year, 18% of GDP. The sector has remained resilient in recent years amidst a series of factory accidents that have killed over 1,000 workers and crippling strikes that shut down virtually all economic activity. Steady garment export growth combined with remittances from overseas Bangladeshis, which totaled almost $15 billion and 13% of GDP IN 2013, are the largest contributors to Bangladesh’s current account surplus and record foreign exchange holdings.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$324.6 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$307 billion (2012 est.)
$289.2 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$140.2 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
5.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
6.1% (2012 est.)
6.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
$2,000 (2012 est.)
$1,900 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
28.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
27% of GDP (2012 est.)
25% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:75.3%
government consumption:5.7%
investment in fixed capital:25.6%
investment in inventories:3.6%
exports of goods and services:24.5%
imports of goods and services:-34.7%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:17.2%
industry:28.9%
services:53.9% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry


Industries:
jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas


Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Labor force:
78.62 million
country comparison to the world: 7
note:extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances were $10.9 billion in FY09/10 (2013 est.)



Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:47%
industry:13%
services:40% (2010 est.)


Unemployment rate:
5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
5% (2012 est.)
note:about 40% of the population is underemployed; many persons counted as employed work only a few hours a week and at low wages


Population below poverty line:
31.5% (2010 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:4%
highest 10%:27% (2010 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 106
33.6 (1996)


Budget:
revenues:$17.19 billion
expenditures:$24.02 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
12.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164


Public debt:
30.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
32.2% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
6.6% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
5% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
13% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$17.11 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$14.85 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$85.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$70.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$93.38 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$79.32 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (February 2014 est.)


Current account balance:
$3.541 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$1.754 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$26.91 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$24.92 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
garments, knitwear, agricultural products, frozen food (fish and seafood), jute and jute goods, leather


Exports - partners:
US 18.7%, Germany 15.8%, UK 10.2%, France 6.2%, Spain 4.6%, Canada 4.3%, Italy 4% (2013 est.)


Imports:
$32.94 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$32.29 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement


Imports - partners:
China 21.7%, India 16.3%, Malaysia 5.2%, Republic of Korea 4.5%, Japan 4.1% (2013 est.)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$12.75 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$30.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$29.53 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$7.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$6.64 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$110.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$108.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
taka (BDT) per US dollar -
78.19 (2013 est.)
81.863 (2012 est.)
69.649 (2010 est.)
69.04 (2009)
68.554 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
40.08 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58


Electricity - consumption:
38.89 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105


Electricity - imports:
500,000 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
10.26 million kW (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
97.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
2.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157


Crude oil - production:
5,452 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85


Crude oil - imports:
23,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
28 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82


Refined petroleum products - production:
22,710 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
108,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74


Refined petroleum products - exports:
3,288 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Refined petroleum products - imports:
84,490 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54


Natural gas - production:
20.11 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Natural gas - consumption:
19.91 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160


Natural gas - proved reserves:
183.7 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
58.81 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
962,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 78


Telephones - mobile cellular:
97.18 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 15


Telephone system:
general assessment:inadequate for a modern country; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities
domestic:fixed-line teledensity remains only about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 50 telephones per 100 persons
international:country code - 880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 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 (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) operates 1 terrestrial TV station, 3 radio networks, and about 10 local stations; 8 private satellite TV stations and 3 private radio stations also broadcasting; foreign satellite TV stations are gaining audience share in the large cities; several international radio broadcasters are available (2007)


Internet country code:
.bd


Internet hosts:
71,164 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 87


Internet users:
617,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 112

Transportation

Airports
18 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 139


Airports - with paved runways
total:16
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:5 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
under 914 m:
1 (2013)


Heliports
3 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 2,950 km (2013)


Railways
total:2,622 kmcountry comparison to the world: 65
broad gauge:946 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge:1,676 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:21,269 kmcountry comparison to the world: 106
paved:1,063 km
unpaved:20,206 km (2010)


    Waterways
8,370 km (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; the network is reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 17


Merchant marine
total:62country comparison to the world: 64
by type:bulk carrier 25, cargo 28, chemical tanker 1, container 5, petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned:8 (China 1, Singapore 7)
registered in other countries:10 (Comoros 1, Hong Kong 1, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Chittagong
river port(s):Mongla Port (Sela River)
container port(s):Chittagong (1,392,104) (2011)


Transportation - note
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh remain a risk for armed robbery against ships; attacks against vessels have decreased over the last few years in response to improved local security

Military

Military branches
Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army (Sena Bahini), Bangladesh Navy (Noh Bahini, BN), Bangladesh Air Force (Biman Bahini, BAF) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
16-19 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi birth and 10th grade education required; initial obligation 15 years (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:36,520,491 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:30,486,086
females age 16-49:35,616,093 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:1,606,963
female:1,689,442 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.35% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 76
1.44% of GDP (2011)
1.35% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 29,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan State, living as refugees in Cox's Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):231,125 (Burma) (2013)
IDPs:up to 280,000 (violence, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2013)



Illicit drugs
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook