Bangladesh

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 (2009)

Internet country code

.bd

Internet users

total: 28,499,324 | percent of population: 18.2% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

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 less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 80 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 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 772,369 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 126,391,269 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 81 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $22.61 billion | expenditures: $33.72 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Central bank discount rate

5% (30 October 2016) | 5% (30 October 2015) | country comparison to the world: 80

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.41% (31 December 2016 est.) | 11.71% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Current account balance

$1.381 billion (2016 est.) | $2.58 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Debt - external

$41.85 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $38.64 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.1 (2010) | 33.6 (1996) | country comparison to the world: 113

Economy - overview

Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 1996 despite prolonged periods of political instability, poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the services 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, accounted for more than 80% of total exports and surpassed $25 billion in 2016. The sector continues to grow, despite a series of high-profile factory accidents that have killed more than 1,000 workers and crippling strikes, including a nationwide transportation blockade orchestrated by the political opposition during the first several months of 2015. Steady export growth in the garment sector combined with remittances from overseas Bangladeshis - which totaled about $15 billion and 8% of GDP in 2015 - are key contributors to Bangladesh's sustained economic growth and rising foreign exchange reserves.

Exchange rates

taka (BDT) per US dollar - | 78.468 (2016 est.) | 78.468 (2015 est.) | 77.947 (2014 est.) | 77.614 (2013 est.) | 81.86 (2012 est.)

Exports

$34.14 billion (2016 est.) | $31.74 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Exports - commodities

garments, knitwear, agricultural products, frozen food (fish and seafood), jute and jute goods, leather

Exports - partners

US 13.1%, Germany 12.7%, UK 8.6%, France 5.1%, Spain 5% (2016)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$228.4 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$629.7 billion (2016 est.) | $580.1 billion (2015 est.) | $537.3 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 35

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 69.1% | government consumption: 5.9% | investment in fixed capital: 29.7% | investment in inventories: 3% | exports of goods and services: 16.7% | imports of goods and services: -21.3% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 14.8% | industry: 28.8% | services: 56.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,900 (2016 est.) | $3,700 (2015 est.) | $3,500 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 178

GDP - real growth rate

7.2% (2016 est.) | 6.8% (2015 est.) | 6.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Gross national saving

30.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 30.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 29.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4% | highest 10%: 27% (2010 est.)

Imports

$40.37 billion (2016 est.) | $37.86 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Imports - commodities

cotton, machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 24.3%, India 13.4%, Singapore 5.1%, Japan 4.5% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

11.1% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.7% (2016 est.) | 6.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Labor force

72.05 million | note: extensive migration of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 47% | industry: 13% | services: 40% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$50.98 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $41.73 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $23.55 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Population below poverty line

31.5% (2010 est.)

Public debt

26.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 26.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$32.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $27.49 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Stock of broad money

$121.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $106.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$228.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $188 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$13.24 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $12.91 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Stock of domestic credit

$133.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $115.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Stock of narrow money

$25.94 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $21.44 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Taxes and other revenues

9.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2016 est.) | 4.1% (2015 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 | country comparison to the world: 53

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

66 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Crude oil - exports

313 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Crude oil - imports

26,160 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Crude oil - production

4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Crude oil - proved reserves

28 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 84

Electricity - consumption

48.98 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity - installed generating capacity

11.7 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity - production

55.5 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity access

population without electricity: 60,300,000 | electrification - total population: 60% | electrification - urban areas: 90% | electrification - rural areas: 49% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

39.88 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - production

26.86 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Natural gas - proved reserves

205.4 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 45

Refined petroleum products - consumption

107,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Refined petroleum products - exports

1,802 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Refined petroleum products - imports

85,990 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Refined petroleum products - production

25,720 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Area

total: 148,460 sq km | land: 130,170 sq km | water: 18,290 sq km | country comparison to the world: 95

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa

Climate

tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Coastline

580 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 85 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m | highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

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

Geographic coordinates

24 00 N, 90 00 E

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

Irrigated land

53,000 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 4,413 km | border countries (2): Burma 271 km, India 4,142 km

Land use

agricultural land: 70.1% | arable land 59%; permanent crops 6.5%; permanent pasture 4.6% | forest: 11.1% | other: 18.8% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Map references

Asia

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

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Terrain

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Administrative divisions

8 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet

Capital

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

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 | amendments: proposed by the House of the Nation; approval requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the House membership, assented to by the president of the republic, and approved in a referendum by a majority of voters; amended many times, last in 2014 (2017)

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"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marcia BERNICAT (since 4 February 2015) | embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 | mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000 | telephone: [880] (2) 5566-2000 | FAX: [880] (2) 5566-2915

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohammad ZIAUDDIN (since 18 September 2014) | chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183 | FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771 | consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

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 indirectly elected by the National Parliament and sworn in 24 April 2013 | head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 6 January 2009) | 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 22 April 2013 (next to be held by 2018); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament | election results: President Abdul HAMID (AL) elected by the National Parliament unopposed; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister as leader of the majority AL party

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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: 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

Legal system

mixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law

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 popular vote; 50 members - reserved for women only - indirectly elected by the elected members by proportional representation vote using the single transferable vote method; all members serve 5-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 79.1%, JP (Ershad) 11.3%, WP 2.1%, JSD 1.8%, other 1%, independent 4.8%; seats by party - AL 234, JP 34, WP 6, JSD 5, other 5, independent 15; 1 seat repolled

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 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 symbol(s)

Bengal tiger, water lily; national colors: green, red

Political parties and leaders

Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA] | Bangladesh Nationalist Front or BNF [Abdul Kalam AZADI] | Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA] | Bangladesh Tariqat Federation or BTF [Syed Nozibul Bashar MAIZBHANDARI] | Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD] | Jatiya Party or JP (Manju faction) [Anwar Hossain MANJU] | Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED] | National Socialist Party or JSD [KHALEQUZZAMAN] | Workers Party or WP [Rashed Khan MENON]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ain o Salish Kendro (Centre for Law and Mediation) or ASK (legal aid and civil rights) | Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity or BCWS | Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee or BRAC [Sir Fasel Hasan ABED] | Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry or FBCCI [Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin)] | Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs or MoWCA [Meher Afroze CHUMKI] (advocacy group to end gender-based violence) | Odikhar [Dr. C.R. ABRAR (human rights group) | other: associations of madrassa teachers; business associations, including those intended to promote international trade; development and advocacy NGOs associated with the Grameen Bank; environmentalists; Islamist groups; labor rights advocacy groups; NGOs focused on poverty alleviation, and international trade; religious leaders; tribal groups and advocacy organizations; union leaders

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Muslim conversions and settlement in the region now referred to as Bangladesh 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, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings 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 post-independence AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections occurred in 1991. The BNP and AL alternated in power between 1991 and 2013, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the incumbent AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted, extending HASINA's term as prime minister. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has reduced the poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third, achieved Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, and made great progress in food security since independence. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% over the last two decades and the country reached World Bank lower-middle income status in 2015.

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh remain a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2016, the number of attacks against commercial vessels decreased to three over 11 such incidents in 2015

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

1.44% of GDP (2016) | 1.46% of GDP (2015) | 1.36% of GDP (2014) | 1.33% of GDP (2013) | 1.41% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 86

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.76% (male 22,283,780/female 21,521,977) | 15-24 years: 19.36% (male 15,309,543/female 15,241,971) | 25-54 years: 39.73% (male 30,094,014/female 32,614,286) | 55-64 years: 6.93% (male 5,405,900/female 5,527,330) | 65 years and over: 6.23% (male 4,666,033/female 5,161,744) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

18.8 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

32.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 5

Contraceptive prevalence rate

62.3% (2014)

Death rate

5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 52.6 | youth dependency ratio: 44.9 | elderly dependency ratio: 7.7 | potential support ratio: 13 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 86.5% of population | rural: 87% of population | total: 86.9% of population | urban: 13.5% of population | rural: 13% of population | total: 13.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2015) | country comparison to the world: 161

Ethnic groups

Bengali at least 98%, ethnic groups 1.1% | note: Bangladesh's government recognizes 27 ethnic groups under the 2010 Cultural Institution for Small Anthropological Groups Act; other sources estimate there are about 75 ethnic groups; critics of the 2011 census claim that it underestimates the size of Bangladesh's ethnic population (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

<.01% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Health expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 183

Hospital bed density

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 31.7 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 34 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 29.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Languages

Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.4 years | male: 71.3 years | female: 75.6 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 72.8% | male: 75.6% | female: 69.9% (2016 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high | 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 disease: leptospirosis | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

Major urban areas - population

DHAKA (capital) 17.598 million; Chittagong 4.539 million; Khulna 1.022 million; Rajshahi 844,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

176 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Median age

total: 26.7 years | male: 26 years | female: 27.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Mother's mean age at first birth

18.5 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bangladeshi(s) | adjective: Bangladeshi

Net migration rate

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.6% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 191

Physicians density

0.39 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

157,826,578 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8

Population growth rate

1.04% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Religions

Muslim 89.1%, Hindu 10%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist, Christian) (2013 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 57.7% of population | rural: 62.1% of population | total: 60.6% of population | urban: 42.3% of population | rural: 37.9% of population | total: 39.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years | male: 10 years | female: 10 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.4% | male: 9.5% | female: 9.4% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Urbanization

urban population: 35.8% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

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 32,000 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

Illicit drugs

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 891,200 (Burma) (2017) (includes an estimated 615,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled conflict since 25 August 2017) | IDPs: 426,000 (conflict, development, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2016)

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 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

S2 (2016)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 62 | 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) | country comparison to the world: 65

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 6 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 30 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,906,799 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 182,692,553 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 2,950 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

total: 2,460 km | broad gauge: 659 km 1.676-m gauge | narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 66

Roadways

total: 21,269 km | paved: 2,021 km | unpaved: 19,248 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 106

Waterways

8,370 km (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 16