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Quick answerBangladesh is a country in Southern Asia, with a population of 179,300,000 (2026). Its capital is Dhaka, its official language is Bengali, and its currency is the Bangladeshi taka (BDT). It covers 148,460 square kilometres (57,321 square miles), and its time zone is Asia/Dhaka.
Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, home to about 179 million people. Its capital and largest city is Dhaka, its official language is Bengali, and its currency is the taka.
Key facts
| Capital | Dhaka |
|---|---|
| Population | 179,300,000 (2026) · 179.3 million |
| Population density | 1377.4 people per km² (land area) |
| Area | 148,460 km² (57,321 sq mi) total · 130,170 km² (50,259 sq mi) land |
| Official language | Bengali (official) |
| Currency | Bangladeshi taka (BDT, ৳) |
| Time zone | Asia/Dhaka |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary republic |
| Coastline | 580 km |
| Highest point | Saka Haphong, 1,064 m |
| Life expectancy | 74.7 years (2023) |
| Calling code | +880 |
| Driving side | Left |
| Internet domain | .bd |
Overview
Bangladesh sits in South Asia, on the Bay of Bengal, with India to the north, west and east, and Myanmar to the south-east. It covers 148,460 square kilometres, making it one of the most densely populated countries on Earth, with about 1,165 people per square kilometre, and its 580 kilometres of coastline run along the Bay of Bengal. The country is almost entirely a low, flat river delta, formed by the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna rivers, and only about 12 per cent of it is hilly. The highest point is Saka Haphong, at 1,064 metres near the border with Myanmar.
About 179.3 million people lived in Bangladesh in 2026, making it the eighth-most populous country in the world. Around a third of Bangladeshis live in towns and cities, above all in Dhaka, the capital, with about 10.3 million people in the city and about 36.6 million in the metropolitan area, and Chittagong, the main port. Bengali is the official language, and life expectancy at birth was 74.7 years in 2023. The median age is 29.6 years.
Bangladesh was ruled by Hindu and Buddhist dynasties, then by the Bengal Sultanate and the Mughals, under whom Bengal became famous for its muslin textiles. After British rule and the partition of India in 1947, the region became East Pakistan, and it won independence as Bangladesh in 1971 after a nine-month liberation war. It is a unitary parliamentary republic.
Today Bangladesh has South Asia's second-largest economy, built on garment exports, remittances from workers abroad and farming, above all rice and jute. It is home to most of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and the last stronghold of the Bengal tiger, and to Cox's Bazar, the world's longest natural sea beach, stretching for about 120 kilometres along the Bay of Bengal.
Notable facts
- Bangladesh had a population of about 179.3 million in 2026, making it the eighth-most populous country in the world.
- With about 1,165 people per square kilometre, Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries on Earth.
- Bangladesh is home to most of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, covering about 6,000 square kilometres.
- Cox's Bazar, on the Bay of Bengal, is the world's longest natural sea beach, stretching for about 120 kilometres.
- Bangladesh has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Mosque City of Bagerhat, the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur and the Sundarbans.
How Bangladesh compares
Comparison table — Bangladesh next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).
| Country | Population | Area | Density | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh ★ | 179,300,000 (2026) | 148,460 km² | 1377.4 people per km² | Dhaka |
| India | 1,464,000,000 (2025) | 3,287,263 km² | 492.4 people per km² | New Delhi |
| Iran | 92,417,681 (2025) | 1,648,195 km² | 56.7 people per km² | Tehran |
| Pakistan | 241,499,431 (2023) | 881,913 km² | 313.3 people per km² | Islamabad |
Cities in Bangladesh
See all 4 cities in Bangladesh →
- Dhaka Known for Ahsan Manzil
- Chattogram Known for Port of Chittagong
- Khulna Known for Gateway to the Sundarbans
- Rajshahi Known for City of Education
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Bangladesh?
The capital of Bangladesh is Dhaka. It is also the country's largest city, with about 10.3 million people in the city itself and about 36.6 million in the metropolitan area. Dhaka sits on the Buriganga River in the Ganges Delta and is the nation's political, financial and cultural centre.
What is the population of Bangladesh?
Bangladesh had a population of about 179.3 million in 2026, making it the eighth-most populous country in the world. The 2022 census counted 169,828,911 people. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries on Earth, with about 1,165 people per square kilometre, and about a third of Bangladeshis live in towns and cities.
What language is spoken in Bangladesh?
Bengali is the official and national language of Bangladesh and is spoken by almost everyone in the country. It is written in its own Bengali script and is the language of government, schools and the media. English is also widely used in business, law and higher education, and several indigenous languages are spoken in the hill districts.
What currency is used in Bangladesh?
Bangladesh uses the Bangladeshi taka (BDT, symbol ৳). Banknotes come in denominations up to 1,000 taka, and coins are used for small amounts. Cash is still common in markets and small shops, but cards and mobile payments, above all bKash, are widely used in the cities for shopping, transport and bills.
Where is Bangladesh?
Bangladesh is in South Asia, on the Bay of Bengal. It borders India to the north, west and east, and Myanmar to the south-east. The country is almost entirely a low, flat river delta, formed by the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, with the Sundarbans mangrove forest along its southern coast.
What time zone is Bangladesh in?
Bangladesh uses a single time zone, Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6), across the whole country. The IANA time zone name is Asia/Dhaka. There is no daylight saving time, so the clocks stay the same all year, from Dhaka in the centre to Chittagong on the south-eastern coast and the Sundarbans in the south-west.
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- Dhaka — capital of Bangladesh
- Chattogram — city in Bangladesh
- Khulna — city in Bangladesh
- Rajshahi — city in Bangladesh
- India — neighbouring country
- Myanmar — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Iran — another country in Southern Asia
- Pakistan — another country in Southern Asia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Bangladesh
- United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024 (via Wikipedia — List of countries by population)
- Wikipedia — List of countries and dependencies by length of coastline (CIA World Factbook figures)
- Wikipedia — List of countries by median age (CIA World Factbook 2024 estimates)
- Wikipedia — List of countries by life expectancy (United Nations, 2023 estimates)
- World Bank, World Development Indicators (urban population % SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS)
- mledoze/countries (skeleton: borders, capital, languages, tld, coordinates, subregion)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.