Quick answerKhulna is a city in Bangladesh, with 719,557 people inside the city limits in 2022. The wider metropolitan area had about 1.0 million people in 2022. It is best known for the Gateway to the Sundarbans, the Sixty Dome Mosque (Bagerhat) and the Mongla Port. Its official language is Bengali, and its currency is the Bangladeshi taka.
Khulna is the third-largest metropolitan area in Bangladesh, with about 720,000 people in the city and about 1 million in the metro area (2022). It stands on the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in the south-west and is the gateway to the Sundarbans mangrove forest.
Key facts
| Country | Bangladesh |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 719,557 (2022) |
| Population (metro) | 1,020,000 (2022) · Khulna metropolitan cluster (Urban Stats) |
| Elevation | 9 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Dhaka |
| Language | Bengali |
| Currency | Bangladeshi taka (BDT, ৳) |
| Coordinates | 22.83° N, 89.55° E |
Overview
Khulna is the capital and largest city of Khulna Division, in south-western Bangladesh on the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers. The city had 719,557 residents in the 2022 census, while the metro area held about 1,020,000 people, and the city sits 9 metres above sea level. It is the third-largest metropolitan area in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chattogram.
Khulna was established as a town in 1842 and grew as a river port and industrial centre. It is the second-largest port city in Bangladesh, serving the nearby Port of Mongla, and its economy rests on marine industries, shrimp farming, jute and shipbuilding. Nearby stands Bagerhat, home to the Sixty Dome Mosque, a 15th-century UNESCO World Heritage site.
Today Khulna is best known as the gateway to the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, which lies to the south of the city along the Bay of Bengal. Boats for the Sundarbans leave from Khulna, and the city is the divisional centre for ten districts of the south-west.
What Khulna is known for
- Gateway to the Sundarbans
- Sixty Dome Mosque (Bagerhat)
- Mongla Port
- Shrimp farming
- Jute industry
- Rupsha Bridge
Landmarks
- Sixty Dome Mosque (Bagerhat)
- Sundarbans
- Khan Jahan Ali's Tomb
- Rupsha Bridge
- Mongla Port
- Shahid Hadis Park
- Khulna Shipyard
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Khulna?
About 720,000 people live in Khulna (719,557 in the 2022 census). The wider metro area had about 1 million people. That makes Khulna the third-largest metropolitan area in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chattogram, and the largest city of the south-west.
What is Khulna famous for?
Khulna is famous as the gateway to the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, and as the second-largest port city in Bangladesh. It is also known for the Sixty Dome Mosque at nearby Bagerhat, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and for its shrimp farming and jute industries.
Where is Khulna located?
Khulna is in south-western Bangladesh, on the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers, near the Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal. It is the capital of Khulna Division and the third-largest metropolitan area in the country. Its coordinates are 22.83° N, 89.55° E.
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Keep exploring
- Bangladesh — the country Khulna is in
- Dhaka — another city in Bangladesh
- Chattogram — another city in Bangladesh
- Rajshahi — another city in Bangladesh
- All cities in Bangladesh
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.