Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 20.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Bangladesh, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Bangladesh stood at 20.0%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Bangladesh peaked at 20.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1950.
Bangladesh ranks 118th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.5% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.8% | 6.1% | 7.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.5% | 8.1% | 9.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 11.0% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.2% | 13.5% | 15.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 16.6% | 18.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More population data for Bangladesh
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 1,602 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.15 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.14 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.14 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 1.01 million people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.14 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.16 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.08 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Bangladesh?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Bangladesh was 20.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1950.
- How does Bangladesh rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Bangladesh ranks 118th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.