Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 3.40 million people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Bangladesh, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Bangladesh is 3.40 million people, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Bangladesh peaked at 9.92 million people in 1965 and was at its lowest, 3.40 million people, in 2020.
That places Bangladesh 81st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.73 million people | — |
| 1955 | 9.80 million people | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 9.87 million people | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 9.92 million people | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 9.90 million people | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 9.82 million people | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 8.68 million people | -11.6% |
| 1985 | 6.95 million people | -20.0% |
| 1990 | 5.91 million people | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 5.57 million people | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 5.18 million people | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 4.88 million people | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 4.48 million people | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 4.01 million people | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 3.40 million people | -15.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.76 million people | 9.73 million people | 9.80 million people | 2 |
| 1960s | 9.89 million people | 9.87 million people | 9.92 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.86 million people | 9.82 million people | 9.90 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 7.81 million people | 6.95 million people | 8.68 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.74 million people | 5.57 million people | 5.91 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.03 million people | 4.88 million people | 5.18 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.24 million people | 4.01 million people | 4.48 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.40 million people | 3.40 million people | 3.40 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 78 Sri Lanka 3.46 million people compare
- 79 Tunisia 3.44 million people compare
- 80 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 3.40 million people compare
- 82 Egypt 3.35 million people compare
- 83 Sierra Leone 3.35 million people compare
- 84 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 3.27 million people compare
More population data for Bangladesh
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6747 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.15 million people (2100)
- Population density 1,602 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9442 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8247 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Bangladesh?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Bangladesh was 3.40 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 9.92 million people in 1965.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.40 million people in 2020.
- How does Bangladesh rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Bangladesh ranks 81st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.