Share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Share of population living in rural areas was 2.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh stood at 2.0%. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh peaked at 23.6% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2020.
That places Bangladesh 229th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.6% | — |
| 1955 | 21.4% | -9.4% |
| 1960 | 19.0% | -11.1% |
| 1965 | 16.6% | -13.0% |
| 1970 | 14.3% | -13.5% |
| 1975 | 12.6% | -12.0% |
| 1980 | 9.9% | -21.8% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | -29.7% |
| 1990 | 5.3% | -23.6% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -15.2% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | -12.5% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -12.7% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | -18.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.5% | 21.4% | 23.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.8% | 16.6% | 19.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 13.5% | 12.6% | 14.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.4% | 6.9% | 9.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 226 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 3.2% compare
- 227 Egypt 3.1% compare
- 228 Bahrain 2.1% compare
- 230 Bermuda 1.6% compare
- 231 Hong Kong, China 0.5% compare
- 232 Macau, China 0.2% 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 share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Bangladesh was 2.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2020.
- How does Bangladesh rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Bangladesh ranks 229th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.6%. 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 major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.