Share of population living in cities in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Share of population living in cities was 47.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities 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 cities in Bangladesh stood at 47.6%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities in Bangladesh peaked at 47.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 1950.
Bangladesh ranks 64th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.3% | — |
| 1955 | 15.9% | +19.5% |
| 1960 | 18.5% | +16.3% |
| 1965 | 22.9% | +24.3% |
| 1970 | 27.8% | +21.2% |
| 1975 | 32.7% | +17.7% |
| 1980 | 30.9% | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 30.5% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 31.8% | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 35.1% | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 39.3% | +12.0% |
| 2005 | 41.9% | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 43.9% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 46.0% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 47.6% | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14.6% | 13.3% | 15.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 20.7% | 18.5% | 22.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 30.2% | 27.8% | 32.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 30.7% | 30.5% | 30.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 33.5% | 31.8% | 35.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 40.6% | 39.3% | 41.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 44.9% | 43.9% | 46.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.6% | 47.6% | 47.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 61 South Africa 48.8% compare
- 62 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 48.7% compare
- 63 Panama 48.6% compare
- 65 Russian Federation 47.6% compare
- 66 Sudan 47.6% compare
- 67 Costa Rica 47.5% compare
More population data for Bangladesh
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6747 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 203,905 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8247 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9442 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities in Bangladesh?
- Share of population living in cities in Bangladesh was 47.6% 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 cities recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 47.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 1950.
- How does Bangladesh rank for share of population living in cities?
- Bangladesh ranks 64th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.