Contents

Country Overview

Bangladesh is a populous republic in South Asia occupying much of the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna delta. Its modern state emerged through the 1971 Liberation War; its economy combines an internationally significant garment industry with agriculture, services and remittance income. After the 2024 political uprising and an interim administration, a parliamentary election in February 2026 returned an elected government. The country faces major adaptation, fiscal, employment and refugee-support challenges.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Source years, coverage and provisional or political classifications are stated explicitly.

CapitalDhakaNational seat of government [1] [6]
Population175.69 millionWorld Bank estimate, 2025 [2]
Nominal GDPUS$456.32 billionWorld Bank, 2025 [2]
Prime ministerTarique RahmanIn office since February 17, 2026 [7]
Merchandise exportsUS$47.245 billionUNCTAD, calendar 2024 [9]
UNESCO World Heritage3 propertiesTwo cultural; one natural [16]

Statistical and territorial caution: Population figures on this page distinguish the 2022 counted and post-enumeration-adjusted census from World Bank’s 2025 estimate. UNCTAD’s 2024 calendar-year trade values differ from national fiscal-year export figures. The 2026 post-election political baseline is current to November 6, and the UN General Assembly changed the planned LDC graduation date to November 2029 on October 29, 2026.

Identity and State Formation

Official name
People’s Republic of Bangladesh (Gaṇaprajātantrī Bāṅlādeś). [1] [15]
Common English short name
Bangladesh. [1]
Capital
Dhaka, principal national political and economic center. [1] [6]
UN statistical subregion
Southern Asia (South Asia) under the UN M49 regional framework. [1] [15]
Form of government
Unitary parliamentary republic with an elected national legislature and cabinet led by the prime minister. [7]
Official language
Bangla (Bengali); English also used in law, commerce and higher education. [6] [3]
National currency
Bangladeshi taka (BDT), divided into 100 poisha. [1]
ISO country codes
BD (alpha-2), BGD (alpha-3), numeric 050. [15]
International dialing prefix
+880. [1]
Country-code internet domain
.bd; the Bangla-script IDN is also available. [1]
Standard time
Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6); no regular seasonal clock change. [1]
National Independence Day
26 March, marking the 1971 declaration of independence. [18]
Victory Day
16 December, commemorating the 1971 surrender of Pakistani forces in the war. [18]
Precolonial history
The Bengal delta was shaped by Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic polities, trade networks and literary cultures. [16] [17]
Colonial era
The region formed part of British India until partition in 1947. [18]
Partition of 1947
Predominantly Muslim eastern Bengal became East Bengal / East Pakistan, separated geographically from West Pakistan by Indian territory. [18]
Language Movement
The 1952 Bengali language movement became a defining event in the emergence of Bengali political identity. [17] [18]
Liberation War
Armed struggle in 1971 culminated in independent Bangladesh in December. [18]
Constitutional founding
The independent republic adopted its constitution in 1972; subsequent amendments and political upheavals changed institutions. [7] [8]
United Nations admission
17 September 1974. [18]
Contemporary transition
A mass protest movement in 2024 ended Sheikh Hasina’s premiership and preceded an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. [7] [8]
Return to elected government
Parliamentary election on 12 February 2026; Tarique Rahman sworn in as prime minister on 17 February 2026. [7] [8]
Regional identity
A Bengali-majority state with South Asian, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean connections. [1] [3]

Historic-political note: Bangladesh’s 2024–2026 political transition is not accurately described by simply listing the previous elected government or the 2024–2026 interim administration as today’s government. The February 2026 election established a new parliamentary baseline.

Geography and Population

Geographical setting
Low-lying country centered on the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna delta, opening to the Bay of Bengal. [1] [14]
Land boundaries
Borders India on the west, north and much of the east and Myanmar to the southeast. [1]
Coastline and waters
Southern coast fronts the Bay of Bengal and the northern Indian Ocean. [1]
UN total surface area
148,460 km² in the UN country profile; land-only denominators are lower. [1]
UN land-area reference
Approximately 130,170 km²; distinct from the total-area measure including inland water. [9]
National administrative divisions
8 divisions and 64 districts. [6]
Eight divisions
Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur and Mymensingh. [6]
Capital-region role
Dhaka and surrounding urban districts concentrate administration, services, universities and manufacturing. [6] [3]
Other principal cities
Chattogram (main seaport), Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Barishal, Mymensingh and Gazipur. [6] [3]
Main port
Chattogram (Chittagong) on the southeastern coast; a core national import-export gateway. [3] [6]
Delta rivers
The Padma, Jamuna and Meghna form the principal large-river network. [6]
Other major waterways
Surma, Brahmaputra, Teesta, Karnaphuli and numerous distributaries and tidal channels. [6]
River transport
Inland waterways and ferries link delta settlements, markets and islands. [6] [3]
Floodplain landform
Broad alluvial plains support densely settled agriculture but face seasonal river flooding. [14] [3]
Chattogram Hill Tracts
Hilly southeastern uplands with diverse Indigenous communities, forest landscapes and distinct land-use issues. [6] [8]
Sylhet region
Northeastern plains and wetlands include tea-producing hills and extensive seasonally flooded haor basins. [6] [14]
Sundarbans
Tidal mangrove forest shared with India; the Bangladeshi sector is a UNESCO World Heritage property. [16]
Coastal islands
Sandbars and river-mouth islands (chars) shift under sediment deposition and erosion. [14]
Climate
Tropical monsoon regime with hot, humid rainy months and generally drier, cooler winter periods. [14] [6]
Monsoon season
Most rainfall falls during the summer southwest monsoon, approximately June–September. [6] [14]
Cyclone exposure
Coastal storm surge, tropical cyclones and high winds pose major disaster risks. [14] [3]
Flood exposure
Monsoon floods, flash floods, riverbank erosion and urban inundation occur in different landscapes. [14]
Salinity risks
Sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion threaten some coastal farmland and drinking-water supplies. [14] [3]
Population, World Bank 2025
175,686,899, international annual population series. [2]
Population, census enumerated 2022
165,158,616 counted in the census before the coverage correction. [4] [5]
Population, census adjusted 2022
169,828,911 after post-enumeration coverage adjustment; not a 2025 estimate. [5] [4]
2022 adjusted rural population
116,066,925 (68.34%) in the adjusted census classification. [5]
2022 adjusted urban population
53,761,986 (31.66%) in the adjusted census classification. [5]
Population growth, 2025
Approximately 1.2%, World Bank annual estimate. [2]
Population density definition
Calculated density depends on using total area versus land area; avoid treating unlike denominators as contradictory. [1] [9]
Demographic scale
One of the world’s most populous countries and among the most densely settled large states. [2] [1]
Rural-urban dynamics
Movement toward Dhaka and industrial corridors affects housing, transport and service delivery. [3]
Water management
Embankments, drainage, irrigation, cyclone shelters and early-warning systems are critical infrastructure. [14] [3]
Environmental hazards
Heat, drought, waterlogging, arsenic contamination in some groundwater and river pollution affect communities. [14] [3]

Population measurements: census and later estimates

The enumerated and adjusted 2022 national census are separate figures; the 2025 World Bank total is an estimate, not a new census. [4] [5] [2]

Measure Population Reference period / scope
Enumerated census165,158,6162022 population counted
Post-enumeration adjusted census169,828,9112022, coverage-corrected
World Bank population estimate175,686,8992025 international series
Adjusted 2022 rural116,066,92568.34% of adjusted census
Adjusted 2022 urban53,761,98631.66% of adjusted census

Population methodology: The 2022 enumerated census excludes the later post-enumeration coverage correction. The adjusted count is 169.83 million; the World Bank 2025 international estimate is 175.69 million. National and international urban definitions may also differ.

Economy and International Trade

Nominal GDP, World Bank 2025
Approximately US$456.32 billion, current-price annual series. [2]
GDP per capita, World Bank 2025
Approximately US$2,597.3, nominal US dollars. [2]
Real GDP growth, 2025
Approximately 3.5% in the World Bank series. [2]
Consumer price inflation, 2025
Approximately 8.8%, World Bank annual CPI measure. [2]
Remittances received, 2025
About 7.4% of GDP, World Bank measure. [2]
ILO-modeled unemployment, 2025
Approximately 3.8%; informal employment and underemployment require separate analysis. [2] [3]
IMF forecast, April 2026
Estimated 4.7% calendar-year 2026 real GDP growth in the April 2026 WEO snapshot, subject to later revisions. [11]
IMF July 2026 assessment
High inflation, stressed banks, fiscal pressures and costly energy imports weighed on economic conditions. [12]
IMF medium-term concern
Without stronger reforms, IMF staff projected much slower future growth; its fiscal-year forecasts are not interchangeable with calendar-year GDP series. [12]
Economic classification
World Bank lower-middle-income economy, separate from UN LDC classification. [15] [3]
Key economic sectors
Garment and textile manufacturing, agriculture, construction, trade, transport, telecommunications and services. [3] [9]
Ready-made garment industry
A central export and wage-employment sector, including large numbers of women workers. [3]
Garment supply chains
Knitting, weaving, cutting, sewing, washing and finishing connect local factories with overseas retailers. [3]
Garment export concentration
Dependence on apparel raises exposure to export demand, labor standards and preference changes. [3] [9]
Other manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals, leather goods, footwear, ceramics, plastics and light engineering contribute to diversification. [3] [9]
Agriculture
Rice, vegetables, jute, fish and poultry underpin livelihoods and domestic food markets. [13] [22]
Rice-growing seasons
Boro (dry-season irrigated), Aus and Aman (monsoon-season) rice crops. [13]
FAO 2026/27 paddy production outlook
Forecast about 61.9 million tonnes, a projected harvest rather than final result. [13]
FAO 2026/27 cereal imports
Projected at about 9.1 million tonnes, predominantly wheat. [13]
Aquaculture and fisheries
Freshwater fisheries, shrimp culture and coastal fishing contribute food, jobs and export revenue. [22]
Fisheries production 2022–23
WorldFish reports about 4.9 million tonnes of fish production in that fiscal year. [22]
Merchandise exports, 2024
US$47.245 billion in the UNCTAD calendar-year series. [9]
Merchandise imports, 2024
US$67.880 billion, same UNCTAD calendar-year series. [9]
Merchandise trade deficit, 2024
Approximately US$20.635 billion, exports less imports in UNCTAD figures. [9]
Manufactures share of exports, 2024
Approximately 95% of recorded merchandise exports in the UNCTAD broad-category split. [9]
Largest recorded goods export destination, 2024
United States, US$7.477 billion in UNCTAD's partner table. [9]
Other leading export destinations, 2024
Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and France; many shipments are apparel. [9]
International services exports, 2024
US$6.652 billion in the UNCTAD series. [9]
International services imports, 2024
US$11.313 billion in the UNCTAD series. [9]
Trade-data methodology
Calendar-year UNCTAD values need not equal Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau fiscal-year customs totals. [9]
Trade finance
Commercial banks, foreign-exchange liquidity and letters of credit are important to imported manufacturing inputs. [12] [3]
Monetary policy challenge
Inflation control must be balanced against banking stress, exchange-rate dynamics and credit availability. [12]
Power and fuels
Imported energy and domestic power infrastructure affect industrial reliability and fiscal spending. [12] [3]
Infrastructure investments
Transport, ports, electricity, logistics and resilient urban services support productivity and trade. [3]
Labor-market challenge
Youth employment, skills, safe working conditions and informality are continuing development priorities. [3]
Food insecurity projection, Sep–Dec 2026
FAO cites about 18.1 million people projected in IPC Phase 3 or higher; projection, not a final count. [13]
Least-developed-country graduation date
The UN General Assembly extended scheduled graduation to 24 November 2029 on 29 October 2026. [19]
LDC policy implications
More time is available to prepare for potential shifts in trade preferences and international support measures. [19] [10]

Selected macroeconomic indicators: World Bank series

World Bank economic measures are year-specific and should not be blended with IMF outlook forecasts or Bangladesh fiscal-year national accounts. [2]

Indicator 2025 value Unit / interpretation
Population175,686,899Residents, estimated
Nominal GDP456.32US$ billions
Nominal GDP per capita2,597.3Current US$
Real GDP growth3.5%Annual change
Consumer-price inflation8.8%Annual change
Personal remittances received7.4%Share of GDP

International trade: UNCTAD calendar year 2024

UNCTAD reported merchandise and services totals use calendar-year reporting; other national sources may differ. Values in billions of US dollars, calculated from UNCTAD million-dollar totals. [9]

Trade category Exports Imports Balance
Merchandise47.24567.880−20.635
Services6.65211.313−4.661

Largest goods export destinations: UNCTAD, 2024

Leading national destinations from the UNCTAD 2024 export partner table; geographic customs areas and country groupings are reported separately. [9]

Destination Merchandise exports (US$ billions)
United States7.477
Germany5.617
United Kingdom3.705
Spain3.185
France2.670

Data reconciliation: Annual World Bank nominal GDP and inflation, IMF 2026 projections, UNCTAD 2024 calendar-year trade, and Bangladesh domestic fiscal-year reporting are not interchangeable. WTO’s online tariff-and-trade profile may display partner and product data for an older reference year; it is not used here as evidence of 2024 partner shares.

People and Society

Ethnolinguistic majority
Bengali-speaking people constitute the majority, alongside numerous minority and Indigenous communities. [6] [8]
National language
Bangla; written predominantly in the Bengali script. [6]
English use
Used in international commerce, legal practice, universities and parts of administration. [3]
Other languages
Chakma, Marma, Santali and additional regional and Indigenous languages, particularly in upland and border communities. [6] [8]
Religious population, 2022 census
About 91.08% Muslim and 7.96% Hindu, using the 2022 enumerated census reported in the UK source. [21]
Buddhist population, 2022 census
Approximately 0.61%, distinct from the majority Islamic population. [21]
Christian population, 2022 census
Approximately 0.30%, using the same enumerated census basis. [21]
Religion and public policy
Islam is the state religion under the constitutional framework; religious freedom and minority protections are prominent public issues. [21] [8]
Ethnic and religious diversity
Minority communities include Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and several Indigenous and regional populations. [21] [8]
Literary heritage
Bengali poetry, prose and music connect modern Bangladesh with the broader Bengali cultural region. [17]
National poet
Kazi Nazrul Islam is widely honored as Bangladesh’s national poet. [17]
Rabindranath Tagore
Tagore’s poetry and music are central to Bengali literary heritage; his composition provides the national anthem. [17]
National anthem
Amar Shonar Bangla, associated with Rabindranath Tagore. [6]
International Mother Language Day
21 February, linked to the 1952 Bengali language movement and observed internationally through UNESCO. [17]
Pohela Boishakh
Bengali New Year, traditionally marked by public celebrations, crafts and cultural performance. [17]
Mangal Shobhajatra
New Year procession entered UNESCO’s Representative List in 2016. [17]
Jamdani weaving
Traditional handwoven patterned textile art inscribed by UNESCO in 2013. [17]
Tangail saree weaving
Traditional weaving art inscribed on UNESCO’s list in 2025. [17]
Baul song tradition
Mystic poetic and musical performances; UNESCO intangible heritage inscription in 2008. [17]
Shital Pati mats
Traditional woven mats of Sylhet recognized as intangible heritage in 2017. [17]
Dhaka rickshaw painting
Rickshaw artistry recognized by UNESCO in 2023. [17]
Education trend
School enrollment, especially for girls, has expanded substantially since independence, alongside persistent quality gaps. [3]
Public health
Health outcomes improved over decades through primary services, immunization and community initiatives. [3] [15]
Life expectancy, 2024
Around 75 years at birth in the World Bank series. [2]
Water and sanitation
Safe drinking water, urban sanitation, flood resilience and groundwater quality remain uneven challenges. [3] [14]
Women’s employment
Export-manufacturing jobs have expanded paid employment opportunities while occupational rights remain significant concerns. [3]
Rohingya refugee presence
Large displaced population from Myanmar is hosted in camps in southeastern Bangladesh and on Bhasan Char. [20]
Registered Rohingya, Sep 30 2026
1,206,528 individuals registered in the government–UNHCR operational dataset. [20]
Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar, Sep 2026
1,173,291, as recorded by government–UNHCR reporting. [20]
Rohingya on Bhasan Char, Sep 2026
33,237, as recorded in the same operational dataset. [20]
Demographic caveat
Registered refugee counts are not census estimates of Bangladeshi citizens and should not be added mechanically to population totals. [20] [2]

Refugee-data caution: UNHCR registration identifies an operational refugee population at a particular date; the categories are not equivalent to the Bangladeshi-citizenship population or a new national population census.

Government and Institutions

Constitutional framework
Constitution adopted in 1972, amended repeatedly; reform discussions continue after the 2026 election. [7] [8]
System type
Parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and prime minister leading the cabinet. [7]
Head of state, Nov 2026
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who swore in the current prime minister in February 2026. [7]
Head of government, Nov 2026
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). [7] [8]
Prime minister sworn in
17 February 2026. [7]
National legislature
Jatiya Sangsad, a unicameral national parliament. [7]
Constitutional parliamentary seats
350 total: 300 geographically elected seats and 50 seats reserved for women. [7]
Directly elected constituency seats
300, ordinarily filled through general elections. [7]
Reserved women’s seats
50, filled by parliamentary selection on a proportional party basis in May 2026. [7]
General election date
12 February 2026. [7]
BNP seat total, election update
210 directly elected seats after April 2026 by-election updates in the IPU record. [7]
Jamaat-e-Islami seat total
68 directly elected seats as recorded by IPU; principal parliamentary opposition. [7]
National Citizen Party seats
6 directly elected seats in the IPU results. [7]
2026 election vacancies
The IPU listed remaining constituency vacancies during the 2026 update cycle; totals may change after by-elections. [7]
Women directly elected, February 2026
7 among 298 filled constituency seats in the IPU election count; distinct from 50 reserved seats. [7]
Parliament first session
12 March 2026, ending the interim legislative period. [7]
2024 political crisis
Mass protests over job quotas widened into opposition to the Hasina government, ending her premiership in August 2024. [7] [8]
Interim leadership, 2024–2026
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus served as chief adviser of the transitional administration. [7] [8]
Former governing party
Awami League led the government until August 2024; it was barred from participating in the February 2026 vote. [8]
July Charter
Reform framework negotiated during the interim period, covering constitutional and institutional changes. [7] [8]
July Charter referendum
Held alongside the February 2026 election; approved by more than 60% of voters per IPU. [7]
Charter implementation caveat
A positive referendum does not itself establish that every proposed constitutional institutional reform is in force. [7] [8]
Possible upper house reform
An upper chamber was contemplated in reform proposals; the existing national legislature remains classified as unicameral by IPU. [7]
Judicial system
Supreme Court, comprising High Court and Appellate divisions, is the apex court in the national legal system. [8]
Subnational administration
Eight divisions and sixty-four districts, with further local administrative units. [6]
Local-government institutions
City corporations, municipalities and rural local councils manage different aspects of service delivery. [6]
Civil liberties and politics
Political competition, protection of minorities, media freedoms and accountability continue to attract scrutiny. [8] [21]
Electoral challenges
The 2026 transition has been described as competitive, while exclusion of the Awami League and political violence remain material caveats. [8] [7]
Security and policing
National security and policing institutions operate under civilian ministries and legal frameworks subject to continuing reform debate. [8]
Public policy priorities
Economic stabilization, employment, inflation, public administration, bank oversight and disaster resilience. [12] [3]

2026 National Parliament election and subsequent updates

The IPU records constituency results and updates through 2026; these are counts for directly elected seats, not a count including the 50 reserved seats. Some constituencies remained vacant during the update period. [7]

Party / grouping Directly elected seats Context
Bangladesh Nationalist Party210Largest party; includes April by-election updates
Jamaat-e-Islami68Main opposition
National Citizen Party6Other parliamentary party
Reserved seats for women50Separate category, filled May 2026
Constitutional total seats350300 elected + 50 reserved

Political and legal-status caution: The July Charter referendum’s approval should not be read as full implementation of every proposed reform. The IPU still describes the current legislature as unicameral, and notes that the Awami League was excluded from the 2026 election.

International Profile and Heritage

United Nations membership
Member since 17 September 1974. [18]
WTO membership
World Trade Organization member since 1 January 1995, following GATT participation since 1972. [10]
Regional group
South Asia in the UN statistical system and a Bay of Bengal maritime state. [1]
South Asian cooperation
Member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). [10] [1]
Bay of Bengal cooperation
Participates in regional Bay of Bengal connectivity and economic initiatives, including BIMSTEC. [1] [3]
Development finance
Works with the World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank and other development partners. [3] [11]
IMF membership
Joined on 17 August 1972. [11]
UN LDC status
Remains a member of the UN least-developed-country category as of this page’s November 2026 cutoff. [19]
Revised LDC graduation schedule
24 November 2029, following October 29 2026 UN General Assembly extension. [19]
Reason for extension review
Government request cited structural vulnerabilities and need for further reform during the preparatory period. [19]
India relationship
Deep geographic, river-basin, land-border, trade, security and cultural connections. [1] [3]
Myanmar relationship
Southeastern frontier and the Rohingya displacement crisis are important cross-border issues. [20]
China relationship
Infrastructure finance, goods imports and industrial supply chains are prominent bilateral economic links. [3] [9]
United States relationship
Major apparel export market and diplomatic and development partner. [9]
European trade relationships
Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, France and other European markets are important destinations for manufactured exports. [9]
Migrant remittances
Overseas workers’ earnings provide a significant source of household income and foreign exchange. [2]
Humanitarian partnership
UNHCR and other agencies support Rohingya refugees, host communities and humanitarian operations. [20]
Coastal climate diplomacy
Advocates adaptation and resilience priorities concerning cyclones, flooding and climate risks. [14] [3]
UNESCO World Heritage properties
3 inscribed: 2 cultural and 1 natural property. [16]
Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat
UNESCO cultural World Heritage property, inscribed 1985. [16]
Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
UNESCO cultural property, inscribed 1985. [16]
The Sundarbans
UNESCO natural property, inscribed 1997. [16]
UNESCO tentative-list total
7 proposed properties, not inscribed World Heritage sites. [23]
UNESCO intangible-heritage total
6 elements inscribed on the Representative List through 2025. [17]
Latest intangible-heritage inscription
Traditional Saree weaving art of Tangail, 2025. [17]
Textile and craft identities
Jamdani weaving, Tangail sarees and Shital Pati mats connect contemporary production with living heritage. [17]
National environmental heritage
The Sundarbans ecosystem protects mangrove biodiversity and supports coastal livelihoods. [16] [14]
International refugee coordination
Rohingya protection and voluntary, safe and sustainable return remain unresolved international issues. [20]
Maritime location
Northern Bay of Bengal location shapes shipping, fisheries, maritime resource management and climate exposure. [1] [22]
Cultural diplomacy
Bangla language, literary heritage and international diaspora networks connect Bangladesh globally. [17] [1]

Bangladesh UNESCO World Heritage properties

These three inscribed World Heritage properties are separate from the country’s seven tentative sites and six inscribed intangible-heritage elements. [16] [17]

Property Category Inscription year
Historic Mosque City of BagerhatCultural1985
Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at PaharpurCultural1985
The SundarbansNatural1997

Rohingya refugee operational registration, September 30, 2026

Government–UNHCR operational registration figures describe refugees and relocation sites, not the national citizenship census. [20]

Location Registered individuals
Cox’s Bazar1,173,291
Bhasan Char33,237
Combined operational total1,206,528

Latest UN classification: An October 29, 2026 General Assembly resolution extended Bangladesh’s planned least-developed-country graduation to November 24, 2029. Older documentation describing a 2026 graduation date is superseded on this issue.

Sources and Methodology

Entries are a source-anchored reference compilation, not a single statistical extract. Census counts, administrative population figures and international estimates are separate series; nominal GDP is not purchasing-power-parity output. WTO, UNCTAD and national customs trade series can differ by definition, coverage and reporting period. Regional classification follows the United Nations M49 statistical convention rather than asserting exclusive cultural or political geography. UNESCO inscribed, tentative and intangible heritage are distinct categories.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). A dated statistic describes its reference period, not necessarily its publication date. Disputed or internationally contested governance claims are described with their attribution and jurisdiction. The page may require later revision when new releases or events occur.

  1. United Nations Data — Bangladesh country profile — UN Southern Asia classification, capital, area, exchange-rate and population indicators.
  2. World Bank — Bangladesh development indicators — 2025 population and nominal GDP, growth, per-capita output, inflation, remittances, and 2024 life expectancy.
  3. World Bank — Bangladesh country overview — economic development, garment exports, human development, climate adaptation and current structural challenges.
  4. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics — Population and Housing Census 2022 National Report — national census releases, adjusted versus enumerated totals and survey methodology.
  5. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha — 2022 adjusted census publication — 169,828,911 post-enumeration-adjusted population and national urban-rural shares.
  6. Government of Bangladesh — National Information Portal — national capital, eight administrative divisions, sixty-four districts, rivers and seasonal climate.
  7. Inter-Parliamentary Union — Bangladesh Parliament and February 2026 election — current parliamentary structure, 2026 election results, prime minister, president, reserved seats and July Charter referendum.
  8. UK Home Office — Political situation in Bangladesh, October 2026 — transition after 2024 protests, 2026 polls, political competition, Awami League exclusion and reform challenges.
  9. UN Trade and Development — Bangladesh General Profile, 2024 — 2024 calendar-year merchandise trade, services trade, product structure, and export destinations; not identical to fiscal-year customs series.
  10. World Trade Organization — Bangladesh membership profile — GATT and WTO accession, multilateral trade institution.
  11. International Monetary Fund — Bangladesh country profile — IMF membership, April 2026 data and dated 2026 economic projections.
  12. International Monetary Fund — July 16, 2026 staff visit — fiscal pressures, inflation and banking-sector stress; FY2027 projections distinct from calendar-year data.
  13. Food and Agriculture Organization — Bangladesh Country Brief, September 2026 — 2026 harvest outlook and September–December projected acute food insecurity.
  14. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — Bangladesh — climate, monsoon precipitation, cyclone and flood risk.
  15. World Health Organization — Bangladesh country data — WHO region, income group, population methodology and health system indicators.
  16. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Bangladesh — three inscribed World Heritage properties and seven tentative-list properties.
  17. UNESCO — Bangladesh intangible cultural heritage — six inscribed intangible cultural elements through 2025.
  18. United Nations — Member States — admission of Bangladesh on 17 September 1974.
  19. United Nations — Bangladesh least-developed-country graduation status — October 29 2026 General Assembly extension of LDC graduation to November 24 2029.
  20. UNHCR — Bangladesh refugee operational data — registered Rohingya refugee totals and Cox’s Bazar/Bhasan Char figures, September 30 2026.
  21. UK Home Office — Bangladesh religious minorities report, June 2025 — religion proportions in the 2022 enumerated census and protections of religious minorities.
  22. WorldFish — Bangladesh country profile — fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic-food roles.
  23. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Bangladesh Tentative List — seven nominated tentative-list proposals distinct from inscribed heritage.