Bangladesh 7

Bangladesh ranks 31 in terms of population density

The WB forecast that the population density in Bangladesh, with an area of 144,000 square kilometers, would gradually increase to 1,540 by 2030 from the existing 1000, reports BSS.

The WB development survey of indicators database mentioned that, among the 171 countries of the world, Bangladesh ranks 31 in terms of population density. According to the last census in 2003, Bangladesh's population per square kilometer was 1000, increased from 720 in 1991.

The report revealed that about 20 per cent of the total population lives in sub-districts with a population density above 1,500 per square kilometer and 47 per cent in other areas where population density was 1000 per square kilometer. However, per square kilometer population density in Sundarbans coastal area in the southwest and the hill areas along the border with Myanmar in the southwest is much below the average.

The report pointed out that about 28 per cent of rural population lives within less than 5 kilometers from an urban centre having at least 5,000 people. The urban population in the country has been increasing rapidly over the 3 decades from about 5 million in 1970 to 29 million at the time of the last census of 2001.