Population in largest city in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Population in largest city was 24.65 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
24.65 million
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
4th
of 153 countries
All-time high
24.65 million
in 2025
All-time low
507,921
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Bangladesh, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Bangladesh is 24.65 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Bangladesh peaked at 24.65 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 507,921, in 1960.
Bangladesh ranks 4th of 153 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 507,921 | — |
| 1961 | 543,565 | +7.0% |
| 1962 | 602,546 | +10.9% |
| 1963 | 667,926 | +10.9% |
| 1964 | 740,506 | +10.9% |
| 1965 | 820,740 | +10.8% |
| 1966 | 909,796 | +10.9% |
| 1967 | 1.01 million | +10.9% |
| 1968 | 1.12 million | +10.9% |
| 1969 | 1.24 million | +10.8% |
| 1970 | 1.37 million | +10.9% |
| 1971 | 1.52 million | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 1.69 million | +10.9% |
| 1973 | 1.87 million | +10.8% |
| 1974 | 2.06 million | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 2.22 million | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 2.40 million | +8.0% |
| 1977 | 2.59 million | +8.0% |
| 1978 | 2.80 million | +8.0% |
| 1979 | 3.02 million | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 3.27 million | +8.0% |
| 1981 | 3.52 million | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 3.78 million | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 4.05 million | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 4.34 million | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 4.66 million | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 5.00 million | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 5.36 million | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 5.75 million | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 6.17 million | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 6.62 million | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 7.04 million | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 7.34 million | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 7.66 million | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 7.99 million | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 8.33 million | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 8.69 million | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 9.06 million | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 9.45 million | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 9.86 million | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 10.28 million | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 10.70 million | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 11.08 million | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 11.48 million | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 11.90 million | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 12.33 million | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 12.78 million | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 13.24 million | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 13.72 million | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 14.22 million | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 14.73 million | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 15.26 million | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 15.82 million | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 16.39 million | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 16.98 million | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 17.60 million | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 18.23 million | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 18.89 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 19.58 million | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 20.28 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 21.01 million | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 21.74 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 22.48 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 23.21 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 23.94 million | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 24.65 million | +3.0% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 24.65 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 9.5× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 815,887 | 507,921 | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.15 million | 1.37 million | 3.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.59 million | 3.27 million | 6.17 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.21 million | 6.62 million | 9.86 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.17 million | 10.28 million | 14.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.38 million | 14.73 million | 20.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.84 million | 21.01 million | 24.65 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More urban development data for Bangladesh
- Population in the largest city 42.2% (2025)
- Population density 1,319 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 69.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1725 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 30.31 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 219.95 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 7.6 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 85.94 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Bangladesh?
- Population in largest city in Bangladesh was 24.65 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 24.65 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 507,921 in 1960.
- How does Bangladesh rank for population in largest city?
- Bangladesh ranks 4th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.