Basic Facts
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Official name
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People’s Republic of Bangladesh
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Capital
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Dhaka
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Area
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147,570 sq km
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56,977 sq mi
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People
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Population
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138,448,210 (2003 estimate)
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Population growth
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Population growth rate
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2.06 percent (2003 estimate)
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Projected population in 2025
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204,538,715 (2025 estimate)
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Projected population in 2050
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279,955,405 (2050 estimate)
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Population density
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938 persons per sq km (2003 estimate)
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2,430 persons per sq mi (2003 estimate)
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Urban/rural distribution
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Share urban
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26 percent (2001 estimate)
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Share rural
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74 percent (2001 estimate)
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Largest cities, with population
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Dhaka
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3,368,940 (1991)
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Chittagong
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1,566,070 (1991)
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Khulna
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601,051 (1991)
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Rajshahi
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324,532 (1991)
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Narayanganj
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268,952 (1991)
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Ethnic groups
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Bengali
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98 percent
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Other
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2 percent
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Languages
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Bangla (official), Urdu, English
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Religious affiliations
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Muslim
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86 percent
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Hindu
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12 percent
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Other
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2 percent
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Health and Education
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Life expectancy
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Total
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61.3 years (2003 estimate)
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Female
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61.2 years (2003 estimate)
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Male
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61.5 years (2003 estimate)
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Infant mortality rate
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66 deaths per 1,000 live births (2003 estimate)
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Population per physician
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6,028 people (1999)
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Population per hospital bed
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3,279 people (1994)
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Literacy rate
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Total
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43.1 percent (2003 estimate)
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Female
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31.8 percent (2003 estimate)
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Male
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53.9 percent (2003 estimate)
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Education expenditure as a share of gross national product (GNP)
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2.3 percent (1999-2000)
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Number of years of compulsory schooling
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5 years (2000)
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Number of students per teacher, primary school
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59 students per teacher (1998-1999)
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Government
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Form of government
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Republic
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Head of state
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President
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Head of government
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Prime Minister
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Legislature
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Unicameral legislature
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National Parliament: 300 members
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Voting qualifications
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Universal at age 18
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Constitution
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16 December 1972; suspended 1982-1986; numerous amendments
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Highest court
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Supreme Court
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Armed forces
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Total number of military personnel
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137,000 (2001)
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Military expenditures as a share of gross domestic product (GDP)
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1.4 percent (2001)
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First-level political divisions
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5 divisions
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Economy
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Gross domestic product (GDP, in U.S.$)
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$46.7 billion (2001)
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GDP per capita (U.S.$)
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$350 (2001)
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GDP by economic sector
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Agriculture, forestry, fishing
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23.3 percent (2001)
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Industry
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25.1 percent (2001)
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Services
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