Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has 2.1 times the population of Germany: 175.69 million people against 83.49 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 11 times the size of Bangladesh's, at $5.05T versus $456.32B.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $2,597 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Germany | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $456.32B | Higher: $5.05T | 2025 | $450.12B / $4.66T |
| GDP per capita | $2,597 | Higher: $60,496 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.5% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 10.5% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | Lower: 3.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | 80 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $4,647 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $108 | Higher: $2,442 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 83.49 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 84.01 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 45.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 82% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 53% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 357,114 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 233.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 108 Mt | 572 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.6 t | 6.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $88.46B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 183,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Bangladesh is growing much faster: 3.5% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 2.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bangladesh: a price level of 25 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the far younger society: median age 26.0 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 5.9 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 74.9).
Germany is considerably more urbanized: 82% of people live in cities, against 33%.
Internet adoption is higher in Germany (93% vs 53% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is 59% smaller than Germany: 147,570 km² versus 357,114 km².
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 234.
Military
Germany spends 22 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $88.46B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Germany carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Bangladesh fields the larger armed forces: 227,000 personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than Germany?
- Germany is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while Germany covers 357,114 km², so Germany is 2.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or Germany?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 83.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than Germany?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $2,597. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $5.05T for Germany.
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or Germany?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).