Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has 17 times the population of Israel: 175.69 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Israel's economy is 34% larger than Bangladesh's, at $610.78B versus $456.32B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $2,597 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $456.32B | Higher: $610.78B | 2025 | $450.12B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $2,597 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.5% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 10.5% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $3,383 | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $108 | Higher: $1,589 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 53% | Higher: 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 108 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.6 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 178,000 | 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 faster: 3.5% annual GDP growth versus 2.9%.
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 3.0%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bangladesh: a price level of 25 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the younger society: median age 26.0 versus 29.2 years.
Life expectancy is 8.3 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 74.9).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 33%.
Internet adoption is higher in Israel (88% vs 53% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is 7.1 times the size of Israel: 147,570 km² versus 20,770 km².
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 487.
Military
Israel spends 12 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $46.51B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Bangladesh fields the larger armed forces: 227,000 personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than Israel?
- Bangladesh is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Bangladesh is 7.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or Israel?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $2,597. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).