Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has 3.2 times the population of Myanmar (Burma): 175.69 million people against 54.85 million (2025).
Bangladesh's economy is 5.6 times the size of Myanmar (Burma)'s, at $456.32B versus $81.67B.
Per person, Bangladesh is the wealthier of the two: $2,597 against $1,489 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Myanmar (Burma) | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $456.32B | $81.67B | 2025 | $450.12B / $74.08B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $2,597 | $1,489 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.5% | -2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 8.8% | 8.8% | 2025 / 2019 | 10.5% / — |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $136 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $108 | $90 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 54.85 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 57.93 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 30.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 2.08 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 74.9 yrs | 67.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 31% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 53% | 45% | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 676,578 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 81.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 108 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.6 t | Lower: 0.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $5.01B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 6.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 463,000 | 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 grew while the other economy contracted: 3.5% against -2.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 8.8% in Bangladesh and 8.8% in Myanmar (Burma).
Average monthly earnings favour Myanmar (Burma): $136 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the younger society: median age 26.0 versus 30.1 years.
Life expectancy is 7.8 years longer in Bangladesh (74.9 vs 67.1).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is 78% smaller than Myanmar (Burma): 147,570 km² versus 676,578 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 81.
Military
Myanmar (Burma) spends 24% more on defence than Bangladesh: $5.01B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Myanmar (Burma) carries the heavier military burden: 6.8% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Myanmar (Burma) fields the larger armed forces: 463,000 personnel against 227,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than Myanmar (Burma)?
- Myanmar (Burma) is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while Myanmar (Burma) covers 676,578 km², so Myanmar (Burma) is 4.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or Myanmar (Burma)?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 54.85 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than Myanmar (Burma)?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Bangladesh is richer: $2,597 against $1,489. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $81.67B for Myanmar (Burma).
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or Myanmar (Burma)?
- Myanmar (Burma) spends more: $5.01B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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