Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has 9.7 times the population of the Netherlands: 175.69 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 2.9 times the size of Bangladesh's, at $1.33T versus $456.32B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $2,597 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $456.32B | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $450.12B / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $2,597 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.5% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 10.5% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $6,402 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $108 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 53% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 108 Mt | 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.6 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 3.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bangladesh: a price level of 25 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the far younger society: median age 26.0 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 7.0 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 74.9).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 33%.
Internet adoption is higher in the Netherlands (97% vs 53% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is 3.5 times the size of the Netherlands: 147,570 km² versus 41,850 km².
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 432.
Military
The Netherlands spends 5.7 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $23.18B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Netherlands carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Bangladesh fields the larger armed forces: 227,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than the Netherlands?
- Bangladesh is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Bangladesh is 3.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or the Netherlands?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $2,597. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).