Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has 2.5 times the population of the United Kingdom: 175.69 million people against 69.49 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 8.8 times the size of Bangladesh's, at $4.00T versus $456.32B.
Per person, the United Kingdom is the wealthier of the two: $57,602 against $2,597 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | United Kingdom | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $456.32B | Higher: $4.00T | 2025 | $450.12B / $3.64T |
| GDP per capita | $2,597 | Higher: $57,602 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.5% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | 10.5% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.8% | 4.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | 89 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $3,567 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $108 | Higher: $2,532 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.40 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 69.49 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 68.75 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 40.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 1.54 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 53% | Higher: 95% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 242,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 286.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 108 Mt | 313 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.6 t | 4.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $81.76B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 153,000 | 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 1.4%.
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 3.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bangladesh: a price level of 25 versus 89 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United Kingdom: $3,567 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the far younger society: median age 26.0 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 6.5 years longer in the United Kingdom (81.4 vs 74.9).
The United Kingdom is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 33%.
Internet adoption is higher in the United Kingdom (95% vs 53% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is 39% smaller than the United Kingdom: 147,570 km² versus 242,900 km².
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 286.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 20 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $81.76B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Kingdom carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Bangladesh fields the larger armed forces: 227,000 personnel against 153,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than the United Kingdom?
- The United Kingdom is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while the United Kingdom covers 242,900 km², so the United Kingdom is 65% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or the United Kingdom?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 69.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than the United Kingdom?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United Kingdom is richer: $57,602 against $2,597. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $4.00T for the United Kingdom.
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or the United Kingdom?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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