Updated
Overview
Pakistan has about 45% more people than Bangladesh: 255.22 million against 175.69 million (2025).
Bangladesh's economy is 12% larger than Pakistan's, at $456.32B versus $407.31B.
Per person, Bangladesh is the wealthier of the two: $2,597 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $456.32B | 2025 | $373.07B / $450.12B |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $2,597 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.5% | 8.8% | 2025 | 12.6% / 10.5% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 25 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $134 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $133 | $108 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 175.69 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 174.37 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 26.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 2.11 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 74.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 33% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 57% | 53% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 147,570 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 1190.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 180 Mt | Lower: 108 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.7 t | Lower: 0.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $4.03B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 227,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (3.7% for Pakistan, 3.5% for Bangladesh).
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 3.5%.
Average monthly earnings favour Bangladesh: $134 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the younger society: median age 20.6 versus 26.0 years.
Life expectancy is 7.1 years longer in Bangladesh (74.9 vs 67.8).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 6.0 times the size of Bangladesh: 881,912 km² versus 147,570 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 289.
Military
Pakistan spends 2.5 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $10.17B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Pakistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 227,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Bangladesh?
- Pakistan is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Bangladesh covers 147,570 km², so Pakistan is 6.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Bangladesh?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 175.69 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Bangladesh?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Bangladesh is richer: $2,597 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $456.32B for Bangladesh.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Bangladesh?
- Pakistan spends more: $10.17B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).