Dhaka Population 2024

Dhaka's 2024 population is now estimated at 23,935,652In 1950, the population of Dhaka was 335,760Dhaka has grown by 726,036 in the last year, which represents a 3.13% annual change.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Dhaka, which typically includes Dhaka's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Dhaka is a diverse city located in central Bangladesh along the Buriganga River. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. In 2016, the population was 18.237 million in the Greater Dhaka Area.

Dhaka is the most populated city in Bangladesh, and it is also one of the most populated cities in the world. The Greater Dhaka Area has a population of over 18 million as of 2016, while the city itself has a population estimated at 8.5 million.

City Size and Population Density

It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with a density of 23,234 people per square kilometer within a total area of 300 square kilometers.

Dhaka Demographics

Dhaka and the municipalities that make up the Greater Dhaka Area have a total population of over 18 million, and the city has shown a population growth of about 4.2% annually. The vibrant culture and thousands of Bangladeshi businesses and international corporations have contributed to migration and population growth. However, like many other metropolises in the world, the growing population has led to an increase in pollution, congestion, and poverty, amongst other problems.

Islam is the dominant religion in Dhaka, with 90% of the population identifying as Muslim. Most Muslims are Sunni, and Ahmadiyya and Shia make up the remainder of the 90%. Hinduism is the second most practiced religion, and Christianity and Buddhism are considered minority religions practiced by some Dhakaites.

The primary language in Dhaka is Bengali, with English being the second most primarily used language. The literacy rate of the city has been increasing over the years, rising from 69.2% in 2001 to 74.6% in 2011.

A large number of Dhakaites work in the household or unorganized labor, while a substantial portion (approximately 800,000) work in the textile industry, as Dhaka’s garments exporting topped over 19 billion dollars in 2013. Approximately 23% of the population was unemployed according to data from 2013, with an estimated 34% of households living below the poverty line.

The average life expectancy is 70.4 years according to 2013 data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, which reflected a significant increase from 2009’s 67.2 years average. The average life expectancy for males is 68.8, up from 66.1 in 2009, and for females, the number rose from 68.7 to 71.2

Dhaka History

The name “Dhaka” is said to come from the dhak tree that was once plentiful in the area, while others believe the name comes from Dhakeshwari, or The Hidden Goddess, to whom a shrine is built. While the history of the area can be traced back to the 1st century, evidence shows that the area wasn’t settled until around the 7th century. Turkish and Afghan governors ruled the city until the Mughals arrived in 1608 and pronounced it the capital of Bengal.

As townships developed in the area, there was significant population growth. During the 17th century under the rule of Shaista Khan, the population of the city was close to one million. In 1765, control of the city was handed to the British East India Company. During British rule, schools, townships, and public works were developed, as well as a municipal water system in 1874 and electricity supply in 1878.

Dhaka was named as the capital of Eastern Bengal and Assam following the Partition of Bengal in 1905. However, Bengal united again in 1911. During the partition of India in 1947, Dhaka was named as the capital of East Bengal as part of Pakistan, which led to an increase in population as hundreds of thousands of Muslim immigrants flooded in. Following the Bhola cyclone in 1970, the country of Bangladesh declared its independence, and after India fell in Operation Searchlight, Bangladesh and its cities – including Dhaka – became independent.

Dhaka is known worldwide as the City of Mosques, as there are hundreds of mosques that have been built in the city. The city is also considered the industrial and commercial center of Bangladesh with its trade in such goods as jute, rice, sugar, and tea, as well as for its thriving textile industry. Dhaka also has a rich cultural history, which can be seen through the modern National Museum or historic sites including Lal Bagh Fort.

Dhaka Population Growth

Migration from rural areas of the country to urban Dhaka is an active contributor to the population growth. This rural migration accounted for 60% population growth throughout the 1960s and 1970s. While this growth has slowed since that time, Dhaka continues to show steady growth, with estimates placing the 2020 population at almost 21 million, while 2030 may see as many as 27.3 million residents. The fast-growing population has already put tremendous stress on the city, as evidenced by its high rates of poverty, and future concerns include increasing congestion, a higher percentage of unemployment and inadequate infrastructure.

Country
Bangladesh
Growth Rate
3.13%

Dhaka Population 2024

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Growth
1950335,760
1951343,7402.38%7,980
1952358,9994.44%15,259
1953374,8914.43%15,892
1954391,5104.43%16,619
1955408,8664.43%17,356
1956427,0164.44%18,150
1957445,9194.43%18,903
1958465,6874.43%19,768
1959486,3314.43%20,644
1960507,9214.44%21,590
1961543,5657.02%35,644
1962602,54610.85%58,981
1963667,92610.85%65,380
1964740,50610.87%72,580
1965820,74010.84%80,234
1966909,79610.85%89,056
19671,008,51510.85%98,719
19681,118,10410.87%109,589
19691,239,25110.84%121,147
19701,373,71810.85%134,467
19711,522,77610.85%149,058
19721,688,24810.87%165,472
19731,871,16910.83%182,921
19742,056,2979.89%185,128
19752,221,0558.01%164,758
19762,399,2678.02%178,212
19772,591,2288%191,961
19782,798,8458.01%207,617
19793,023,0978.01%224,252
19803,265,6638.02%242,566
19813,519,1367.76%253,473
19823,775,1357.27%255,999
19834,049,7567.27%274,621
19844,344,7757.28%295,019
19854,660,3847.26%315,609
19864,999,4027.27%339,018
19875,363,0837.27%363,681
19885,753,7757.28%390,692
19896,171,7357.26%417,960
19906,620,6977.27%448,962
19917,041,2816.35%420,584
19927,344,4194.31%303,138
19937,659,7194.29%315,300
19947,989,0184.3%329,299
19958,332,4744.3%343,456
19968,691,2004.31%358,726
19979,064,3184.29%373,118
19989,454,0034.3%389,685
19999,860,4404.3%406,437
200010,284,9474.31%424,507
200110,695,8283.99%410,881
200211,083,0513.62%387,223
200311,484,2923.62%401,241
200411,900,6423.63%416,350
200512,330,8793.62%430,237
200612,777,2963.62%446,417
200713,239,8743.62%462,578
200813,719,8713.63%479,997
200914,215,8773.62%496,006
201014,730,5373.62%514,660
201115,263,8283.62%533,291
201215,816,4263.62%552,598
201316,389,0283.62%572,602
201416,982,3633.62%593,335
201517,597,1773.62%614,814
201618,234,2493.62%637,072
201718,894,3853.62%660,136
201819,578,4213.62%684,036
201920,283,5523.6%705,131
202021,005,8603.56%722,308
202121,741,0903.5%735,230
202222,478,1173.39%737,027
202323,209,6163.25%731,499
202423,935,6523.13%726,036
202524,652,8643%717,212
202625,359,1452.86%706,281
202726,054,3262.74%695,181
202826,738,2092.62%683,883
202927,411,8192.52%673,610
203028,075,6602.42%663,841
203128,729,7572.33%654,097
203229,373,2152.24%643,458
203330,005,9482.15%632,733
203430,626,8502.07%620,902
203531,233,6511.98%606,801
showing: 86 rows

Dhaka Population Data (Urban Area)

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Other Cities in Bangladesh

  1. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics - Dhaka information and statistics

Sources