Bangladesh vs Japan: population comparison
Current population of Bangladesh
178,046,482
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 2,002
- Deaths today
- 511
- Change today (UTC)
- +1,218
Current population of Japan
122,696,542
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 400
- Deaths today
- 935
- Change today (UTC)
- −346
Bangladesh has a population of 175,686,899 and Japan has 123,366,734 (2025 estimates). Bangladesh is currently larger by 52,320,165 people — about 1.4 times Japan's population. They rank 8 and 12 in the world respectively.
Their trajectories differ: Bangladesh grows at +1.22% per year versus −0.49% for Japan. One population is expanding while the other shrinks — the gap between them widens every year.
The lead has changed hands: Bangladesh overtook Japan in 1997, according to the historical series.
Beyond size, the structures differ: Bangladesh is the younger society (median age 26.0 vs 49.8); Bangladesh is far more crowded at 1,319 people per km² against 342.
Bangladesh vs Japan population, 1960–2025
Side by side
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 175,686,899 | 123,366,734 |
| Annual growth | +1.22% | −0.49% |
| Yearly change | +2,124,535 | −608,637 |
| Density (P/km²) | 1,319 | 342 |
| Land area (km²) | 129,980 | 364,569 |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 49.8 yrs |
| Fertility rate | 2.14 | 1.15 |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | 84.0 yrs |
| Urban population | 33% | 92% |
| World share | 2.14% | 1.50% |
| 2050 projection (UN) | 214,709,097 | 105,123,167 |
Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Bangladesh · Japan
Bangladesh vs Japan FAQ
Is Bangladesh bigger than Japan by population?
Bangladesh currently has the larger population: 175,686,899 versus 123,366,734 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 52.32 million people.
When did Bangladesh overtake Japan in population?
Bangladesh passed Japan in 1997, based on the countries' official population series.
Which grows faster, Bangladesh or Japan?
Bangladesh currently grows faster: +1.22% per year versus −0.49%.
How do Bangladesh and Japan compare in 2050?
UN medium-variant projections put Bangladesh at 214,709,097 and Japan at 105,123,167 in 2050.