The rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth and death rates—remains a key driver of population growth in Bangladesh. As of recent data, Bangladesh's RNI is approximately 1.1% per year, reflecting a significant decline from previous decades due to successful family planning initiatives and improvements in healthcare. This rate is lower than that of neighboring Pakistan, which has an RNI of about 1.9%, indicating a faster natural population growth in Pakistan. In contrast, India’s RNI is similar to Bangladesh, hovering around 1.0%, suggesting comparable demographic trends between the two countries. Meanwhile, Nepal’s RNI is slightly higher at around 1.3%, and Myanmar’s is lower, at about 0.7%. These differences highlight Bangladesh’s progress in moderating population growth relative to some neighbors, while still experiencing a higher natural increase than more developed countries in the region.
| Year | Rate of Natural Increase | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2.499 | 94,584,305 |
| 1990 | 2.458 | 106,098,971 |
| 1995 | 2.366 | 117,374,090 |
| 2000 | 2.132 | 128,730,802 |
| 2005 | 1.761 | 138,574,556 |
| 2010 | 1.527 | 146,553,896 |
| 2015 | 1.379 | 154,500,279 |
| 2020 | 1.264 | 162,532,538 |
| 2024 | 1.174 | 168,697,184 |
| 2025 | 1.148 | 170,183,916 |
| 2026 | 1.123 | 171,643,404 |
| 2030 | 1.011 | 177,171,302 |
| 2035 | 0.852 | 183,161,334 |
| 2040 | 0.706 | 187,970,717 |
| 2045 | 0.582 | 191,663,230 |
| 2050 | 0.472 | 194,343,726 |
| 2055 | 0.361 | 196,009,463 |
| 2060 | 0.242 | 196,569,652 |
| 2065 | 0.118 | 195,934,397 |
| 2070 | -0.002 | 194,091,574 |
| 2075 | -0.113 | 191,122,698 |
| 2080 | -0.212 | 187,169,611 |
| 2085 | -0.301 | 182,385,760 |
| 2090 | -0.373 | 176,942,611 |
| 2095 | -0.431 | 171,028,963 |
| 2100 | -0.478 | 164,803,115 |
Data from US Census International Database