Bangladesh’s Population Now At 175.7 Million: UNFPA Unveils SWOP 2025, With Youth and Reproductive Rights in Focus

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released its flagship annual report, State of World Population (SWOP) 2025, estimating Bangladesh’s population at 175.7 million. The report, launched in Dhaka, sheds light on the country’s demographic trends and stresses the urgent need to uphold sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), especially for women and young people.

Speaking at the launch, UNFPA Bangladesh Representative Catherine Breen Kamkong emphasised that two-thirds of Bangladesh’s population—about 115 million—are of working age, creating a unique window to reap the demographic dividend. “This is an opportunity Bangladesh must not miss,” Kamkong said, while also warning about the emerging challenge of population ageing, with 12 million people now aged 65 and above.

A Youthful Nation, But Barriers Persist

With 33 million adolescents and nearly 50 million people aged 10–24, the report underscores that young people are at the heart of Bangladesh’s future. Yet, the path to a healthy and empowered youth remains obstructed by early marriage, limited access to contraception, and poor-quality sexuality education.

The SWOP 2025 report, titled “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World”, reframes global debates about fertility. It argues the core issue is not how many children people are having, but whether they can make informed, voluntary choices about reproduction.

“Around the world, and here in Bangladesh, people—especially women and young people—are unable to realise their reproductive intentions due to systemic, economic, and social barriers,” said Kamkong.

Global Patterns, Local Realities

Globally, fertility trends vary dramatically. South Korea now has the lowest fertility rate in the world at 0.8 children per woman, while Niger leads with 5.8 children per woman. Bangladesh, sitting at a replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1, might seem balanced, but regional disparities persist. Adolescent birth rates remain high in rural and coastal districts, fuelled by social norms and a lack of access to SRHR services.

Investment Gap in the Health Sector

The report also warns of high out-of-pocket health expenses, limiting access to essential reproductive care. Kamkong called for increased public investment, noting that Bangladesh spends only 0.7% of its GDP and 2% of its national budget on health.

“We hope this will rise to 5% of GDP and 15% of the budget,” she said, adding that such investment would strengthen the health workforce, ensure availability of life-saving medicines, and expand contraceptive options for women.

Looking Ahead

UNFPA’s findings are a wake-up call. As Bangladesh stands on the threshold of its demographic opportunity, it must double down on policies that uphold bodily autonomy, access to modern contraception, and youth-friendly health services. The future lies not just in numbers, but in agency.

Download The State of World Population report

Source: BSS