Bangladesh’s population stands at 16.98cr

The total population of the country is now 16.98 crore while the number of male is 8.40 crore and female 8.56 crore, said Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in its newly adjusted population report.

Of the population, 49.51 per cent are male, 50.43 per cent female, 0.01 per cent third gender and 0.05 per cent balance of population. The numbers of people from third gender community and balance of population are respectively 12,629 and 85,957.

Md Dilder Hossain, project director of Population and Housing Census 2022, revealed the information on Sunday at a press conference organised by BBS at the National Economic Council (NEC) conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Earlier in July last year, BBS numbered the total population in its preliminary report at 16.51 crore.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) then conducted post enumeration check (PEC) on the preliminary report, stating 16.98 crore as the country’s total population.

The population has grown by some 46.70 lakh people in the BIDS report, compared to the initial report prepared by the BBS.

According to the adjusted report of BBS, 11.60 crore or 68.34 per cent population is living in rural area and 5.37 crore or 31.66 per cent in urban area.

In 2011 population census, the total population was 14.98 crore. There was an undercount of 4.98 per cent in the 2001 census which dropped to 3.97 per cent in the census 2011.

Project Director Md Dilder Hossain said, “We have collected population and housing census using GIS (Geographic Information System) based digital map containing data of all households of the country gathered through Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) method.”

“We revealed the preliminary data last year. Then BIDS conducted PEC survey which found 2.75 per cent Net Coverage Error (NCE). Now for the first time, we have revealed the adjusted number of population,” he added.

Divisional and religious scenario

The adjusted report said the highest number of 4.56 crore people live in Dhaka division with while the lowest 93 lakh people are from Barishal Division.

According to adjusted report, 91 per cent of the country’s population is Muslim which in the 2011 census was 90.39 per cent. A total of 15.45 crore population are Muslim while 1.52 crore follow other religions. State Minister for Planning Professor Shamsul Alam said, “We are satisfied with BBS data and it is acceptable. Different international and domestic agencies use BBS data to prepare any report and survey.”

He said, “Instead of doing the job after every 10 years, we are considering conducting population census every year like European country of The Netherlands.”

Asked about the number of Bangladeshi expatriates, the minister said it would be better if the number of expatriates was included in the report.

About the matter, the project director said the expatriates’ number will be revealed in the detailed report which we are now working on.

Planning Minister MA Mannan said BBS will publish 133 separate reports on different topic under the census. It will publish the numbers of Bangladesh expatriates and foreign citizens living in the country.

Citing that Bangladesh has sufficient manpower and mechanism to conduct population census more frequently, he said, “Why we would have to wait for long 10 years to know about the demographic change in the country? We have to come out of this practice.”

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