Bangladesh: population density and ethnic composition. Bangladesh, population - People's Republic of Bangladesh Population of Bangladesh

The first thing that catches the eye of a tourist interested in life in Bangladesh is that the local population leads it almost on the street. There is a feeling that people only spend the night in houses, and spend most of the day outside them, where they work, eat, wash and rest.

View of the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka

Despite the large crowding of the population and not very attractive, in the opinion of a European, living conditions, it is difficult to find dissatisfied among the local inhabitants: natural optimism and unpretentiousness help them survive in not the most comfortable conditions.

Bangladesh is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering India and Myanmar and washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal. In terms of population, the country ranks 8th in the world, it is home to about 170 million people. The indigenous people are Bengalis (98%), the main spoken language is Bengali, but many understand and know English - the language of business communication and tourist services. The capital is the city of Dhaka, with a population of more than 11 million people. In 1971, the former English colony gained independence and became a unitary republic.

Location of Bangladesh on the map

Bengalis are very religious, most of the inhabitants profess Islam, and Dhaka is even called the capital of mosques: there are more than 700 of them, but even this number is not enough for everyone, and people pray on the streets.

The capital is heavily overpopulated, and the real scourge of city life is the transport problem.

Transport in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, transport is represented by four main types: buses, rail, water transport and taxis. In the cities, locals and tourists prefer to use the services of motorcycle and cycle rickshaws, as the roads are clogged and it is very difficult to get through traffic jams to the right place by public transport. The country has three main passenger airlines operating domestic and international flights: Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Regent Airways, United Airways.

Historical and cultural attractions

Bangladesh is not very well known to foreign tourists, although it is a beautiful country with wonderful nature, rich culture and very friendly people. One of the main attractions of the country are the world-famous architectural structures, including the largest Buddhist monastery in Paharpur, the Hindu temples of Shiva, Govinda and Jagannath, located near the Indian border. Among the UNESCO-protected sites is the lost city of mosques Bagerhat, located at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra.

See in the video: the lost city of mosques Bagerhat.

The palaces and mosques of the capital are its visiting card, the national treasure of the country. Of greatest interest is the inspection of such architectural sights as:

• Natore Rajbari Palace - former royal residence;

• Pink Palace Ahsan Manzil - National Museum of Bangladesh;

• Fort Lalbach - a palace-fortress of the Mughal era;

• Baitul-Mukarram Mosque ("Holy House") - the national mosque of Bangladesh;

• the Hussaini Dalan mosque - the house of the spiritual leader - the imam;

• Star Mosque - Tara Mosque;

Of no less interest is visiting national nature reserves, including the largest mangrove forest in the world - Sundarban, "Chittagon Hills" - the place of residence of ancient Buddhist tribes who have preserved nature in its original form, Lavachara National Park, Lake Kaptai, where divers have a unique the opportunity to swim in the underwater forest of lotuses and lilies.

View of the Chittagon Hills

A tourist who wants to combine a cultural holiday with a visit to the resort places of the country can be advised to go to the beach area of ​​the southeast of Bangladesh - Cox's Bazar, located near the border with Myanmar. There is one of the longest beaches in the world (120 km) - Inani Beach. Interestingly, the waters of the local resorts are absolutely free from sharks, which is not often found in these places.

The national composition of the state, which is among the ten largest in the world in terms of population and population density, but occupies a small territory, is diverse. What is interesting: despite the fact that most of the inhabitants of the republic are indigenous, the state as a whole is represented by many small tribal peoples and is of interest by the ratio of the occupied territory to the density and number of inhabitants of Bangladesh. Density area of ​​the territory - these and other indicators that affect the demographic situation are considered in this material and analyzed taking into account the situation in other countries.

Briefly about Bangladesh

The Republic of Bangladesh is a unitary state: all parts of the country are in an equal position and have no special status or rights. The small state is surrounded by India, with the exception of the 271 km long border with Myanmar and the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Today, Bangladesh is an agro-industrial country with a developing economy, has a significant ethno-cultural education, but remains one of the poorest states in Asia. Periodically, the population suffers from serious natural disasters and social problems: floods that destroy agricultural land, prolonged droughts or terrorist attacks.

The state of Bangladesh is distinguished by a rich culture. Population density, by the way, in this case is one of the shaping factors in matters of cultural heritage, religion and peculiar traditions of the region. Such a people, so diverse in ethnic composition and religious affiliation, who are forced to live in a small area, miraculously merges into a unique single whole.

Territory of Bangladesh

The territory of the state is almost 150 thousand square kilometers. An insignificant share is occupied by the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe water surface - only 6.4 km 2 in international borders. In terms of territory, Bangladesh ranks 92nd in the world and 27th in Asia. Compared with the cities of the Russian Federation: the territory of the state corresponds to the area of ​​such cities as Belgorod, Tver or Murmansk, and half the size of Tolyatti or Penza.

At the same time, the population does not allow residents of the Republic of Bangladesh to feel completely free. The population density of Russian cities comparable in area is 20, 76 and even 230 times less, respectively. Of course, this is not at all surprising, because the Asian state is the seventh most densely populated per square kilometer in the world.

The number of inhabitants of the republic

According to the state census, the population of Bangladesh in 2010 was a little over 140 million people. According to an estimate as of 2016, the figure increased by 30 million inhabitants. The data is proportional to the natural annual population growth, but slightly exceeds the demographic forecast.

The population of Bangladesh is amazing. The republic is incomparable in size with the Russian Federation, but in terms of the number of inhabitants it surpasses Russia by 25 million people. Thus, both in Bangladesh and in Russia live 2% of the population of the entire globe.

Population distribution by regions

Bangladesh is a unitary state (all regions are in an equal position in relation to each other and the capital and do not have any exclusive rights) and is divided into eight administrative regions - divisions. Each region is named after the largest city in its composition.

The regions are in turn divided into districts, sub-districts and police departments. Further, the division depends on the size of the settlement: in large cities, several sections are subordinate to the police department, each of which consists of quarters, in small settlements - several communes.

Most of the population of Bangladesh is employed in agriculture (63%). Therefore, residents who live in large cities (administrative centers of regions and suburbs) are a minority - only 27% of the total number of citizens. At the same time, 7% of the population is concentrated in the capital. In Russia, the ratio of residents of the capital to the total number of citizens is slightly higher: 8.4%, while residents of large cities make up more than 40%.

A comparison of Russia and Bangladesh in terms of population density in the capitals provides the following data: almost 5 thousand people per 1 km 2 in Moscow against a little more than 23 thousand inhabitants in Dhaka. The difference of almost five times is not as great as the overall figure for the countries, because the total population density in Russia is 134 times less than the corresponding size of an Asian state.

Demographic changes

The population dynamics of Bangladesh has a positive trend. The number of inhabitants is steadily increasing, which is typical for most developing countries. So, at the beginning of the 20th century, almost 30 million citizens lived in the republic, by the beginning of World War II the population exceeded 40 million, and in 1960 the official census recorded 50 million inhabitants.

Since the Cold War, there has been a dramatic increase in population, with population slightly more than doubling in the last forty years of the twentieth century. At the same time, the republic is in 73rd place in the general list.

Average population density in Bangladesh

The population density of Bangladesh for 2016 is 1165 people per square kilometer. The indicator is calculated as follows: the total population is divided by the territory of the state. As already mentioned, the republic ranks seventh in the world in terms of population density. Bangladesh ahead of Maldives, Malta, Bahrain, Vatican, Singapore and Monaco

For some reason, questions about the population density of Bangladesh (in comparison with other countries) are often found in school textbooks on the geography of Russian eighth graders:

1. “Where is the highest population density: in the UK, China, Bangladesh?” The answer can be found by referring to reference books. Thus, the density is only 380 people per square kilometer, and China - 143. Answer: Bangladesh.
2. "Compare Russia and Bangladesh in terms of population density." You can answer this way: “The population density of Russia is very low and is approximately 8 people / km 2. The population density of Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world - 1145 people / km 2, i.e. 143 times more. The low population density of the Russian Federation is explained by vast uninhabited territories, the high rate in Bangladesh (population density) is typical for most developing countries.”

Key statistics

Other indicators in the field of demography are the distribution of the population by age, gender, literacy rate, birth and death rates, as well as socially significant values: pension and demographic burden, replacement rate, life expectancy.

At the moment, most of the population (61%) are people of working age, the ratio of men to women is approximately 1:1 (50.6% and 49.4%, respectively). The average life expectancy for both sexes is 69 years, which is only 2 years less than the global average.

The birth rate in Bangladesh exceeds the death rate, the natural population growth is positive and amounts to 16‰ (or + 1.6%). Despite social, economic and food problems, demographic security (protection of the size and composition of the population from external and internal threats) in Bangladesh remains at a sufficient level.

Social burden on society

Bangladesh is experiencing a fairly significant social burden on society: each employed person must ensure the production of one and a half times more goods and services than is required for himself. The child load ratio, i.e. the ratio of the population below working age to adult citizens, is 56%. The pension burden ratio (the ratio of residents of retirement age to the able-bodied population) corresponds to most developing countries and is at the level of 7.6%.

National composition and languages

The population density in Bangladesh per 1 km2 is quite high (1145 people), which contributes to the mixing and close interaction of cultures, religions and ethno-cultural formations. The vast majority are Bengalis (98%), the remaining percentage of the population are from North India.

Almost all the inhabitants of the country are fluent in Bengali, which is the official language. People from the Indian state of Bihar use the Urdu language in everyday life. Part of the population (especially young people and citizens occupying high-ranking ranks) speaks fluent English.

The group of small peoples living in Bangladesh includes 13 main tribes and several other tribal peoples. They are classified by language:

1. Indo-European language family: it includes Bengali and Biharis, who make up the majority in the national composition of Bangladesh.
2. Sino-Tibetan language family: the peoples of the Tibeto-Burman language family are widely represented (tribes of Garo, Marma, Burmese, Mizo, Chakma and others). In total, they make up almost a million residents of Bangladesh, to which 300,000 refugees from neighboring Myanmar (Burmese) are added.
3. Austroasiatic language family: Munda (Santals, Munda, Ho) and Khasi are distinguished. Tribes live in small groups in the western part of Bangladesh.
4. Dravidian language family: the northeastern group of the language family is represented by only one nationality - Oraons or Kurukh (self-name). In terms of cultural and everyday features, the Kurukhs are close to the peoples of the Munda.

Thus, the ethno-cultural diversity of the republic is significant. At the same time, Bangladesh society has not lost its collective character.

Religiosity of the population of the republic

The diversity of nationalities is the basis for differences in the religious affiliation of the inhabitants. The republic is developing along the path of a secular state (at least the government is making every effort to do so), but Bangladesh remains a de facto religious country. In 1972, the process of forming a religious state was stopped by the Supreme Court, which returned the development of the republic to the mainstream of the Constitution.

The state religion - Islam - is practiced by almost ninety percent of the population. The Islamic community of Bangladesh has about 130 million people, making it the fourth largest in the world after Indonesia, India and Pakistan.

Adherents of Hinduism are 9.2% of the population, Buddhism - 0.7%, Christianity - 0.3%. Other religions and tribal cults make up only 0.1%, but boast unprecedented heterogeneity due to the large number of disunited tribes.

Problems of the Republic

Bangladesh suffers from natural disasters and terrorism. In 2005-2013, terrorist acts claimed the lives of 418 residents of the republic, terrorists and intelligence officers. But much sadder is the situation with poverty, famine, droughts, floods and other natural disasters. So, the cyclone in 1970 caused the death of half a million people, the famine of 1974-1975 and the catastrophic flood of 1974 claimed the lives of two thousand people, left millions of inhabitants homeless and destroyed 80% of the annual crop.

Comparison of Bangladesh with developed countries

Bangladesh is a typical developing country. This fact confirms not only the historical past, but also the present socio-demographic and economic state of the republic.

Thus, Bangladesh is a typical developing country. Moreover, it is the poorest state among the overpopulated. The population density of Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world, and the number is larger than in Russia. At the same time, the territory of the states does not go to any comparison.

Bangladesh is a compact state. It is located in Southeast Asia. Its closest neighbors are Myanmar and India. The country has access to the waters of the Bay of Bengal. According to the UN, Bangladesh's population density and population are among the highest on the planet. The state occupies the eighth position in the world ranking. More than 170 million people live on its territory.

general information

The indigenous people of the country are Bengalis. They account for 98%. The official language is Bengali. The youth speaks English. It is gradually replacing the official one, becoming the main tool for business communication. The country's leadership is located in Dhaka. In the capital of Bangladesh, the population density and size corresponds to the situation in the country. More than eleven million people live in the metropolis.

The former British colony received independent status in 1971. The country declared itself a republic. Most of its citizens are Muslim. There are more than seven hundred mosques in Dhaka. Sometimes people take to the streets to pray. The main problem of the metropolis is high density and population. Bangladesh suffers from an imperfect transport system. Dhaka is choking in traffic jams.

Local drivers do not follow the rules of the road. A cacophony reigns on the roadway. Long-drawn-out beeps, squealing of brakes and dissatisfied cries of passengers are heard from everywhere. The visiting card of the country is national parks and reserves. The largest mangrove forest in the world grows on the territory of the state. The southeastern part of the country is given over to tourists. Here are the best beach and recreational areas. The length of the coastline exceeds one hundred kilometers.

Density and population of Bangladesh

At the end of January 2018, the number of residents of the state was 165,925,394. Men account for 50.6%, and women 49.4%. In less than a month, 98,511 children were born. About 6,000 babies are born every day. In two weeks, 26,626 people die. 1600 deaths are recorded daily. The value of migration for the first days of January of this year exceeded 13,700.

In one day, 850 people process visa documents. The quantitative growth of the density and population of Bangladesh tends to 60,000. It is 3,500 inhabitants per day. Over the past 2017, the number of citizens of the country increased by two million. The natural increase was 1.2%. According to experts, this figure will reach 2,456,000 in 2018. The level of migration flow will remain the same. About 3,300,000 children will be born, about one million people will die.

population growth

Let's see what the population in Bangladesh is in different years. In 1952, the rate of natural increase barely exceeded 2%. In 1964, it reached 3.5%. In the early seventies of the XX century, demographers recorded a sharp decline in the birth rate. The growth rate dropped to 1.7%. The situation began to improve in 1980. From then until 2008, the coefficient varied, reaching a minimum value of 1%.

What is the population of Bangladesh today? According to various sources, this parameter ranges from 165 to 170 million people. The total area of ​​the country exceeds 144,000 km². This indicator takes into account not only land areas, but also the water surface. The population density in 2018 was 1,152 people per square kilometer.

Age groups

The proportion of children and adolescents under the age of fifteen is 34.3%. The number of persons over fifteen but under sixty-five exceeds 61%. 4.7% of pensioners who have crossed the line of 64 years have been recorded. What is the population of Bangladesh under the gender differentiation system? There are 28,008,353 women in the first group, and 28,819,445 men. In the second age category, there are 53,233,454 women, and 48,071,663 representatives of the strong half of humanity.

In the third group, the number of women is 3,952,618, and men 3,783,433. The age pyramid of the country's population has a progressive character. It is typical for developing countries. Bangladesh has a short life expectancy. This is due to the high rate of early mortality. If we compare the population of Russia and Bangladesh, the numbers will surprise. Twenty million fewer people live on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The dependency ratio tends to 64%. This parameter means that the able-bodied population of the country is experiencing a colossal burden. The potential replacement ratio is 56.1%. The pension burden indicator is 7.6%.

Lifespan

An important metric that demographers highlight is the expected average number of years until a person dies. In the country, this parameter for both sexes is 69.8 years. It is about two years lower than in other countries of the world. The life expectancy of males in the state exceeds 67 years. Women die at the age of 71.

Education

The literate population in Bangladesh, which has one of the highest land area and population in the world, is 66,931,076. This group of people write and read fluently in the same language. According to the UN, about 42,000,000 citizens of the country are still illiterate. In percentage terms, the proportion of educated men is higher than that of women. It exceeds 64%. For ladies, this coefficient is 58%.

Young people speak not only their native language, but also English. It is used for communication in business circles, as well as in the tourism sector. This category includes residents of the country between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four.

Demographic background

The population in Bangladesh varies greatly by region. The maximum density falls on the capital district and large industrial centers of the state. In 1951, the number of inhabitants of the country did not exceed 50,000,000. In 1987, this figure had already reached the mark of 100,000,000 people. Rapid growth continued into the 21st century. In 2011, the number of citizens exceeded 150 million.

True, during this period there was a tendency to reduce the natural increase in the population. In 1998, the ratio exceeded 2%, and in 2005 it dropped to 1.5%. In the last three years, this parameter has not changed and is equal to 1.2%.

Religious composition

Almost 90% of the country's inhabitants are Muslim. The number of Hindus does not exceed 10%. The country is famous for the huge number of functioning mosques and prayer houses. Religious institutions are practically exempt from paying taxes to the state treasury.

Population in Bangladesh by city

The number of metropolitan residents registered in Dhaka exceeds fifteen million. There are approximately 5,000,000 permanent residents in Chittagong. In Khulna, the number of citizens has exceeded 1,700,000, in Rajahi it has reached 930,000 people.

infant mortality

Of one thousand newborn children, about fifty children die. Mortality among boys is higher. Poor families do not draw up documents for babies until the heirs reach the age of ten. The reason for this is the high mortality rate associated with the huge population in Bangladesh.

The total fertility rate is 2.45 per woman. The government of Bangladesh spends no more than 4% of GDP on the development of the health care system. The number of HIV carriers is 8000. The percentage of infection exceeds 0.1%. The number of deaths caused by AIDS has reached 400 cases.

Distribution of residents by districts

The most populated regions of the country are traditionally considered the metropolitan area of ​​Dhaka and the industrial center of Chittagong. The population density in these areas, as well as in Khulna and Narayangaj, is 1,550 people per square kilometer. The lowest number of people in Bangladesh is observed in the mountainous areas, as well as on the coast. In these places, the density indicator does not exceed 400 people per km².

Urbanization

Prior to 1960, most citizens lived in rural areas. Only five percent of the city dwellers were registered as permanent residents of municipalities with a population of over 5,000. In 1990, 18% were already urban dwellers. In ten years, the population of Dhaka has increased by 60%. Over the subsequent period, this parameter reached 411%.

Dhaka owes its rapid development to its advantageous geographical position. Chalna is the second largest seaport in the country. And the cities of Khulna and Narayanganj became the centers of the jute industry. The presence of an abundance of jobs has attracted hundreds of thousands of migrants from all over the country to these parts.

Standard of living

About a third of the country is below the poverty line. Citizens of Bangladesh earn no more than 90 rubles a day. Approximately 26% experience a constant feeling of hunger and do not receive the required amount of nutrients. Delay in physical development was noted in 50% of children under the age of five. About 46% of adolescents suffer from anemia and dystrophy.

The rural population does not receive approximately 45% of the required daily caloric intake. In metropolitan areas, things are even worse. There, this figure is 76%. The average salary in the industrial zones of the country is 4,800 rubles. It is higher in neighboring India and Pakistan. With the complete absence of social infrastructure, the unemployment rate in the state exceeds fifty percent.

mentality

The total poverty of the inhabitants of the country did not make the population greedy. In Bangladesh, it is customary to invite guests. Not only friends, colleagues or buddies can be invited to their home, but also any stranger with whom a conversation began on the street. The guests are generously fed. If the visitor refuses food or eats little, by this he offends the hosts.

The main mode of transport in the cities of the country is a bicycle and tricycles. The latter can be cargo, passenger and universal. They carry household members and all household belongings. It is noteworthy that Bangladeshis spend almost no time at home. They only sleep in it. All day they work or communicate in the market.

Economy

Bangladesh is considered to be one of the most backward states on the planet. The country's GDP is 54.8 billion USD. The annual income of the inhabitant does not exceed 60,000 rubles. The share of the state economy in the world market is not more than 0.2%. Since the 2000s, the country has been developing dynamically. Its GDP is steadily increasing. The rate of inflation is gradually decreasing. According to unofficial data, the unemployment rate will reach 35% in the near future.

But the economy is still agro-industrial. It is characterized by an actively growing share of the tertiary sphere. Agricultural production accounts for 26% of GDP, industry for 25%, and services for 49%. Women are predominantly employed in agriculture. Their share is 78%. The industry is dominated by men.

The most significant industry in Bangladesh is the production of textiles. The country specializes in the manufacture of cotton fabrics and tailoring. There are more than a hundred large industries that serve foreign companies. They use imported raw materials. Small factories use locally produced material. Children, old people and women work for them. Wages are minimal and conditions are deemed life-threatening.

Export

Bangladesh supplies tea, natural oils and sugar to the countries of Europe, Southeast Asia and America. Rafinad produces fifteen modern complexes. They belong to the state. Sugar is made from cane raw materials. The volume of tea supplies exceeds 54 thousand tons per year. The chemical industry is actively developing. Her profile is fertilizer. Bangladesh produces more than two million tons of urea per year.

The population in February 2017 approached the mark of 7 billion 498 million people. The number of earthlings is growing exponentially, but most of them live in 10 countries of the world. We bring to your attention a list of the most numerous states in this article.

1. China

Today, there are about 1 billion 390 million people in the Celestial Empire. There are almost 35 million more men in the People's Republic of China than women. The PRC is the third largest country in terms of area, the second largest economy in terms of nominal GDP, and the first in terms of purchasing power parity. China is not in vain called the "factory of the world", the largest exporter, industrial leader. The country owns the world's largest gold and foreign exchange reserves, is famous for its large-scale space programs, is a member of the "nuclear club" and boasts the largest armed forces.

Natural gas, which is the cleanest type of fossil fuel, is widely used as a fuel in residential buildings for heating, water heating ...

2. India

The population of the Indian Republic is 1 billion 329 million people, men make up 52% ​​of the total. In terms of territory, India is the seventh on the planet, while the vast majority of Indians live below the poverty line. The country has a nuclear potential, is a member of international organizations, but the most pressing problems to this day remain poverty and a high level of corruption. The most populous cities are Mumbai, the former Bombay (13 million) and Delhi (11 million). The leading industries are agriculture, automotive, electronics, metalworking, oil production and oil refining.

3. USA

4.4% of the world's population is in the United States of America (326.8 million). The female population of the New World is slightly larger than the male population. In terms of area, America ranks 4th in the world, in terms of purchasing power parity - the second. The United States, a founding member of NATO, has a huge nuclear potential, is famous for its space programs and is considered the only superpower in existence today.

4. Indonesia

The population in mid-2018 was 263 million people, of which the ratio of men and women is approximately the same. Indonesia is a presidential republic, which is distinguished by an unusually large ethno-cultural diversity. The vast majority of the population is Muslim, making Indonesia the largest country where Islam is practiced. The main sectors of the economy are agriculture (rural residents make up 56% of all Indonesians), services, tourism, food and chemical, textile and tobacco industries, automobile and mechanical engineering.

5. Brazil

The number of inhabitants inhabiting Brazil is more than 210 million people. The ratio of men and women is 49.2% to 51.8% in favor of the beautiful half of humanity. Over the past year, Brazilians have increased by 2 million people due to natural increase, 2.2 newborns per mother. The Federative Republic of Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking and largest state in South America. Most of the inhabitants profess Catholicism, the proportion of the white population is declining year by year due to mixed marriages and today is 92 million people, 82 million belong to the mixed race. GDP is formed due to developed agriculture, the extractive industry and industry.

6. Pakistan

The population of the country is 211 million people, women are 1% less than men. The demographics of Pakistan are changing due to the huge number of people leaving the country, and if the pace of emigration continues, population growth may soon turn negative. Pakistan is a Muslim country that appeared on the political map of the world in 1947. 20% of GNP comes from agriculture (the main crops are cotton and wheat), 24% of income comes from the industrial sector (hydropower, textile production). The main exports are rice, textiles, carpets and leather.

The first atomic bombs, dropped on Japan in August 1945, had a very modest yield compared to those that began to be made later. By...

7. Nigeria

The number of inhabitants of this exotic African country is 193.3 million people. Men and women are almost equal. Nigeria is characterized by a catastrophically low average life expectancy: for both sexes it is only 47 years. A little more than 59% of literate citizens, the rest do not even have access to secondary education. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the 14th largest state on the African continent and the leading producer of petroleum products on the "black continent". In terms of HIV infection, Nigeria is in 3rd place in the world, most Nigerians live in constant lack of water and food. There are more Christians in the country than Muslims, as a result of which wars on religious grounds periodically break out here.

8. Bangladesh

The country's population is 165 million people, of which 83 million are men and 82 million are women. Life expectancy for both sexes is 69.8 years. The People's Republic of Bangladesh is an Islamic state and the official language is Bengali. The country is one of the poorest in Asia, with 68% of the population employed in the agricultural sector, which specializes in rice, tea, potatoes, sugar cane, wheat and spices. The main export items are items made by folk artisans, clothing, leather, frozen seafood and fish.

9. Russia

The population of the Russian Federation at the beginning of 2018 is about 146.8 million people, the largest city is Moscow (more than 12 million). There are 7% fewer men in the country than women. The ratio of the urban population to the rural population is 74% to 26%, the average life expectancy for both sexes is 66.3 years. In terms of area, Russia ranks first in the world and borders on 18 countries. 75% of the inhabitants are Orthodox Christians, the state language is Russian. The country is the leader in the space industry and has the largest nuclear potential. The state's economy is replenished through the sale of energy, weapons, minerals.

Obesity has long been the scourge of the civilized countries of the world, and in some of them the proportion of people suffering from obesity has reached a critical point. Russia...

10. Japan

The population of the Land of the Rising Sun as of March 2018 was 126.5 million people, of which 64 million are women, 61 million are men, and infant mortality is one of the lowest in the world. A little more than 1 million children are born in Japan every year. Japan is a great economic power with 6,852 islands. The state is highly developed, with a long life expectancy - 82.3 years for both sexes and one of the highest GDP per capita. Leading industries: banking services, electronics, automotive, machine tools, shipbuilding and mechanical engineering, telecommunications.

The official name is the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It is located in the southern part of Asia (at the junction of the regions of South and Southeast Asia). The area is 144 thousand km2 (according to other sources - 147.6 and 148.4 thousand km2). Population 133 million people. (2002). The official language is Bangla (Bengali). The capital is Dhaka (Dhaka) (8.6 million people, 2002). Public holidays - Independence Day March 26 (since 1971), Victory Day December 16 (since 1971). The monetary unit is the taka (Bangladeshi taka).

Member of the UN (since 1974), Non-Aligned Movement (since 1972), OIC (since 1974), South Asian Cooperation Association (SAARC) (since 1985), IBRD, IMF, WTO, Asian Development Bank, etc.

Landmarks of Bangladesh

Geography of Bangladesh

It is located between 88°00' and 92°53' East longitudes and 20°30' and 26°45' North latitudes. It is washed by the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean). The coastline of 580 km in the south of the country is indented by dozens of estuaries, and is relatively stable only on the slightly indented southeastern coast. In the rest, the deltaic region, it is unstable, the largest of the river mouths have the character of estuaries with many islands. The coastal lowlands of the Sundarbans and the lowlands adjacent to it from the north are subject to the influence of tidal currents, seasonal river floods and monsoonal cyclones.

It borders India (4053 km) in the west, north and east and Myanmar (Burma) (193 km) in the southeast.

It is located on the Bengal Delta Lowland, one of the largest deltas in the world. The relief of almost the entire territory is flat, only in the east extending in a direction close to the meridional, low, slightly dissected mountains Lushai and Chittagong (the highest point is Mount Keokradang, 1230 km).

It is located in the delta of the rivers Ganges (Padma, the length in the country is 500 km), Brahmaputra (in the lower reaches - Jamuna) and Meghna. Other rivers are Tista, Surma, Karnaphuli, Rupsa. The Ganges-Brahmaputra system occupies the 3rd place in terms of water content among the world's rivers after the Amazon and the Congo. The flow of the Brahmaputra exceeds 600 km3, the Ganges - 430, Meghna - 30 km3. The low alluvial-deltaic territory is crossed by numerous rivers and channels with oxbow lakes, and abounds in lakes and canals. The water surface is 10 thousand km2, 7% of the total area.

Predominantly alluvial soils, loose loamy and sandy loamy are widespread. Restore fertility due to river sediments. There are silty soils. The soils are loose and easy to work.

The plant world is not rich, cultivated vegetation dominates. Forests have survived mainly only in the southeast in mountainous areas and in the south (mangrove formations) and occupy 16% of the area. In the mountains and on the uplands, the garjan tree and other valuable types of building timber, as well as various types of bamboo, dominate. The south is dominated by the sundri tree. Black mangroves-rhizophores grow near the sea.

Among wild animals, most of all are monkeys living in large herds. There are predators - Bengal tiger, leopard, striped hyena. Numerous rodents and insects. There are many birds, including the Bengal vulture, which cleans the area from carrion. Migratory birds arrive in the delta for wintering. Snakes and crocodiles are widely represented. The Bay of Bengal is rich in fish, shrimps and other marine life. Carp and labyrinth fish predominate in inland fresh waters.

There are few minerals. Recently, exceptionally large reserves of natural gas have been discovered (proven volumes are 1.5-2.1 trillion m3). There are deposits of coal at great depths, limestone and refractory clays, and radioactive sand has been found. The bowels have not been studied enough.

The climate is hot and humid, characteristic of the equatorial monsoon zone. The coldest month is January, the hottest month is April. Average annual temperatures increase in the direction from the northeast to the southwest. The country occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of rainfall. On average, St. 1900 mm of precipitation, their amount is especially high in the northeast (more than 3000 mm). It rains mainly from July to October.

Population of Bangladesh

Population density 925 people. per 1 km2. The population is growing annually by 1.6% with a birth rate of 25% and

mortality 9% (2002 estimate). Child mortality 68 people. per 1000 newborns, the average life expectancy is 61 years (according to other sources - 65 years). Net outflow (emigration) - approx. one%. Emigrants go mainly to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE) and Southeast Asia (Malaysia).

There are 100 women for every 105 men. The age structure is sharply shifted towards young people aged 15-24 years, according to calculations for 2000, the “youth hump” was 23%. The proportion of persons aged 25-64 years - 37%. Children under 14 and persons over 65 accounted for 40%. The retirement age is 60 years old. Urban population 20%.

Literate 56% of residents over 15 years old, 63% of men and 49% of women (2000).

The ethnic composition is homogeneous: 98% of the inhabitants are Bengalis, the rest are non-Bengali Muslims (the so-called Bihari) and representatives of various tribes (Santals, Khasi, Tipera, the most numerous are Chakma).

Linguistic homogeneity is even higher - Bengali (Bangla) is spoken by 99% of the population. The minority languages ​​belong to the Munda, Monkhmer and Assamo-Burmese groups. The educated part speaks English, which is used in office work, external affairs, and the media. Knowledge of Arabic and Persian is widespread, as well as Urdu, Hindi and a number of other Indian languages.

In religious terms, the majority are Muslims - 83%, Hindus - 16%, adherents of animistic cults - 1%.

History of Bangladesh

The independence of British India in August 1947 was accompanied by its division along religious lines into two independent states - the Indian Union and Pakistan. The northwestern and northeastern regions inhabited by Muslims were ceded to Pakistan. The latter constituted the province of East Bengal (since 1955 East Pakistan). She occupied an unequal economic and political position in the state (although more than 1/2 of the population of the entire country lived in it). The growth of Bengali nationalism was facilitated by an attempt by the central authorities to make Urdu the only state language of the country, which was practically not spoken in East Pakistan. It took years of heated discussions and bloody clashes so that in 1954 the Bengali language was recognized along with Urdu as the official language of Pakistan.

The dissatisfaction of the population of East Pakistan with their financial situation, political discrimination caused a movement for the expansion of provincial rights, and then the creation of their own state. The movement was led by the Avamilig (People's League) party, founded in 1949. In 1966, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a prominent state political figure and a supporter of the province's broad rights, became its leader. The situation escalated sharply after the general elections in December 1970, in which the Awami League won. The military regime of General A.M. Yahya Khana refused to redistribute power in accordance with the will of the people and tried to solve the problem by military means. The army attacked the Awami League (whose activity was banned) and other national-democratic organizations. Mujibur Rahman and some of his associates were thrown into prison. All over the province there were clashes between troops and rebel groups ("mukti bahini"). The mass of refugees rushed to India. In response to the repressions of the Pakistani military authorities, on March 26, 1971, the independence of a new state, Bangladesh, was proclaimed. The actions of the Mukti Bahini detachments with Indian military assistance led to the complete surrender of the Pakistani troops on December 16, 1971. On January 10, 1972, Mujibur Rahman returned to Bangladesh. On November 4, 1972, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution, which entered into force on December 16, 1972. Mujibur Rahman headed the country's government.

The young state inherited a difficult legacy, born of several centuries of colonial enslavement, decades of unequal status in Pakistan, as well as devastating military operations on the territory of the country. The situation was complicated by the worsening global economic situation, as well as huge natural disasters. Carrying out positive socio-economic measures, the leadership of Bangladesh relied more and more on administrative and political measures. In December 1974, a state of emergency was introduced in the country. In January 1975, the parliamentary form of government was replaced by a presidential one. Mujibur Rahman took over as head of state, concentrating all power in his hands. In February 1975, he dissolved all parties, and on the basis of the Awami League he created a single party - the Peasants' and Workers' People's League of Bangladesh (BAKSAL). However, such measures did not give ordinary people anything, they only gave rise to a feeling of discontent in them. In this situation, on August 15, 1975, a coup took place in the country, carried out by a group of military men. Mujibur Rahman and many members of his family were killed. Martial law was introduced in the country. In the military administration, the role of the chief of staff of the army (commander of the Ground Forces), General Ziaur Rahman, was significant. In November 1976 he became the head of the military administration, and in April 1977 - the president of the country. Right-wing religious forces have strengthened in the new situation. The principle of "absolute loyalty to Islam" was proclaimed. In 1988 Islam was declared the state religion.

The military were in power until the end. 1990. During this time, the country has not achieved any impressive economic achievements. The economic possibilities of the military bureaucracy of Bangladesh turned out to be very low. In addition, the military leaders paid the main attention to political problems, issues of strengthening their position, and the fight against rivals. And the Bangladeshi army itself did not provide a solid basis for its leaders. Civil strife, bloody showdowns, military clashes, conspiracies, and putsch attempts often took place in the army. During one such attempt in Chittagong on May 30, 1981, General Ziaur Rahman was killed. The head of the military administration was the chief of staff of the army, General Kh.M. Ershad. In December 1983, he assumed the powers of the president. On October 15, 1986, the general was elected president for a term of 5 years.

During the period of military rule, the political situation in the country was unstable. Weak, insecure military leaders constantly shuffled the "political deck": introduced and lifted a state of emergency, dissolved representative bodies and re-elected them, banned political parties, then allowed them and created various party blocs and coalitions, constantly amended the Constitution. This situation seriously complicated the internal political situation of the country, it had a negative impact on the development of its economy and foreign policy.

All this caused dissatisfaction among the broad masses of the population, opposition to the regime, and a broad movement for the restoration of civil democratic forms of government. Mass anti-government demonstrations, the "siege of Dhaka" followed constantly. In the midst of the crisis, H.M. Ershad did not receive support from the army leadership and on December 6, 1990, he resigned, and then was imprisoned on charges of corruption.

In the subsequent period, the mainspring of the internal political struggle was the rivalry between two large centrist parties - the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awamilig. The first was created in 1978 by Ziaur Rahman; after the assassination of the president, his widow Khaleda Zia Rahman took over the party. Since 1981, Hasina Vazed, the daughter of Mujibur Rahman, has become the head of Avamilig.

The BNP won the parliamentary elections on February 27, 1991. Khaleda Rahman became the first prime minister since the end of military rule in the country. The BNP also won the next election on February 15, 1996. However, the Awami League organized a powerful anti-government campaign, accusing the BNP of numerous election violations. The opposition managed to secure early elections in June 1996, which were won by Avamilig; Hasina Wazed headed the government of the country. However, in the next elections in October 2001, the BNP won the majority, Khaleda Rahman again became the country's prime minister, heading a coalition government in alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami and the United Islamic Front.

During the period of civil rule, to a certain extent, the economic and political situation in Bangladesh stabilized. The country managed to achieve self-sufficiency of the population with food, poverty decreased somewhat, and literacy increased. Foreign investment has grown. Despite the sharp struggle of rival parties, the political process as a whole did not go beyond the constitutional framework. Bangladesh has signed and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), a number of treaties on conventional weapons, disarmament and human rights.

The internal situation is complicated by the growth of criminal offenses and the strengthening of Islamic extremism. The latter circumstance negatively affects relations with India.

State structure and political system of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a unitary republic with a parliamentary form of government. The country has a 1972 constitution.

The country is divided into 6 regions: Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajahi, Barisal and Sylhet. Each of them consists of districts (there are 64 of them), districts (thana), of which there are 492 in the country. The lowest administrative unit - "union" - includes a group of villages, their approx. 4.5 thousand villages in the country 68 thousand

The largest cities (1999, million people): Dhaka (approx. 7) - the capital of the state, industrial and cultural center; Chittagong (2.7) - the main seaport and commercial and industrial center with a free export zone; Khulna (1.6) - a major transport hub; Rajshahi (0.7) - has a large university, opened in 1954.

The constitution proclaimed Bangladesh a unitary, independent, sovereign republic and declared that all power in the republic belongs to the people.

Bangladesh is a republic of a parliamentary type with the rule of representative bodies and a clear separation of powers. The supreme legislative power is represented by the Parliament. The executive branch is headed by the government and its prime minister. The President of the country performs mainly ceremonial and representative functions. The prime minister plays the leading role in the system of government. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court, which manages the activities of all lower judicial bodies and ensures that the activities of administrative bodies do not go beyond the limits established by law and do not infringe on the basic rights of citizens, fixed by the Constitution.

The highest body of legislative power is the unicameral parliament (National Assembly). It consists of 300 elected members. The term of office of Parliament is 5 years. Its first session is convened within a month after the general election. Bills are adopted by a simple majority of votes of deputies; amendments to the Constitution require at least 2/3 of the votes. All bills (except financial ones) require the approval of the President. A presidential veto can be overridden by re-passing the bill in Parliament. The right of veto practically does not extend to the process of adopting amendments to the Constitution.

The supreme body of executive power is the central government. Its head is the Prime Minister. All members of the government are appointed by the president. However, in accordance with the Constitution, the leader of the majority party in Parliament must be appointed to the position of Prime Minister. The government is formed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. Only a Member of Parliament can be a Minister. The Government is collectively responsible to the National Assembly and is in power as long as it has the support of a majority of the members of Parliament. Otherwise, it must resign or the prime minister will propose to the president that parliament be dissolved and new elections called. The resignation of the head of government means the dissolution of the latter.

The head of state is the president. Elected for a term of 5 years by members of parliament. He depends on the majority party that nominated him and secured his election as president. Differences between them can lead to the resignation of the president, as happened with B. Chowdhury as a result of his conflict with the leadership of the BNP in June 2002. In September, another supporter of this party, I. Ahmed, was elected to the post of head of state instead of him. The president can be removed from office by impeachment, for this proposal must be voted by at least 2/3 of the members of parliament. Formally, the head of state has broad powers. He appoints and removes, in accordance with established rules, the prime minister, ministers, members of the Supreme Court, ambassadors, members of the Electoral Commission. The President is entrusted with the supreme command of the Armed Forces of the Republic. He convenes sessions of Parliament and dissolves it. Has a suspensive veto. However, all these functions are performed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

At the first session after the elections, the parliament elects the speaker and his deputy. The Speaker presides over the meetings of the National Assembly, manages its work, and monitors the observance of the regulations. In the event of the President's temporary absence, his duties are performed by the Speaker of the House, and the Speaker's work is carried out by his Deputy.

The head of the supreme body of executive power is the prime minister. He is appointed by the president from among the members of parliament, provided that the candidate has the confidence of the majority of deputies. The president exercises his powers on the recommendations of the prime minister, who is the main link in the state machine of Bangladesh.

The right to vote is granted to citizens who have reached the age of 18. The age limit for a deputy of parliament is 25 years, for the president - 35 years. Parliament is elected for a term of 5 years through direct, secret and equal elections according to the majoritarian system of relative majority. To conduct elections in the country, 300 electoral districts, approximately equal in population, are created, each of which has one deputy. If any candidate has no rivals, then he remains elected without a vote. The same principle applies to other elections (for example, presidential ones).

In the regions, the administrative apparatus is managed by the commissioner appointed by the center, in the districts - by the deputy commissioner, in the thana - by the district administrator, in the "union" - by the head of the local administration. The lower state body is appointed by the higher one and is subordinate to it. At all these levels, there are self-government bodies ("parishads"), elected by the population for 5 years.

Prominent State Officials. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-75), first leader of Bangladesh in 1972-75. Ziaur Rahman (1936-81), with con. August 1975 - Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces, from November 1976 - head of the military regime in the country, in 1977-81 - President of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia Rahman (born 1945), widow of Ziaur Rahman, head of the BNP, prime minister in March 1991-June 1996 and in October 2001. Hasina Wazed (b. 1946), daughter of Mujibur Rahman, heads Awami League. Prime Minister (June 1996-June 2001).

Bangladesh has a multi-party system; There are approximately 100 political parties in the country. However, in practice, a two-party system operates: the BNP and the Awami League dominate the political arena and alternately replace each other at the helm of power. After the elections in October 2001, they have 196 and 58 seats in parliament, respectively. The National Party (established in November 1983) was formed under the auspices of the army to strengthen the military regime. Its leader is H.M. Ershad. It has 19 seats in parliament. Jamaat-i Islami (established in August 1941) is the oldest fundamentalist party. Its leader is Maulana Nizami. It has 17 seats in Parliament. The National People's Party of Bangladesh (PNPB) has been functioning since the autumn of 1967 (before that it was part of the all-Pakistani party of the same name). The head of the NNPB is Muzaffar Ahmad. She advocated broad democratic reforms, for the independence of Bangladesh. It fights against reactionary, Islamist forces, for the strengthening of secularism and democracy. Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB). The leader is Manzurul Ahsan Khan. Operates since March 1948, actively fought for the autonomous rights of East Bengal, for the formation of an independent NRB.

The main groups of entrepreneurs are united by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Bangladesh. It advocates the creation of favorable conditions for economic growth with the leading role of the private sector. Coordinates the activities of regional chambers of commerce and industry (Dhaka, Chittagong, etc.), industry unions of entrepreneurs and manufacturers. The Bangladesh Consumers Association monitors the prices of finished products.

The major trade union organizations are the United Council of Workers and Employees; Trade Union of Engineers, Doctors and Agricultural Workers; Association of Medical Workers, Federation of Road Transport Workers. A number of trade unions adjoin political parties. The main peasant organizations: the Peasant Union of the CPB, the Peasant Organization "Avami League", the Peasant Union of the NNPB. Under the influence of political parties, the Student League and the People's Youth League ("Awami League"), the Youth League and the Students' Union (KPB), the Nationalist Student Party (NPB), and the Bangladesh Student Union (NNPB) were created and operate. Other public organizations: Bangladesh Women's Association, Red Cross Federation, Refugee Association.

The internal policy of Bangladesh is aimed at overcoming the economic backwardness of the country and raising the living standards of the population. An important task is the democratization of political life, the strengthening of the parliamentary system, as well as upholding secularist principles and limiting Islamic radicalism.

The foreign policy of Bangladesh is largely designed to help solve domestic problems, develop cooperation in the international arena, and strengthen national security. Bangladesh takes an active part in the activities of the UN, its main organs and specialized agencies, and in UN peacekeeping operations. In 2001, out of 15 such operations, she participated in 10. An important task of Bangladesh's foreign policy is to strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries, especially with India.

The Armed Forces (AF) are entrusted with three main tasks: defense against external threats, maintaining internal security, and helping the population in the fight against natural disasters.

The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. They are directly led by the chiefs of staff of the three branches of the armed forces. The staffing of the Armed Forces is carried out on a voluntary basis.

Regular aircraft number 137 thousand people. The main type of the Armed Forces is the Ground Forces (120 thousand). They are armed with small arms, tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery pieces, mortars. The Air Force has 6.5 thousand people. They have 83 combat aircraft, transport and training aircraft and helicopters. The Navy has 10.5 thousand personnel. The fleet has frigates, boats.

Economy of Bangladesh

Bangladesh belongs to the category of the most backward countries (according to the UN classification) and occupies the 1st place among them in terms of population. GDP $54.8 billion (2002 est.) and per capita income $411. Taking into account the purchasing power parity of currencies, GDP is $ 228 billion, and per capita income is $ 1,701. The country's share in the world economy is 0.2% in accordance with the first system of calculations and 0.5% - with the second.

In recent years, the economy has developed at a high and stable pace. During 1990-2000, GDP growth averaged 4.8% per year, in 2001 it reached 5.2, and in 2002 - 4.5%. At the same time, the labor force grew at a high rate - 2.6% per year, 3.5 million people. This circumstance contributes to an increase in unemployment, both open, in cities and among the educated population, and hidden (underemployment or imaginary employment), mainly in villages, where 4/5 of the population lives, as well as on the outskirts of large cities. Unemployment in general, according to some estimates, is equal to 35% of the labor force. Inflation rates in 1990-2000 were low (4.1%), and over the next two years they decreased to 1.6 and 2.4%.

The economy remains agro-industrial with a growing share of the tertiary sector. Agriculture accounts for 26% of GDP, the industrial sector 25%, and the service sector 49%. The main part of the labor force is employed in the agricultural sector - 54% of men and 78% of women, the industrial sector accounts for 11 and 8%, respectively, and the tertiary sector - 34 and 11%. Women make up 42% of the workforce.

The largest branch of the manufacturing industry is textile, for the production of cotton yarn and fabric. The industry (more than 100 large factories) operates mainly on imported raw materials, some of the fabrics are exported, the rest is consumed domestically and used for the production of clothing. Excess factory yarn is consumed by the unorganized sector of industry, where St. 1 million weavers.

The most dynamic since con. 1980s a sub-sector for the manufacture of finished textiles, clothing and knitwear is developing. The exploitation of cheap labor makes production highly profitable. In Dhaka and a number of other centers, approx. 3,300 registered and unregistered businesses employing approximately 1.5 million people, mostly young women and children. Production is focused exclusively on export, bringing approx. ¾ proceeds from merchandise exports. The volume of foreign exchange earnings largely depends on the quotas allocated to the poorest countries by developed countries, primarily the United States.

The jute industry is specific to the country; it is based on the local production of raw jute, reaching 1 million tons per year. Bangladesh is the largest producer of jute and jute products, sharing a monopoly on the supply of the latter to the world market with India. 86 large factories of the industry work mainly for export. The export of jute yarn exceeds 80 thousand tons and gives St. 70% yarn to the world market. Jute products are primarily used for packing and transporting goods. Jute thread is used as a carpet base and is used to make carpets. In recent years, jute has been used as a raw material in the paper industry. In general, there is a decrease in demand for jute products, which is associated with the spread of artificial plastic materials.

The food and flavor industry is of significant importance, based on export-oriented tea factories, as well as sugar and butter factories. Tea production reaches 54 thousand tons per year. The production of refined sugar at 15 plants, mainly owned by the state, fluctuates depending on the harvest of sugar cane in the range of 123-170 thousand tons per year, while the country's needs are 400 thousand tons. Oil requirements are also mainly met by imports.

The chemical industry has become the leading branch of the manufacturing industry, mainly for the production of fertilizers (2.3 million tons of urea per year).

Of the other branches, metallurgy and mechanical engineering have received some development. There is a small steel plant built with the assistance of Japan, as well as enterprises for the manufacture of electrical and telephone equipment, ship repair docks, a plant for the production of marine diesel engines, etc. The role of the paper industry is noticeable - there are a large plant for the production of writing paper and a newsprint factory. The importance of the cement industry and other enterprises in the construction industry is growing. There is an oil refinery with a capacity of 1.5 million tons (in Chittagong) and a number of smaller enterprises for the production of fuel and lubricants.

The energy and mining industries are underdeveloped. Electricity generation was only 13.5 billion kWh in 2000, while consumption was 12.6 billion. The primary sources are oil, oil products, natural gas (92%) and hydro resources (8%). There are several thermal power plants, the largest of which was built with the assistance of the USSR in Gorasal, as well as a hydroelectric power station on the Karnaphuli River.

The basis of agriculture is rice growing. Increased irrigation water and the use of high-yielding seed varieties ensured a steady increase in rice yields from 9.9 Mt in 1972/73 to 25.1 Mt in 2000/01. Rice production has grown especially rapidly since 1997/98 (18.9 million tons). Mainly because of this, the country has achieved food self-sufficiency (by volume).

In second place among grains is wheat, but it is about 10 times inferior to rice in terms of production (1.9 million tons). Other cereal crops do not play a significant role. Among the legumes (518 thousand tons), the most common are graham, khesari and mung bean, and among the oilseeds (476 thousand tons) - rape and mustard, sesame. Over the years of the country's existence, potato production has tripled (up to 3 million tons). The production of fruits and spices remained stable - more than 300 thousand tons, and the collection of vegetables increased 1.5 times (1.5 million tons).

Bangladesh is one of the ten largest tea producers. Tea plantations are controlled by private capital, including foreign capital, mainly English. The planting area under the tea bush exceeds 50 thousand hectares.

Of the industrial crops, jute and sugar cane are the most important. Jute production during the period of the country's existence tended to decrease from 1 to 0.8 million tons, although in some years (1985/86) it reached 1.5 million tons. Sugar cane (green mass) harvests were stable - about 7-7 .5 million tons. Cotton production remained small - 14-16 thousand tons.

Animal husbandry as a branch of the agrarian economy has not received significant development. The main part of the cattle is used as draft power. Goats are a major source of meat, milk and skins. The breeding of poultry (chickens and ducks) has increased.

An important branch of the economy is fishing. Protein-rich fish is part of the diet of the poorest strata. The annual recorded catch is St. 350 thousand tons, 1/3 falls on marine fish, which is largely exported.

The leading role in transport (up to 3/4 of transportation) is played by waterways with a length of more than 8 thousand km. The length of railways is 2.7 thousand km, of which 1.8 thousand are narrow-gauge railways. More than 200,000 km of roads have been laid on land, but only 19,000 have been paved.

Major seaports are Chittagong and Mongla. The throughput capacity of the first is 15 million tons of cargo, the second is 5 million tons. 95% of export-import cargo transportation is carried out through them. Chittagong misses 80% of merchandise imports and 70% of exports. The bulk of transportation is carried out by foreign companies, the share of national - 18%. The total number of merchant ships is 34 with a displacement of 380,000 tons, including two oil tankers, 28 dry cargo ships, and 3 container ships. The State Marine Corporation has 13 large vessels with a displacement of 195 thousand tons and 12 small ones.

The number of airports with a solid runway is 15, while with a runway length of St. 3 km - one, from 2.5 to 3 km - 3, from 1.5 to 2.5 km - 4. The main airport is in Dhaka. The national airline "Biman" carries out international and domestic transportation.

Communications and telecommunications are underdeveloped. The number of main telephone lines is 500,000. International telephone communication is supported by two satellite stations. There are 26 radio stations, mostly medium wave. The number of radio receivers exceeds 6 million, televisions - approx. 1 million, television broadcasting stations - 15 (1999). Internet users - 150 thousand (2002).

Domestic trade is mainly retail, the contribution of trade to GDP is 14%. Along with small retail trade, city and rural bazaars provide a variety of household services. The service sector, which includes trade, is characterized by low labor productivity. An extensive state apparatus provides a significant part of the services and suffers, like the whole sphere, from an overabundance of employees.

Foreign tourism is poorly developed, giving 3.3% of GNP ($1.5 billion, 2001).

Having experienced a period of broad nationalization at the beginning of its existence, the country with con. 1980s embarked on the path of privatization. However, the lack of buyers and the resistance of officials make the process slow and difficult. The current government has begun the privatization of most state-owned enterprises, putting up for sale 88 companies operating in the textile (16), oil (10), jute (10), paper (14), sugar (6) and other industries.

Of the social problems, the government is most worried about rampant crime and corruption. In the fall of 2002, it resorted to the help of the army to combat these phenomena, causing accusations of violations of civil rights and freedoms. The forceful action, however, had a certain effect, without fundamentally solving the problems in the field of law and order.

Created after independence, the central bank (Bank of Bangladesh) regulates the money supply in circulation and the exchange rate. In addition, there is a network of state commercial banks and credit and banking corporations (industrial investment, agricultural bank). The Grameen Bank (Village Bank) is successfully operating, providing preferential loans to family and neighborhood partnerships and cooperatives. Gross national savings are distinguished by a fairly high level - 21-22% of GNP, gross investment - 1-2% higher.

Government spending was $6.8 billion, 13.6% of GNP (2000), with revenues of $4.9 billion and a budget deficit of 3.6% of GNP. The main source of income is indirect taxes. External debt of 17 billion US dollars, the rate of its service (payments to export earnings) - 8% (2002). Foreign official development assistance is significant - $9 per capita (1999).

The average standard of living is extremely low, which is associated with exceptionally low wages, the spread of open and hidden unemployment. Below the national poverty line - 36% of the population (1995/96). The population with an income of less than $ 1 per day was 29%, and below $ 2 - 78% (1996) .

The volume of foreign trade has increased markedly in recent years. Exports in 2002 amounted to 6.1 billion US dollars, and imports - 8.3 billion US dollars. Mainly clothes, jute and jute products, leather, frozen fish and seafood, tea were exported. The USA is the main export partner (32%), followed by Germany (11%), Great Britain (8%), France and the Netherlands (5% each). Imported into the country were mainly machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, cotton, foodstuffs, oil and oil products, and cement. Main import partners: India (11%), EU and Japan (10% each), Singapore (9%), China (7%). The volume of foreign investment is small. For 1995-2000, direct investments amounted to 696 million US dollars.

Science and culture of Bangladesh

The system of organization of science and education is under the control of the relevant ministry. The most important research centers are the universities in Dhaka and Rajshahi, as well as the Agricultural University in Mymensingh. There are approx. 60 research institutions in the field of agricultural science, medicine, exact and technical sciences, economics and humanities. The most famous are the institutes of jute, animal husbandry, tea, forestry, the atomic energy center, the Institute of Cholera, Radioactive Isotopes, Malaria, the Institute for the Development of Economics, Law and International Relations.

Education has several levels - primary (children from 6 to 11 years old), secondary (up to 16 years old) and higher. Enrollment in primary school - 86%, secondary - 33%. There are three main streams in education - state and non-state adjacent to it with free education in Bengali, private paid with English as the main language of instruction and religious. After 10 years of primary and secondary school, students take state exams and, following their results, continue specialized, for some students paid, education for another 2 years. This is followed by a 2-4-year (for a fee or a scholarship) study at the university, where there are also higher courses (1-2 years) for obtaining a master's degree and continuing with science and teaching. The English stream includes private schools and colleges operating under the patronage of the University of London and Cambridge. Religious schools (primary, maktab, and secondary, madras) are funded by private individuals and religious organizations. To receive higher education, some of those who graduated from English schools go abroad, and graduates of religious schools can continue their studies at Islamic academies (dar-ululum) and the Islamic University in Dhaka.

The total number of higher educational institutions is 21. In addition to those mentioned, these are universities in Chittagong and Khulna, Jahangirnagar University (near Dhaka), Islamic Institute of Technology, Shahjalal University in Sylhet, the largest private North-South University, American International School, etc.

Various scientific and cultural associations gravitate towards the system of higher education and research institutions - economic, sociological, the Bengal Academy, the Asian Society, the Society for the Development of Arts and Literature.

Literature is of great social importance. It develops in line with two traditions - a common Bengali one, represented primarily by the work of Rabindranath Tagore (his poem "My Golden Bengal" is the national anthem of Bangladesh), and a Muslim one. The largest Bengali Muslim poet is Nazrul Islam. Modern literature is represented by a large number of famous poets and writers, as well as critics and publicists.

Painting based on the traditions of the Mughal miniature and various trends in European fine art is very popular. Classic, founder of the largest school of painting - Zeynul Abedin. Artists S.M. Sultan, H. Rahman, M. Bashir and others are very famous.

Architectural monuments belong mainly to the period of the Mughal Empire (16-18 centuries). Dhaka is home to the Central Public Library and the National Library, as well as the National Archives.

Cinema is the most popular type of mass entertainment. In addition to their own films, Indian, Pakistani and Western films are shown.

The national press is diverse (more than 300 fairly large newspapers and magazines). Most of them are published in Bengali in Dhaka and Chittagong. The leading Bengali newspapers are "Doinik Bangla", "Itifak", "Pratidin". Of the English ones, the Bangladesh Observer and the Bangladesh Times are the most famous.