Bangladesh vs India
Bangladesh leads on 1 of 6 metrics, India on 4. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Bangladesh vs India: the verdict
India is the more populous of the two, home to 1.46 billion people — about 8.3× the population of Bangladesh (175.69 million).
On the economy, India has the larger nominal GDP at $3.96T. But measured per person, India comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($2,702), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, India is the larger country, spanning 3,287,590 km².
India records the higher Human Development Index (0.685), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall, India leads on more headline metrics in this comparison, though "which country is better" depends entirely on which measures matter to you.
Full breakdown
Government & politics
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a parliamentary republic in which the President is a ceremonial head of state and the Prime Minister — leader of the majority in the single-chamber Jatiya Sangsad — holds executive power. The system concentrates authority in the Prime Minister's office, and its politics have long been shaped by an intense rivalry between two dominant parties.
India
India is a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy with a federal structure. The President is the constitutional head of state, but the office is largely ceremonial — real executive power rests with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, who are drawn from and answerable to the elected Lok Sabha. The PM is usually the leader of the party or coalition that commands a majority in the lower house. States hold significant devolved powers, and an independent judiciary headed by the Supreme Court can strike down laws that violate the constitution.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Bangladesh or India?
India has the higher nominal GDP at $3.96T, compared with $456.32B for Bangladesh (World Bank).
Is Bangladesh bigger than India by population?
India has the larger population with 1,463,865,525 people, versus 175,686,899 for Bangladesh.
Which is larger in area, Bangladesh or India?
India is larger, covering 3,287,590 km² compared with 147,570 km² for Bangladesh.