Bangladesh vs Pakistan
Bangladesh leads on 4 of 6 metrics, Pakistan on 2. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan: the verdict
Pakistan is the more populous of the two, home to 255.22 million people — about 1.5× the population of Bangladesh (175.69 million).
On the economy, Bangladesh has the larger nominal GDP at $456.32B. But measured per person, Bangladesh comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($2,597), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Pakistan is the larger country, spanning 881,912 km².
Bangladesh records the higher Human Development Index (0.685), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall, Bangladesh leads on more headline metrics in this comparison, though "which country is better" depends entirely on which measures matter to you.
Full breakdown
Bangladesh
BangladeshBangladeshGovernment & politics
BangladeshBangladesh
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.
Pakistan
Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic in which the President is a ceremonial head of state and the Prime Minister — leader of the majority in the elected National Assembly — holds executive power. In practice, Pakistan's powerful military has repeatedly shaped politics, both directly through periods of military rule and indirectly, giving the armed forces an unusually strong role in national affairs compared with most parliamentary democracies.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Bangladesh or Pakistan?
Bangladesh has the higher nominal GDP at $456.32B, compared with $407.31B for Pakistan (World Bank).
Is Bangladesh bigger than Pakistan by population?
Pakistan has the larger population with 255,219,554 people, versus 175,686,899 for Bangladesh.
Which is larger in area, Bangladesh or Pakistan?
Pakistan is larger, covering 881,912 km² compared with 147,570 km² for Bangladesh.