Urbanisation in Bangladesh
Geography: KS3, topic 20.2.2
Urbanisation
Bangladesh has experienced huge changes in its population distribution since the 1960s. The capital city of Dhaka has felt this the most.
Changing distribution
- Over 34% of Bangladesh’s population now live in urban areas.
- This is a significant change from the 1960s when 95% of the country’s population lived in rural areas.
Reasons for change
- A key drive in the number of people living in urban areas since the 1960s has been driven by rural-urban migration as people search for a better quality of life.
Dhaka
- Dhaka the capital city, is the largest city in Bangladesh with over 10 million residents.
- It is one of the most densely populated places in the world with 23,234 people per square kilometre.
Population increase
- Dhaka’s population has increased rapidly in recent years due to:
- Rural-urban migration.
- Natural increase.
Challenges
- This has created challenges for the city including:
- Air and water pollution.
- Traffic congestion.
- Waste disposal problems.
Test yourself on Urbanisation in Bangladesh
What percentage of Bangladesh’s population now live in urban areas?