India vs Bangladesh: population pyramids compared
India is about 8.3 times as large as Bangladesh, but size is only part of the story. Compare the two age structures on one percentage scale for 2026 and 2050, with every indicator side by side.
UN estimates run through 2023; figures from 2024 onward are medium-scenario projections.
India and Bangladesh in 2026
India population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Bangladesh population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Key differences between India and Bangladesh
Age. India is the older population, with a median age of 29.2 years against 26.3 in Bangladesh — a gap of 2.9 years. Bangladesh has the larger share of children (27.3% under 15 versus 23.8%), while India has the larger share aged 65 and over (7.6% versus 6.8%).
Births and survival. Bangladesh’s fertility rate of 2.09 is close to the replacement level, and India’s 1.93 is below it. Life expectancy at birth is 75.5 years in Bangladesh and 72.7 in India.
Dependency. The total age dependency ratio is 45.8 in India (34.7 children and 11.1 older people per 100 aged 15–64) and 51.9 in Bangladesh (41.5 and 10.4). Similar totals can hide very different mixes of young and old.
Outlook. Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario has India’s population grows by 14% and Bangladesh’s grows by 21%. These are scenario results, not forecasts; how projections work explains the assumptions.
India vs Bangladesh: indicators side by side
| Indicator | India | Bangladesh |
|---|---|---|
| Population, 2026 | 1,476,625,576 | 177,818,044 |
| Median age | 29.2 years | 26.3 years |
| Under age 15 | 23.8% | 27.3% |
| Aged 15–64 | 68.6% | 65.8% |
| Aged 65+ | 7.6% | 6.8% |
| Age dependency ratio | 45.8 | 51.9 |
| Fertility rate | 1.93 | 2.09 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 72.7 years | 75.5 years |
| Annual growth | +0.9% | +1.2% |
| Males per 100 females | 106.4 | 96.7 |
| Population, 2050 | 1,679,589,259 | 214,709,097 |
| Change, 2026–2050 | +13.7% | +20.7% |
| Population, 2100 | 1,505,251,761 | 208,596,516 |
| Peak year | 2061 | 2071 |
| Global population rank | #1 | #8 |
2026, 2050, and 2100 values are UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium-scenario projections.
How the two pyramids could look in 2050
The same scale is kept for the projected charts, so a narrowing base or widening top can be compared directly with the 2026 shapes above.
India population pyramid
2050 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Bangladesh population pyramid
2050 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
What shapes India’s pyramid
India’s pyramid has stopped widening at the base: the largest bands are now young adults aged 15–29, a sign that fertility has fallen to near replacement. Read the full India analysis.
What shapes Bangladesh’s pyramid
Bangladesh’s pyramid shows a marked shortage of men aged 20–39, as large numbers of young men work abroad, above a base that has largely stopped widening. Read the full Bangladesh analysis.
Explore each country in depth
- India population pyramid 2026 · India in 2050
- Bangladesh population pyramid 2026 · Bangladesh in 2050
- Open this pair in the interactive comparison tool
Questions about India and Bangladesh
Which population is older, India or Bangladesh?
India is older: its projected 2026 median age is 29.2 years, compared with 26.3 in Bangladesh.
Which has a higher fertility rate, India or Bangladesh?
Bangladesh has the higher total fertility rate in 2026: 2.09 births per woman, against 1.93 in India.
Will India or Bangladesh have more people in 2050?
Under the UN medium scenario, India is projected to be larger in 2050, with 1.68B people against 214.7M.