MigrantoImmigrants in Bangladesh
2.5M foreigners live in Bangladesh — 1% of the country's population
Immigrants in Bangladesh by country
The 3 largest groups make up 71% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Myanmar | 1246705 |
| Malaysia | 274253 |
| China | 219299 |
| Indonesia | 205947 |
| Laos | 118769 |
| USA | 61983 |
| Nepal | 52621 |
| India | 46385 |
| United Kingdom | 45091 |
| Bahrain | 40631 |
| Vietnam | 37076 |
| Cambodia | 26460 |
| Brazil | 20097 |
| Norway | 19278 |
| Japan | 18539 |
| Thailand | 14210 |
| Singapore | 12909 |
By region of origin
92% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Bangladesh in numbers
People born in Myanmar are the fastest-growing group
The number of people born in Myanmar living in Bangladesh has grown 425% since 2015, from 237.4K to 1.2M.
Burmese are the largest group by a wide margin
51% of all immigrants were born in Myanmar, while the next group accounts for just 11%.
The immigrant population has grown 37% since 2020
The number of foreigners living in Bangladesh rose from 1.8M to 2.5M in four years.
More immigrants come from a single country than in 1990
The largest group's share rose from 30% to 51%, and today that group is people born in Myanmar.
29% of all emigrants from Myanmar live in Bangladesh
No other country has more people born in Myanmar.
Immigrant population in Bangladesh over time
Foreigners living in Bangladesh, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 741548 |
| 1995 | 800479 |
| 2000 | 859424 |
| 2005 | 892782 |
| 2010 | 1100737 |
| 2015 | 1138134 |
| 2020 | 1790721 |
| 2024 | 2460253 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Bangladesh, by year
| Year | Burmese | Malaysians | Chinese | Indonesians | Laotians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 225851 | 92533 | 140163 | 70627 | 58722 |
| 1995 | 228109 | 126263 | 131427 | 84052 | 59555 |
| 2000 | 230390 | 159993 | 122691 | 97476 | 60387 |
| 2005 | 128693 | 190436 | 145405 | 123383 | 71878 |
| 2010 | 235019 | 204878 | 160252 | 143647 | 83217 |
| 2015 | 237369 | 203561 | 162772 | 152862 | 88155 |
| 2020 | 907426 | 199618 | 159619 | 149901 | 86447 |
| 2024 | 1246705 | 274253 | 219299 | 205947 | 118769 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Bangladesh
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Bangladesh
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Bangladesh?
Around 2.5M immigrants live in Bangladesh — the world's #27 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Bangladesh are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Bangladesh — that's 2.5M out of a total population of 173.6M.
Where do most immigrants in Bangladesh come from?
Most immigrants in Bangladesh come from Myanmar, Malaysia and China — these three countries account for about 71% of all immigrants.
How many Burmese live in Bangladesh?
Around 1.2M Burmese live in Bangladesh — about 51% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Bangladesh growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Bangladesh has grown from 1.1M to 2.5M, about 116%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Bangladesh come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Bangladesh. Their children born in Bangladesh are not included.
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Living in Bangladesh
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