From per capita income to determining the actual demand for goods in the market, demographic statistics play a crucial role in nearly every aspect of the economy. Yet the reliability of these statistics has become a source of major confusion. There is a significant gap between the data on the country’s population provided by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC). In addition, the figures published each year by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also differ from those of the domestic agencies.
Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Election Commission (EC) is updating the voter list across the country. Officials are going door to door to update the list, adding new voters, removing the deceased, and including anyone previously left out. A draft voter list has already been published in two phases, and the final list is scheduled for release on November 18. While updating the voter list, the EC also revealed data on the country’s total population.
On Sunday (September 28), at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, the commission held a dialogue with civil society representatives as part of preparations for the upcoming election. Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed said at the meeting that, based on the Election Commission’s voter list, the country’s current population stands at 190 million, with 15.1 million people living in the capital alone. Questioning the accuracy of BBS data, she said, “We have compiled this voter list by visiting every household, so the information we have is absolutely correct.”
The Election Commission’s new population data has reignited debate over the country’s demographic statistics. According to the BBS Population and Housing Census 2022, Bangladesh’s total population is 169.83 million. Its Sample Vital Registration System (SVRS) 2023 final report puts the number at 172.92 million. The most recent updated BBS data shows the country’s population at 176.53 million. While the EC says Dhaka has 15.1 million residents, BBS data shows the number is just over 10 million.
Meanwhile, the UNFPA’s State of World Population Report 2025, released in July, estimated Bangladesh’s population at 175.7 million. It said 28 percent of the population is aged 0 to 14, putting the adult population at 126.5 million—closely aligning with the 126.3 million total voters reported by the Election Commission as of August 31.
In April, the government formed an eight-member task force to strengthen the BBS. Task force member and Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Executive Director Fahmida Khatun told Bonik Barta, “There have always been questions regarding statistics. The task force was formed to find ways to make the statistics more reliable. Over the past 15 years, there has been confusion and concealment around information and statistics, which has eroded trust. As a result, even when accurate data is now released, people still question its credibility.”
She added, “As economists, when we analyzed various indicators, we found that the data often did not match reality, nor was there consistency between one dataset and another. That is why we have always questioned the credibility of these figures and statistics. After August last year, even BBS officials said they were often given instructions regarding what data to release. So it cannot be said with certainty that the population data published at that time was entirely reliable. In fact, once those figures were released, questions were raised about them as well. Demographers working in this field also questioned the data.”
On the Election Commission’s information, Fahmida Khatun said, “If they have used a scientific method and collected data from all sources before releasing the population statistics, then it can be considered credible. However, there must be coordination among government agencies to publish accurate and reliable statistics so that there is no discrepancy in the data. Our task force has also recommended such inter-agency coordination. This will help eliminate confusion over information and statistics.”
Economists and experts in various sectors have long criticized the data published by BBS. In particular, for more than a decade, its economic and demographic statistics have faced the most scrutiny. Significant discrepancies have been found between BBS figures and those of other government agencies responsible for policymaking in related sectors.
Experts say inaccurate or incomplete demographic data can affect nearly every aspect of the economy—from per capita income calculations to determining real market demand. For example, one of the main reasons behind the recent surge in commodity prices is the failure to assess actual demand and ensure adequate production and supply of essential crops. Without accurate population data, such assessments are not possible.
According to BBS officials, the agency’s census only counted people living in Bangladesh, excluding expatriates. In contrast, the Election Commission’s figures include Bangladeshi nationals living abroad. Moreover, in the three years since the BBS census, a significant number of people have reached voting age and have naturally been added to the voter list. Differences in defining the boundaries of Dhaka city have also contributed to the population gap between the BBS and the Election Commission figures.
In addition, while total population data show women outnumbering men in the country, the voter list records fewer women than men, suggesting many women are still not registered voters. Officials believe that only when the actual number of expatriates and accurate death records are available can truly reliable population statistics be produced.
When asked about the Election Commission’s data, BBS Director General Mohammed Mizanur Rahman told Bonik Barta, “If they are referring to BBS data, they might mean the 2022 census figures. But I have not heard anything about BBS data being called into question. No such comments have come to our attention. The Election Commission took the 2022 census and the 2023 SVRS updated data from us. I do not know exactly which data they are referring to now. What they are saying is their concern.”
When asked about the discrepancies between the two agencies’ data, he made no comment.