India vs Bangladesh
India
Bangladesh
| Metric | India | Bangladesh |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | New Delhi | Dhaka |
| Population | 1,463,865,525 | 175,686,899 |
| Area (km²) | 3,287,263 | 148,460 |
| Population density (/km²) | 445 | 1,183 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $2,700 | $2,600 |
| Region | Southern Asia | Southern Asia |
| Currency | INR | BDT |
| Languages | Hindi, English | Bengali |
| Main religions | Hinduism, Islam, Christianity | Islam, Hinduism |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 | UTC+6 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
India and Bangladesh are both located in Asia (both in Southern Asia). India has the larger population — about 8.3× the population of Bangladesh, while India covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the India map and the Bangladesh map.
A neighbour wrapped on three sides
Bangladesh is almost entirely surrounded by India, which borders it on the west, north and east; only a short stretch in the southeast touches Myanmar, and the south opens onto the Bay of Bengal. The India–Bangladesh border runs for roughly 4,100 km, one of the longest land borders in the world, and much of it is fenced. In 2015 the two countries implemented a Land Boundary Agreement that swapped more than 160 enclaves — pockets of one country's territory stranded inside the other — and let their residents choose a nationality.
1971 and after
Bangladesh was East Pakistan until 1971. During its war of independence India sheltered millions of refugees and then intervened militarily in December 1971, leading to the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka. That history created close ties, but the relationship has had cooler phases too. After the change of government in Dhaka in August 2024, when the former prime minister left for India, relations became noticeably more strained; as of 2026 they are still being reset.
Rivers that cross the border
Dozens of rivers flow from India into Bangladesh, which makes water a constant issue. The Ganges water-sharing treaty signed in 1996 runs for 30 years and is due for renewal in 2026. A deal on the Teesta, which matters to farmers in northern Bangladesh, has been discussed for years without being signed.
Bengali on both sides
Bengali is Bangladesh's national language and also the main language of the Indian state of West Bengal and of Tripura, so a large Bengali-speaking world straddles the border. Rabindranath Tagore wrote the songs that became the national anthems of both India and Bangladesh. The cuisines share fish, rice and mustard oil, while religion differs: Bangladesh is about 90% Muslim, whereas India is majority Hindu with a large Muslim minority.
Economically, Bangladesh's garment industry has made it one of the world's biggest clothing exporters, and its GDP per capita has been broadly similar to India's in recent years. India is one of Bangladesh's largest trading partners and a key source of cotton, food and electricity.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the India–Bangladesh border?
- About 4,100 km, making it one of the longest land borders in the world. India borders Bangladesh on three sides.
- Do India and Bangladesh speak the same language?
- Bengali is the national language of Bangladesh and the main language of the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, so millions of people on both sides speak it. India as a whole has many languages, with Hindi and English used by the central government.