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Bangladesh vs Maldives
Side-by-side comparison of Bangladesh and Maldives from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Maldives scores 53.3 in the NationsTree Index (75th in the world) and Bangladesh scores 43.6 (115th), a gap of 9.7 points. Their trees are 24 m and 2.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Bangladesh has 332 times the population of Maldives. Bangladesh is 492 times larger than Maldives by land area. Bangladesh has an economy 118 times the size of Maldives (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Bangladesh 175.7 million and Maldives 529,676 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $28,555 in Maldives and $10,154 in Bangladesh (2025, international dollars). People in Maldives live on average 6.4 years longer (81.3 vs 74.9 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Bangladesh ranks higher in the world on 7 and Maldives on 24. Bangladesh is clearly stronger in science & innovation, main industries and land & people. Maldives is clearly stronger in tourism, infrastructure & digital and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Maldives is the older of the two (statehood since 1965, 61 years), compared with Bangladesh (since 1971). Over the last five years Bangladesh improved faster (direction score 66 vs 66 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Bangladesh and Maldives.
Bangladesh
69.3
198th of 200
Maldivesbetter
11.2
55th of 200
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Bangladesh
0.9
123rd of 145
Maldivesbetter
4.6
28th of 145
General government gross debtEconomy
Bangladeshbetter
42.0%
66th of 189
Maldives
129.4%
181st of 189
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Bangladesh
99.5%
131st of 215
Maldivesbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Under-5 mortalitySociety & health
Bangladesh
30.5
139th of 196
Maldivesbetter
5.4
43rd of 196
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Maldives overtook Bangladesh in the NationsTree Index in 2009 and has stayed ahead since.
Maldives has been ahead of Bangladesh in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Bangladesh has been ahead of Maldives in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BangladeshMaldives All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Maldives |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 147,57093rd/216 · 2024 | 300200th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 130,17095th/216 · 2024 | 298199th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 175.7 m8th/217 · 2025 | 529,676171st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.22%86th/217 · 2025 | 0.35%151st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 1,333.49th/216 · 2024 | 1,771.18th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 33.2%187th/217 · 2025 | 42.5%168th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 27.6%82nd/217 · 2025 | 19.0%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.7%130th/217 · 2025 | 5.0%149th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $456.32 bn37th/210 · 2025 | $7.74 bn161st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.78 trn25th/199 · 2025 | $15.12 bn158th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.52 trn25th/199 · 2025 | $12.92 bn158th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,597168th/210 · 2025 | $14,61591st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $10,154140th/199 · 2025 | $28,55584th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,840153rd/201 · 2025 | $12,95085th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.5%97th/210 · 2025 | 6.3%29th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 8.8%156th/180 · 2025 | 4.0%124th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.8%65th/187 · 2025 | 4.5%74th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 31.2%2003 | 57.3%2011 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 42.0%66th/189 · 2025 | 129.4%181st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 | -3.6%121st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 11.4%65th/197 · 2025 | 4.6%110th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 34.0%38th/200 · 2025 | 9.3%189th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 22.4%12th/192 · 2025 | 1.8%178th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 52.1%136th/200 · 2025 | 69.9%36th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $50.72 bn65th/182 · 2025 | $5.52 bn129th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $76.82 bn53rd/182 · 2025 | $5.53 bn138th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 11.1%172nd/183 · 2025 | 78.2%20th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 16.8%174th/183 · 2025 | 78.3%21st/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 28.0%178th/183 · 2025 | 156.5%17th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.1%2018 | 0.1%134th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 94.5%2018 | 0.2%171st/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 3.4%2018 | 97.0%3rd/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.3%2018 | 2.7%93rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.5%2018 | 0.0%164th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 0.0%76th/191 · 2025 | -6.1%153rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.4%165th/196 · 2025 | 11.1%14th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.6%126th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%176th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.03%90th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.49%39th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.01%50th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.08%120th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%161st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 60.5%1st/206 · 2024 | 13.1%82nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 620150th/183 · 2022 | 57177th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 323,000142nd/194 · 2019 | 555,000118th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $217.9 m122nd/175 · 2020 | $1.41 bn62nd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.6%160th/168 · 2020 | 78.9%5th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.5 m2013 | 123,0002008 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 74.9107th/217 · 2024 | 81.344th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 30.5139th/196 · 2024 | 5.443rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.72116th/174 · 2023 | 2.2480th/174 · 2019 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.9123rd/145 · 2023 | 4.628th/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 97%29th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 48.6%117th/153 · 2021 | 41.4%2017 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 64.3%142nd/173 · 2024 | 79.4%130th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 55.6%25th/55 · 2022 | 28.6%43rd/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.2%130th/217 · 2025 | 6.5%167th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.2%192nd/193 · 2023 | 9.2%41st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 79.0%66th/98 · 2022 | 98.2%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 23.7%114th/150 · 2024 | 48.5%80th/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.685130th/193 · 2023 | 0.76693rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 30.929th/108 · 2022 | 29.32019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 5.9%79th/108 · 2022 | 0.0%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.5%131st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 59.1%103rd/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 37.3%100th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 53.4%146th/186 · 2024 | 85.2%82nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 108126th/210 · 2024 | 14832nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 8.1126th/208 · 2024 | 19.689th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | 2.7268th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 2,87743rd/82 · 2019 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 6.6 m55th/161 · 2023 | 1.4 m90th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.7252nd/203 · 2024 | 3.57121st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 25.0%92nd/212 · 2021 | 1.2%186th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 69.3198th/200 · 2023 | 11.255th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 14.4%147th/214 · 2024 | 12.5%153rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 288145th/149 · 2024 | 9212007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 43.2141st/205 · 2025 | 47.4129th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 28.2168th/207 · 2025 | 41.3118th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 43.6156th/207 · 2025 | 58.598th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 49.1178th/207 · 2025 | 67.0113th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 39.4173rd/205 · 2025 | 48.7125th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 44.5138th/205 · 2025 | 49.3127th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.32018 | 0.617th/145 · 2019 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $3.83 bn53rd/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.8%129th/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 7.1%46th/154 · 2025 | — |
| Armed forces personnel people | 227,00029th/170 · 2020 | 5,0002000 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.32%143rd/168 · 2020 | 5.41%2000 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 32.0 m75th/163 · 2025 | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Patent applications by residents applications | 8773rd/137 · 2024 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 8,25950th/197 · 2023 | 32164th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Bangladesh or Maldives?
Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.7 m (2025) compared with 529,676 for Maldives (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Bangladesh or Maldives?
Bangladesh is larger: 147,570 km² (2024) compared with 300 km² for Maldives (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Bangladesh or Maldives?
Bangladesh has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.78 trn intl. (2025) compared with $15.12 bn intl. for Maldives (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Bangladesh or Maldives?
Maldives has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $28,555 intl. (2025) compared with $10,154 intl. for Bangladesh (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Bangladesh or Maldives?
Maldives has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.3 years (2024) compared with 74.9 years for Bangladesh (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Bangladesh or Maldives?
Maldives: 53.3 points (75th in the world); Bangladesh: 43.6 points (115th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bhutan
Nepal
Sri LankaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Bangladesh vs Maldives — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/bangladesh-vs-maldives. Data as of 26 October 2026.