Country Comments

Bangladesh's population is projected to exceed 200 million by 2045. Limited resources and an increase in the standard of living puts the country in a difficult position with regard to the extraction and consumption of the country's natural resources. This growth also puts stress on agricultural systems that ensure adequate food production. Agriculture is essential to national food security, especially for developing countries like Bangladesh. Methane generated from agricultural practices is the second major source of Greenhouse Gas emission in the world. Ironically Bangladesh is highly exposed to these greenhouse gas induced climate change impacts as a result of its geographical location. Rapid and unplanned urbanisation, rising urban inequalities, food and nutritional insecurity, climate change impacts all driven by an expanding popualtion of over 1.7 million more citizens every year causes major threats to food security and human health in the near future. (1)

Bangladesh currently has twice as many citizens than what it can sustain. Despite slowing population growth and a fertility rate now at replacement the country will need to encourage even lower fertility rates if it hopes to flatten the curve, stabilize and begin to reduce its unsustainable levels. In 1975 contraception was used by 8% of women and the country averaged 6.8 children per mother. By 2019, 62% of women used contraception with a total fertility rate of 2.05 children per mother. Even so, 1/3 of pregnancies are unintended and teenage birth rates are very high, so further work is needed to increase access to contraception. (2)

(1) Mondal, M.S.H., 2019, ‘The implications of population growth and climate change on sustainable development in Bangladesh’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 11(1), a535. hps://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i1.535Copyright:© 2019.

(2) Population Connection Magazine May 2020.