World Population Day: Dhaka’s Population Hits 3.66 Crore
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Dhaka is not just an ordinary city; it is a living sea of millions of hearts. To find the answer to exactly how many millions laugh, cry, or fight for survival in this megacity every day, different equations and startling information emerge.
To understand Dhaka’s population, one must first know about “three” Dhakas: Megacity Dhaka, Dhaka District, and the two City Corporations of Dhaka.
Megacity Dhaka
The latest global report from the United Nations, published November 2025, said the population of Megacity Dhaka is around 3.66 crore. According to the calculation, Dhaka is the second-largest megacity in the world.
Jakarta, Indonesia, is the most populous megacity. However, the report added that by 2050, Dhaka will overtake Jakarta to top the list of the most populous megacities, with a population of around 5.21 crore.
Urban planners said a megacity has no specific administrative boundary; any area with urban characteristics is considered part of the megacity.
When the UN calculates a city’s population, it looks beyond administrative boundaries like city corporations or districts and considers the “contiguous urban grid” - continuous urban areas with at least 1,500 people per square kilometer.
Under this measurement, Savar, Narayanganj, Keraniganj, and some industrial zones and suburbs of Gazipur fall within Megacity Dhaka.
Population of the Two City Corporations
Dhaka city is divided into North and South City Corporations. According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, the total population of these two cities is around 1.03 crore.
The population of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is around 59,90,723, while Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has around 43,05,063 people.
However, the internal estimates of the two city corporations provide different data. DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam told Agamir Somoy, “Our population is around 1.5 crore.”
Meanwhile, DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan said although the census mentions 59 lakh and it is close to 1 crore with the floating population.
Lacking their own surveys, the two cities often report higher population figures, sometimes citing this excess population as an excuse for disruptions in mosquito control and other services.
Dhaka District
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the District Administration, the area of Dhaka District is 1,463 square kilometers. The North and South City Corporations cover only 305 square kilometers of this.
The remaining 1,158 square kilometers comprise five upazilas. Per the 2022 Census, the population of Dhaka District is around 1.47 crore. Experts noted that the population of the two cities cannot exceed 20 million as claimed by the administrators.
Dhaka’s population is growing rapidly. Urban planners believed that unless this population is converted into human resources, a crisis is inevitable and requires sustainable and integrated planning.
Akter Mahmud told Agamir Somoy, “Employment opportunities in villages are limited. Many come to Dhaka in search of work. People at risk from climate change are now heading towards Dhaka. As a result, 5,00,000 new people are being added to Megacity Dhaka every year.”
He added that this is increasing the challenge for civic services and that unplanned urbanization is hindering the fulfillment of basic needs. If the population of this city exceeds 5 crore in 2050, it will turn into a “human bomb” for the capital.
Akter advised the government to step forward with sustainable and integrated planning to solve the crisis.
