Geography & environment — Bangladesh
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Bangladesh: Asia
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Asia
- Geographic Coordinates
24 00 N, 90 00 E
- Total Area
55,598 Square Miles 143,998 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
50,258 Square Miles 130,168 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
5,340 Square Miles 13,830 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
2,638 Miles 4,246 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
- Coastline
360 Miles 580 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
Mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
- Highest Point
1,230 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Keokradong 1,230 m
- Lowest Point Location
Indian Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
Natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
- Irrigated Land
19,498 Square Miles 50,500 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
The climate of Bangladesh ranges from subtropical to tropical. The humidity remains high all year and reaches between 90%-95% from June to September. Bangladesh has three main seasons. The mild (70s °F) or cold season, from mid-October to the end of February, is characterized by sunny skies, drier weather, and cool (high 50s °F) evenings. During the hot season, from March until the end of May, there is quite a change. The early part is pleasant (75°F), but as the monsoon approaches, hot (95°F) temperatures and high humidity make life difficult. The monsoon season lasts from June to October. At the beginning of the monsoon, the continuous rains cool the atmosphere. Temperatures are milder (85°F to 90°F), but the humidity can be oppressive. Tropical cyclones emerge from the Bay of Bengal with high winds and tidal waves on the average of one major cyclone every 3 years. There are two cyclone seasons, one just before the monsoon (May to June) and one just after the monsoon (October to November). Damage generally is limited to the southern finger of the country (east of Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar). During the monsoon season in a normal year, about 30% of the country is under water. Some years, however, floods cover 70% of the country. At some times during the year, up to 70% of the country is under water. Annual flooding is a way of life but often the flooding is not due to rainfall but caused by water coming from across the borders via the Ganges, Meghna, and the Brahmaputra Rivers.
- Terrain
Mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
- Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
- Total Area
55,598 Square Miles 143,998 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
Many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land
water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water
water pollution, especially in fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides
ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic
intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country
soil degradation and erosion
deforestation
severe overpopulation
- Environment - International Agreements
Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements