[Recent data on the demographic problem of Bangladesh]

With a 1980 population of 90.6 million, Bangladesh is "one of the most densely peopled states. 91% of the population live in rural areas and 80% of them are agriculturally employed. As a food deficit country, this amounts to overpopulation, which makes Bangladesh very vulnerable to natural disasters. Growing at 2.6% per annum there are few signs of demographic transition as birth rates remain higher than in India. Projections cannot but reflect a crisis point in the near future."