Bangladesh: Flag and Facts
The flag of Bangladesh is a green field with a big red circle placed a little left of center.
- Official name
- People's Republic of Bangladesh
- Capital
- Dhaka
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Population
- 174 million (2025)
- Languages
- Bengali
- Currency
- Bangladeshi taka
- Area
- 147,570 km² (56,977 sq mi)
- People
- Bangladeshi
- Calling code
- +880
- Highest point
- Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
- Independence
- 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
- National symbols
- Bengal tiger, water lily
About Bangladesh
Green stands for the country's lush plant life. The red disk does double duty: it is the rising sun, and it also honors the sacrifices made to win freedom. The off-center placement means the circle looks centered when the flag flies from a pole.
Bangladesh sits on a huge delta where the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems meet. Arab and Persian traders and preachers began bringing Islam to the area in the 10th century, and Europeans set up trading posts in the 16th century. After British India was split in 1947, this Muslim-majority region became East Pakistan. Tension with the western half fed an independence movement, and the country broke away from Pakistan on 16 December 1971. Today about 174 million people live there, mostly on flat river plains.
Did you know?
- The Bengal tiger and the water lily are both national symbols of Bangladesh.
- Mowdok Taung, the highest point in Bangladesh, reaches 1,060 meters in the hilly southeast.
- Bangladesh is a bit smaller than Iowa but packs in about 174 million people.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Bangladesh
What is the capital of Bangladesh?
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh.
What currency does Bangladesh use?
Bangladesh uses the Bangladeshi taka.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.