🇧🇩Bangladesh Political Stability: 15.1/100

Bangladesh is located in South Asia on the Bay of Bengal, bordered almost entirely by India and sharing a small border with Myanmar. The country features the world's largest river delta, the Ganges Delta, and is predominantly flat and fertile, with most land less than 12 meters above sea level. It has a tropical climate with a mild winter and a hot, humid summer, and is prone to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.

As of 2023, Bangladesh has a population of approximately 171.4 million, making it the eighth-most populous country in the world and the most densely populated large country. The population is predominantly Bengali, comprising 99% of the total, with a median age of around 28 years. The country also hosts over 700,000 Rohingya refugees, contributing to its diverse demographic landscape.

World Bank governance: rule of law 24th percentile, corruption control 8th percentile, political stability 12th percentile.

Bangladesh's strongest governance dimension is Rule of Law at 24/100, placing it in the bottom quartile globally. This reflects relatively strong confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, police, and courts.

The weakest dimension is Control of Corruption at 8/100. Corruption remains a significant governance challenge, potentially affecting everyday interactions with government institutions.

A moderate spread of 17 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.

Bangladesh's fragile governance environment presents real challenges for travelers. Institutional capacity is severely limited across most dimensions. Visitors should expect minimal government services, potential interactions with corruption, and limited recourse through legal systems. Travel to Bangladesh requires extensive preparation and risk awareness.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Bangladesh as Level 3 (Reconsider Travel). Elevated advisory levels combined with governance data paint a fuller picture of conditions on the ground that travelers should consider.