Sylhet Division: population, poverty, income, jobs, health and schooling
Sylhet Division is a division of Bangladesh, number 7 of 8 by population. Sylhet division had 11,415,113 people at the Population and Housing Census 2022, after the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics adjusted the head count of 11,034,952 for people missed (Post Enumeration Check). That is 6.72% of Bangladesh's 169.83 million, 2nd smallest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Sylhet Division: The average household in Sylhet division had a monthly income of Tk 22,861 in 2022, 2nd lowest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions (Bangladesh: Tk 32,422), and spent Tk 30,402 a month on consumption (Bangladesh: Tk 30,603).
- Health in Sylhet Division: 34.4 babies in every 1,000 born alive in Sylhet division died before their first birthday in 2023, the highest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions (Bangladesh: 26.9), and 39.3 before age five (Bangladesh: 32.7).
- Education in Sylhet Division: 72.06% of people aged 7 and over in Sylhet division could read and write at the 2022 census, 4th lowest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions (Bangladesh: 74.80%); 73.68% of males and 70.53% of females.
- Poverty and living standards in Sylhet Division: 17.4% of people in Sylhet division lived below the upper poverty line in 2022, up from 16.2% in 2016; 4th lowest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions (Bangladesh: 18.7%, down from 24.3%). The rate was 18.1% in rural areas and 14.4% in towns and cities.
How fast is the population of Sylhet division growing?
The counted population of Sylhet division grew by an average of 0.96% a year between the 2011 and 2022 censuses (Bangladesh: 1.22%), against 2.22% a year in the decade to 2011; 4th fastest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions.
Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households are there in Sylhet division?
The 2022 census counted 2,185,351 ordinary households in Sylhet division, with 4.96 people each on average (Bangladesh: 3.98), and 18.2% of household members living in urban areas (Bangladesh: 30.6%); the urban share is the lowest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions.
Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children do women in Sylhet division have?
Women in Sylhet division were having 2.04 children each on average in 2023, according to the Sample Vital Statistics, 2nd lowest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions (Bangladesh: 2.17).
Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics · saved copyAre births registered in Sylhet division?
In 2023, 46.3% of children under five in Sylhet division had a registered birth (71.7% of people of all ages), 2nd highest of Bangladesh's 8 divisions (Bangladesh: 39.7% of under-fives).
Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics · saved copyMore figures
- There were 95.3 men for every 100 women in Sylhet division in 2022 (Bangladesh: 98.1). Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics · saved copy
How divisions are governed in Bangladesh
Divisions (8). Divisional commissioner, a civil servant appointed by the national government. Coordinates districts; no elected body.
Every tier of government in Bangladesh
Other divisions of Bangladesh
- Dhaka Division 45,644,586
- Chattogram Division 34,178,612
- Rajshahi Division 20,794,019
- Rangpur Division 18,020,071
- Khulna Division 17,813,218
- Mymensingh Division 12,637,472
- Barishal Division 9,325,820
Up a level: Bangladesh · government and power in Bangladesh · cities
Sources
- National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (with ICF): Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2022, Final Report: Tables 2.4, 3.2, 9.1, 9.7, 9.8, 11.1, 14.3 and 14.6 by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fcb1b5f6f950…)
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022, Final Report: Tables 4.5 (income and consumption), 6.4 (poverty), 7.6 (school enrolment), 13.2-13.3 (food insecurity) by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4df200a6bfb1…)
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Labour Force Survey 2024, final report tables: Tables 6.8.1 (employed), 7.3.2 (informal employment) and 8.7.1 (unemployed) by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 072c18ebf9f3…)
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Population and Housing Census 2022, National Report (Volume I), Tables 3.2.17-3.2.40 and 3.3.9-3.3.15: disability, literacy, students, NEET, phones, internet, accounts, migration, water, toilets, electricity, cooking fuel, remittances, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1c315d497629…)
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023: Tables 3.4 (fertility), 3.14 (birth registration), 4.1 (death rate), 4.5 (infant mortality), 4.9 (under-5 mortality) by division, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0a315f77d448…)
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