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Social Media in Bangladesh - 2023 Stats & Platform Trends

Last Updated: October 30, 2023
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How is social media in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh, a developing nation, boasts a robust and resilient economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that the country’s economy has not witnessed a decline since 1975. In recent decades, the growth rate has accelerated, averaging 5.5% during the first ten years of the 21st century and 6.6% in the second ten-year period.

Despite Bangladesh’s impressive economic growth, its internet penetration rate remains relatively low compared to neighboring countries like India. Official government data indicates a 71.4% internet penetration rate, but when accounting for double counting due to mobile cellular subscriptions, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates the actual rate to be under 30%. This rate is considerably lower than that of other nations with lower per capita GDPs than Bangladesh.

This low internet penetration has contributed to a reduced usage of social media among the population. However, it is worth noting that nearly all individuals with internet access are active social media users. Although a substantial increase in social media users was anticipated as internet infrastructure improved, the number of users has instead decreased over the past year. Estimates suggest that the total number of users dropped from 49.5 million in 2022 to 44.7 million in 2023. A separate analysis from Napoleon also identified similar trends, with both Facebook and Instagram experiencing declines in users over the past year.

Historical Internet Penetration
Unit: % of Total Population
Cellular Subscription %
Unit: per 100 People

Social Media's User Demographics in Bangladesh

Given the latest survey available, in Bangladesh there are about 50.3 million active social media users (Log in at least once in a month) in 2022. This is about 29.7 % of the addressable  demographics. Also, Throughout 2021 to 2022, the number of users has grown 10.1 %.

Social Media User Demographics
Note: Meta's figure as reference, 2022

Key Drivers of Using Social Media in Bangladesh

Source: GWI. Users aged 16-64 years old

Key Accounts Followed For Users in Bangladesh

Source: GWI. Users aged 16-64 years old

What Platforms are Users in Bangladesh Typically on?

By the close of 2022, the dominant social media platforms in Bangladesh were Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, IMO (a messaging app), and Messenger. Data reveals that roughly 50 million individuals, equating to 29% of the country’s population, actively use Facebook. Moreover, a 2021 survey conducted by a local university, albeit with a limited sample size, discovered that almost all urban students are active on Facebook.

IMO has gained popularity in Bangladesh and other nations where internet connectivity is sparse, as it offers a low-bandwidth alternative for making calls and sending messages. The app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Consequently, IMO’s growth tends to be inversely correlated with the expansion of internet penetration.

In recent years, TikTok has experienced a notable surge in popularity, although no official figures are available. Google search data indicates that interest in TikTok surpassed that of Instagram and IMO by the end of 2021. However, it still significantly trails Facebook in terms of overall interest.

Most Used Platforms, 2022
Unit: %
Most Liked Platforms | 2022
Unit: %

How's Facebook Doing in Bangladesh?

With the latest data published in January 2023, we can see that at the growth rate of 0.93%, there is now around 49.31 million Facebook users in Bangladesh . With male users account for around 67.65% and female users account for around 32.35%.

Facebook Users as a % of Population in Bangladesh
Unit: %
Facebooks Users in Bangladesh
Unit: '000 Thousands
Facebook User Penetration in Bangladesh
Unit: % of Total Population
Facebook User By Age Group in Bangladesh
Note: As legal restriction, figure of 13-17 is often underestimated(underreported) and 18-24 is overestimated|Unit:'000 People
Facebook User Age Penetration in Bangladesh
Note: Number may exceed 100% as multi-accounts holders or fake accounts prevail in the country|Unit: %

How's Instagram in Bangladesh?

With the latest data published in January 2023, we can see that at the growth rate of 1.07%, there is now around 4.9 million Instagram users in Bangladesh . With male users account for around 68.34% and female users account for around 31.66%.

Instagram Users as a % of Population in Bangladesh
Unit: %
Instagram Users in Bangladesh
Unit:'000 People
Instagram User Penetration in Bangladesh
Unit: % of Total Population
Instagram User By Age Group in Bangladesh
Note: As legal restriction, figure of 13-17 is often underestimated(underreported) and 18-24 is overestimated|Unit:'000 People
Instagram User Age Penetration in Bangladesh
Note: Number may exceed 100% as multi-accounts holders or fake accounts prevail in the country|Unit: %

How's TikTok in Bangladesh?

With the latest data published in January 2023, we can see that at the growth rate of %, there is now around TikTok users in Bangladesh . With male users account for around  and female users account for around .

TikTok Users as a % of Population in Bangladesh
Unit:'000 People
TikTok User Penetration in Bangladesh
Unit: %

How's LinkedIn in Bangladesh?

With the latest data published in January 2023, we can see that at the growth rate of 1.22x, there is now around 5.66 million LinkedIn users in Bangladesh.

LinkedIn Users as a % of Population in Bangladesh
Unit: %
LinkedIn Users in Bangladesh
Unit:'000 People
LinkedIn User By Age Group in Bangladesh
Unit:'000 People
Reference
  • Internet & Cellular Subscription:World Bank, ITU
  • Currency Exchange: Based on IMF data in 2023/1
  • Demographics: UN Population Database
  • Social Media Behavior: GWI, Hootsuite 2022 Digital Report
  • Meta, LinkedIn Data: Napoleon Cat Stats
  • Data Calculation & Regression:OOSGA.org
  • Analysis:OOSGA Analytics
  • Note: The data for monthly platform usage and the data for the most frequently used platforms are sourced from different research, hence there may be discrepancies in the numbers as both are estimated rather than real figure.
Author: CR Team

Our consumer research practice tracks what customers spend and how they make decisions across major economies in the world.

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