Rangamati District (), officially Rangamati Hill District, is a district in the south-eastern Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chattogram Division. The city of Rangamati is known as the capital of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. By area, Rangamati is the largest district of the country.

Geography Rangamati is located in the Chittagong Division. It is bordered by the Tripura state of India to the north, Bandarban District to the south, Mizoram State of India and Chin State of Myanmar to the east, and Khagrachari and Chittagong Districts to the west. Rangamati is the only district in Bangladesh with international borders with two countries: India and Myanmar.

The area of the district is 6,116 km2 of which 1,292 km2 is riverine and 4,825 km2 is under forest vegetation.

History Rangamati was a contesting ground for the kings of Tripura and Arakan. In 1737, Sher Mosta Khan, a tribal leader, took refuge with the Mughals. Subsequently, the Chakma settlement began along with various other settlements of varying ethnicity. From 1760 to 1761, the area was leased to the East India Company.

Demography

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Rangamati Hill District had 153,482 households and a population of 647,586 with an average of 4.15 people per household. Among the population, 119,027 (18.38%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 106 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 71.41%, compared to the national average of 74.80%. The sex ratio of the district was at 106 males per 100 females. Approximately 47.56% of the population lived in urban areas.

According to the 2022 census, there were a total of 372,875 (57.58%) tribal people in the district. The populations of major ethnic minorities are Chakma 276,048, Marma 51,403, Tanchangya 27,975, Tripura 12,300, Khyang 1,670, and Pankhu 1,398.

+Population by ethnicity in Upazila Upazila Bengali Chakma Marma Tanchangya OthersBagaichhari28.2 %66.2% 0.08%0.01%5.51%Barkal29.0 %69.3 % 0.88% 0.03%0.79%Belaichhari 15.9% 26.7% 8.97% 38.77%9.66%Juraichhari 4.65% 91.2% 0.28% 3.33%0.54%Kaptai 55.7% 2.25% 28.6% 12.42%1.03%Kawkhali 44.9% 25.9% 27.9% 1.02% 0.28%Langadu76.5% 23.1% 0.01% 0.01 0.38%Naniarchar 18.3%79.9 % 1.74% 0.01% 0.05%Rajasthali32.3 % 0.97% 36.6% 16.30% 13.83%Sadar 52.3% 41.2% 1.89% 2.38% 2.23%

+Population by religion in Union Upazila Union Bengali Chakma Marma Tanchangya OthersSadarRangamati Paurashava71,74129,3341,7431,2082,034Balukhali5985,6841385221,021Bandukbhanga937,0438115Jibtali1,7061,9615352500Kutukchhari2796,31014542Magban5955,0873101,4975Sapchhari 1,6965,03017564BaghaichhariBaghaichhari Paurashava13,3192,2233099Amtali 5,7000003Baghaichhari1,6708,1391205Bangaltali2,1188,684707Khedarmara2,0928,3438133Marishya1,1894,7462011Rupakari 5154,284105Sajek 3,19822,4843115,671Saroatali 19311,44825104LangaduAtarakchhara5,9957,1482224Bagachatar13,2481,3471047Bhasanyadam6,582908002Gulshakhali1038298600260Kalapakujya86250000Langadu6,2269,595625Mainimukh 18,100904405BarkalAimachhara 1,3766,1376416Bara Harina3625,42640178Barkal 2,4974,4282214116Bhushanchhara 6,8299,985186541Subalong 3,4288,48619548KaptaiChandraghona 8,234115326292226Chitmaram 1,3231253,441407142Kaptai 11,6638317151,561142Raikhali 6,3821268,2441,15418Wagga 3,263493,1183,46744BelaichhariBarathali58264901,0871,430Belaichhari1,3353,4345562,949389Farua1,3269831,0127,0161,048Kengrachhari1,4453,4595924001JuraichhariBonjogichhara 3264,9451349Dumdumya 2346,67833594126Juraichhari 5638,76191323Maidang 1284,164202872KawkhaliBetbunia 12,5036016,3721627Fatikchhari 113,2782,497244Ghagra 8,85112,1773,29065594Kalampati 8,3941,1326,318444NaniarcharBurighat6,1546,893759024Ghilachhari5518,7832814Naniarchar1,34111,61950119Sabekkyong11611,471502RajasthaliBangalhalia6,0701334,161274310Gaindya1,492765,3301,157470Ghilachhari1,447607223,1113,051

+Largest ethnic group in Union and Municipality Ethnic group Union Municipality Upazila Bengali1124Chakma3203Marma301Tanchangya 301Tripura100Total50210 Bengalis According to the 2022 census, Bengalis are the second-largest ethnic group in Rangamati Hill District (42.42%), nearly as numerous as Chakma people (42.63%).

By Upazila UpazilaPopulation Percentage of BengalisLangadu Upazila69,16076.50%Kaptai Upazila30,867 55.71%Rangamati Sadar Upazila76,718 52.33%Kawkhali Upazila29,763 44.88%Rajasthali Upazila9,009 32.33%Barkal Upazila14,393 28.96%Bagaichhari Upazila29,998 28.22%Naniarchar Upazila8,864 18.27%Belaichhari Upazila4,688 15.87%Juraichhari Upazila1,251 4.65% By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Kalapakujya UnionLangadu Upazila100%Amtali UnionBaghaichhari Upazila99.95%Mainimukh UnionLangadu Upazila95.2%Bagachatar UnionLangadu Upazila90.47%Chandraghona UnionKaptai Upazila89.57%Gulshakhali UnionLangadu Upazila89.28%Bhasanyadam UnionLangadu Upazila87.85%Kaptai UnionKaptai Upazila78.2%Betbunia UnionKawkhali Upazila64%Bangalhalia UnionRajasthali Upazila55.4%

Chakmas According to the 2022 census, Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (42.63%).

By Upazila UpazilaPopulation Percentage of ChakmasJuraichhari Upazila24,548 91.15%Naniarchar Upazila38,766 79.89%Barkal Upazila34,462 69.33%Bagaichhari Upazila70,350 66.19%Rangamati Sadar Upazila60,449 41.23%Belaichhari Upazila7,882 26.68%Kawkhali Upazila17,188 25.92%Langadu Upazila20,18823.10%Kaptai Upazila1,246 2.25%Rajasthali Upazila269 0.97%

By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Sabekkyong UnionNaniarchar Upazila98.94%Bandukbhanga UnionRangamati Sadar Upazila98.37%Saroatali UnionBaghaichhari Upazila98.01%Kutukchhari UnionRangamati Sadar Upazila94.89%Ghilachhari UnionNaniarchar Upazila93.77%Juraichhari UnionJuraichhari Upazila93.51%Bonjogichhara UnionJuraichhari Upazila93.35%Bara Harina UnionBarkal Upazila90.89%Maidang UnionJuraichhari Upazila90.5%Rupakari UnionBaghaichhari Upazila89.2%

Marmas According to the 2022 census, Marmas are the third-largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (7.93%).

By Upazila Upazila Population Percentage of MarmasRajasthali Upazila10,213 36.65%Kaptai Upazila15,844 28.59%Kawkhali Upazila18,477 27.86%Belaichhari Upazila2,650 8.97%Rangamati Sadar Upazila2,765 1.89%Naniarchar Upazila842 1.74%Barkal Upazila4360.88%Juraichhari Upazila750.28%Baghaichhari Upazila890.08%Langadu Upazila 120.01% By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Chitmaram UnionKaptai Upazila63.28%Gaindya UnionRajasthali Upazila62.52%Raikhali UnionKaptai Upazila51.77%Fatikchhari UnionKawkhali Upazila42.8%Kalampati UnionKawkhali Upazila39.8%Bangalhalia UnionRajasthali Upazila38%Betbunia UnionKawkhali Upazila32.6%Wagga UnionKaptai Upazila31.4%Ghagra UnionKawkhali Upazila13.1%Jibtali UnionRangamati Sadar Upazila12%

Tanchangyas According to the 2022 census, Tanchangyas are the fourth-largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (4.32%).

By Upazila Upazila Population Percentage of TanchangyaBelaichhari Upazila11,452 38.77%Rajasthali Upazila4,542 16.30%Kaptai Upazila6,881 12.42%Juraichhari Upazila858 3.33%Rangamati Sadar Upazila3,488 2.38%Kaukhali Upazila677 1.02%Others<100<1% By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Farua UnionBelaichhari Upazila61.62%Ghilachhari UnionRajasthali Upazila37.08%Wagga UnionKaptai Upazila34.88%Belaichhari UnionBelaichhari Upazila34.04%Barathali UnionBelaichhari Upazila30.24%Magban UnionRangamati Sadar Upazila20%Gaindya UnionRajasthali Upazila13.6%Kaptai UnionKaptai Upazila10.5%Dumdumya UnionJuraichhari Upazila7.75%Raikhali UnionKaptai Upazila7.25%

Tripuras

According to the 2022 census, Tripuras are the fifth-largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (1.90%).

Upazila Population Percentage of TripurasRajasthali Upazila2,273 8.16%Belaichhari Upazila1,796 6.08%Baghaichhari Upazila5,457 5.13%Rangamati Sadar Upazila2,206 1.50%Others <1%

Khyangs

According to the 2022 census, there are 1,670 kyang in Rangamati District.

Upazila Population Percentage of KhyangsRajasthali Upazila2,420 5.09%Kaptai Upazila250 0.32%Others <100

Phankos

According to the 2022 census, there are 1,398 Phankos in Rangamati District.

Upazila Population Percentage of PhankosBelaichhari Upazila498 1.69%Rangamati Sadar Upazila228 0.15%Barkal Upazila208 0.42%Kaptai Upazila143 0.26%Baghaichhari Upazila117 0.11%Juraichhari Upazila116 0.43%Others <100

Religion Rangamati is the only Buddhist majority district of Bangladesh. But two towns of Rangamati district, both Rangamati and Baghaichhari, have a Muslim majority. Moreover, Langadu Upazila has a Muslim majority, and Kaptai Upazila has a Muslim plurality. Rangamati Sadar Upazila has a Buddhist plurality, and others have a Buddhist majority.

+Religion in present-day Rangamati Hill DistrictReligionPopulation (1941)Percentage (1941)Population (2022)Percentage (2022)Tribal102,27593.21%N/AN/AIslam 3,9633.62%234,83436.26%Hinduism 2,5842.35%33,1125.11%Christianity 600.06%8,5471.32%Buddhism 565 0.51%370,79357.26%Others 2790.25%3000.05%Total Population109,726100%647,586100%As per the 1991 census, the religious institutions in the district include 1230 pagodas, 1059 mosques, 65 temples, and 16 churches. Genderwise, males constituted 53.59% and females constituted 46.41% of the population. +Population by religion in Upazila Upazila Muslim Buddhist Christian Hindu OthersBagaichhari 24.74 % 67.99% 0.57% 6.67% 0.03%Barkal22.74 %75.81 % 0.55% 0.87% 0.02%Belaichhari 10.62% 78.21% 9.60% 1.24% 0.32%Juraichhari 3.26% 95.60% 0.52% 0.63% 0.00%Kaptai 47.37% 45.35% 1.02% 6.23% 0.03%Kawkhali 40.05% 56.76% 0.08% 3.09% 0.01%Langadu74.62 % 23.74% 0.40% 1.23% 0.01%Naniarchar 14.85%83.18 % 0.08% 1.87% 0.03%Rajasthali21.92 % 58.48% 10.83% 8.77% 0.00%Sadar 40.69% 48.50% 0.45% 10.29% 0.08%

+Population by religion in Union Upazila Union Muslim Buddhist OthersSadarRangamati Paurashava55,27736,36214,430Balukhali5126,4221,039Bandukbhanga317,11911Jibtali1,5242,805123Kutukchhari1286,389133Magban5656,91316Sapchhari 1,6085,090114BaghaichhariBaghaichhari Paurashava12,4362,445763Amtali 5,6425110Baghaichhari1,6218,17628Bangaltali44110,051283Khedarmara1,4698,487520Marishya1,1854,7539Rupakari 4704,31022Sajek 2,89522,4605,808Saroatali 12911,53215BarkalAimachhara1,0956,38658Bara Harina1205,560190Barkal1,8905,181195Bhushanchhara5,71611,213117Subalong2,4849,345157BelaichhariBarathali3361,7311,528Belaichhari9267,124613Farua5039,7351,147Kengrachhari1,3624,51411JuraichhariBonjogichhara2515,01135Dumdumya1647,351150Juraichhari3518,899119Maidang1114,4864KaptaiChandraghona 6,9099881,296Chitmaram 11724,065201Kaptai 10,3403,2371,335Raikhali 5,4909,771663Wagga 2,3337,069539KawkhaliBetbunia 10,9397,619961Fatikchhari 25,79336Ghagra 7,70816,655704Kalampati 7,9087,574401LangaduAtarakchhara5,9367,14788Bagachatar12,8331,610200Bhasanyadam6,3641,06365Gulshakhali10,349985294Kalapakujya8,62302Langadu5,9259,682237Mainimukh 17,435972606NaniarcharBurighat5,9287,84260Ghilachhari1889,14732Naniarchar1,06111,816853Sabekkyong2411,55515RajasthaliBangalhalia3,9345,1571,857Gaindya1,2366,740549Ghilachhari9374,3973,057

+Largest Religion in Union and Municipality Religion Union Municipality Upazila Islam 1022Buddhism 4008Total50210

Buddhism According to the 2022 census, Buddhism is the largest religion in Rangamati Hill District (57.25%).

By Upazila

Upazila Population Percentage of Buddhismhttps://bbs.portal.gov.bd/site/page/b432a7e5-8b4d-4dac-a76c-a9be4e85828cJuraichhari Upazila25,747 95.60%Naniarchar Upazila40,362 83.18%Belaichhari Upazila23,104 78.21%Barkal Upazila37,686 75.81%Bagaichhari Upazila72,267 67.99%Rajasthali Upazila16,294 58.48%Kaukhali Upazila37,641 56.76%Rangamati Sadar Upazila71,100 48.50%Kaptai Upazila25,131 45.35%Langadu Upazila21,46123.74% By Union (Highest 10)