Bandarban District (), officially Bandarban Hill District, is a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong Division. It is one of the three hill districts of Bangladesh and a part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the others being Rangamati District and Khagrachhari District. Bandarban district (4,479 km2) is not only the most remote district of the country, but also the least populous (population 388,000). There is an army contingent at Bandarban Cantonment.

Demographics

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Bandarban District had 106,065 households and a population of 481,106 with an average 4.41 people per household. Among the population, 110,625 (22.99%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 107 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 63.74%, compared to the national average of 74.80%. The sex ratio of the district was at 105 males for 100 females. Approximately, 40.41% of the population lived in urban areas.

As per the 2022 census, there were 283,123 (58.85%) Bengalis and 197,983 (41.15%) minorities (called Upojati) people in the district. The population of major ethnic minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, are: Marma: 84,170, Mro/Murong 51,448, Tripura 22,572, Tanchangya 14,889, Bom 11,854, Chakma 3,712, Khumi 3,287, Chak 2,662, Khyang 2,502.

+Population by ethnicity in Unions of Bandarban District Upazila Union Bengali Marma Mro Tripura Others SadarBandarban Paurashava42,4537,2724009813,344Bandarban4,4652,803352762,593Jamchhari1,2244,493502933Kuhalong4,0556,5671022112,338Rajbila1,8903,65518110787Sualak7,5901,8281,931311,987Tankabati1,615104,744160143 LamaLama Paurashava19,7172,6381517475Aziznagar11,68349217334516Faitang12,1242,2165632315Fansiakhali31,5122,3951,2011,07922Gajalia4,4974,4532,8851,887156Lama7,0846051,6857396Rupshipara9,1882,5512,49227015Sarai10,6674692,1381,028561 AlikadamAlikadam18,1616232,4731,370861Chaikkhyong13,2031,7352,150770264Kurukpata301738,9061,277649Nayapara7,0211,4161,63935862 NaikhongchhariBaishari15,5331,13872233910Dochhari7,4691671,601149262Ghumdhum15,342133602,227Naikhongchhari21,558591651,183Sonaichhari3,9392,6792115788 RowangchhariAlekkhyong6082,38707642,252Nowapatang1062,64505201,283Rowangchhari8104,19524023,276Tarachha1,3894,4891,683457453 RumaGhalangya321,0674,379864269Paindu1363,564002,268Remakri Pransa476241,3591,2152,245Ruma3,5915,4421,4198343,349 ThanchiBalipara Union1,1832,9914591,182682Remakri8502,7431,6452,089821Thanchi1,5542,4503,6631,435733Tindu1001,1611,2541,6301,165

+Largest ethnic group in Union and Municipality Ethnic group Union Municipality UpazilaBengali1724Marma1103Mro400Tripura100Bom100Total3427

Bengalis

According to the 2022 census, Bengalis are the largest ethnic group in Bandarban District (58.85%).

By Upazila Upazila Population Percentage Naikhongchhari Upazila 63,84183.48% Lama Upazila 106,468 76.22% Alikadam Upazila 38,687 60.64% Bandarban Sadar Upazila 63,292 56.97% Ruma Upazila 4,235 13.02% Thanchi Upazila 3,687 12.38% Rowangchhari Upazila 2,913 10.51%

By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Naikhongchhari Sadar UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila92.3%Aziznagar UnionLama Upazila91.9%Fansiakhali UnionLama Upazila87%Ghumdhum UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila86.6%Baishari UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila84.7%Faitang UnionLama Upazila82.3%Dochhari UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila77.4%Alikadam UnionAlikadam Upazila77.3%Chaikkhyong UnionAlikadam Upazila72.9%Sarai UnionLama Upazila71.8%

Marmas According to the 2022 census, Marmas are the second largest ethnic group in Bandarban District (17.50%). By Upazila Upazila Population Percentage of Marmas Rowangchhari Upazila 13,716 49.48% Thanchi Upazila 9,345 31.37% Ruma Upazila 10,097 31.04% Bandarban Sadar Upazila 26,628 23.97% Lama Upazila 15,819 11.32% Naikhongchhari Upazila 4,708 6.16% Alikadam Upazila 3,857 6.05%

By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Jamchhari UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila67.04%Paindu UnionRuma Upazila59.72%Nowapatang UnionRowangchhari Upazila58.08%Rajbila UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila56.58%Tarachha UnionRowangchhari Upazila53%Kuhalong UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila49.48%Rowangchhari Sadar UnionRowangchhari Upazila48.3%Balipara UnionThanchi Upazila46%Alekkhyong UnionRowangchhari Upazila39.7%Ruma UnionRuma Upazila37.2%

Mrus According to the 2022 census, Mru (Murong) are the third largest ethnic group in Bandarban District (10.69%).

By Upazila Upazila Population Percentage of MrusAlikadam Upazila15,168 23.77%Thanchi Upazila7,021 23.57%Ruma Upazila7,157 22.00%Lama Upazila10,781 7.72%Bandarban Sadar Upazila7,280 6.55%Rowangchhari Upazila1,685 6.08%Naikhongchhari Upazila2,356 3.08%

By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Kurukpata UnionAlikadam Upazila79.4%Tankabati UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila71.1%Ghalangya UnionRuma Upazila66.24%Thanchi Sadar UnionThanchi Upazila37.25%Remakri Pransa UnionRuma Upazila25.55%Tindu UnionThanchi Upazila23.62%Gajalia UnionLama Upazila20.79%Remakri UnionThanchi Upazila20.19%Tarachha UnionRowangchhari Upazila19.87%Rupshipara UnionLama Upazila17.18%

Tripura According to the 2022 census, Tripuras are fourth largest ethnic group in Bandarban District (4.69%).

By Upazila Upazila Population Percentage of TripurasThanchi Upazila 6,336 21.27%Ruma Upazila 2,913 8.95%Rowangchhari Upazila 2,143 7.73%Alikadam Upazila 3,452 5.41%Lama Upazila 5,755 4.12%Bandarban Sadar Upazila 1,771 1.59%Naikhongchhari Upazila 202 0.26%

By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Tindu UnionThanchi Upazila30.7%Remakri UnionThanchi Upazila25.6%Remakri Pransa UnionRuma Upazila22.8%Balipara UnionThanchi Upazila18.2%Thanchi Sadar UnionThanchi Upazila14.7%Gajalia UnionLama Upazila13.6%Ghalangya UnionRuma Upazila13.1%Alekkhyong UnionRowangchhari Upazila12.7%Nowapatang UnionRowangchhari Upazila11.4%Kurukpata UnionAlikadam Upazila11.4%

Tanchangyas According to the 2022 census, Tanchangyas are the fifth largest ethnic group in Bandarban District (3.09%).

They are the second largest ethnic group in Rowangchhari Upazila (14.39%).

Upazila Population Percentage of TanchangyasRowangchhari Upazila3,990 14.39%Bandarban Sadar Upazila5,605 5.05%Naikhongchhari Upazila2,881 3.77%Alikadam Upazila1,977 3.10%Ruma Upazila2410.74%Lama Upazila1830.13%Thanchi Upazila120.04%

Boms According to the 2022 census, there are 12,311 Bom in CHT. Among them, 11854 (96.29%) Boms live in Bandarban District, constituting 2.46% of district's population.

They are third largest ethnic groups in Ruma Upazila (19.89%).

Upazila Population Percentage of BomsRuma Upazila6,470 19.89%Rowangchhari Upazila1,882 6.79%Bandarban Sadar Upazila2,7482.47%Thanchi Upazila685 2.30%Lama Upazila 56 0.04%Alikadam Upazila 8 0.01%Naikhongchhari Upazila 5 0.01%

Chakmas According to the 2022 census, there are 3,713 Chakma in Bandarban district.

Upazila Population Percentage of ChakmasBandarban Sadar Upazila1,664 1.50%Alikadam Upazila574 0.90%Thanchi Upazila488 1.64%Lama Upazila355 0.25%Ruma Upazila305 0.94%Rowangchhari Upazila191 0.69%Naikhongchhari Upazila135 0.18%

Khumi According to the 2022 census, there are 3,287 Khumis in Bandarban district.

Upazila Population Percentage of KhumisThanchi Upazila1,829 6.14%Ruma Upazila890 2.74%Rowangchhari Upazila 436 1.57%Others <100

Chaks According to the 2022 census, there are 2,662 Chaks in Bandarban district.

They are mainly concentrated in Naikhongchhari Upazila, constituting 3.05% of the upazila's population.

Khyangs According to the 2022 census, there are 2502 Khyangs in Bandarban district.

Upazila Population Percentage of KhyangsBandarban Sadar Upazila 1,310 1.18%Rowangchhari Upazila 652 2.35%Thanchi Upazila 359 1.20%Ruma Upazila 158 0.49%Others <100

Religion

+Religion in present-day Bandarban DistrictReligionPopulation (1941)Percentage (1941)Population (2022)Percentage (2022)Tribal57,79394.50%N/AN/AIslam 2,5954.24%253,75652.74%Buddhism --- ---142,05729.53%Hinduism 3690.60%16,5013.43%Christianity 00.00%47,0549.78%Others 3990.65%21,7384.52%Total Population61,156100%481,106100%

The religious composition of the population in 2022 was 52.74% Muslim, 29.53% Buddhist, 9.78% Christian, 3.43% Hindu and 4.52% others. Religious institutions is Mosque 2,070, Buddhist 1500 (256 temples, 644 pagodas), Hindu temple 194 and Church 2.

+Population by religion in Union Upazila Union Muslim Buddhist Christian Hindu Others SadarBandarban Paurashava32,44912,3151,8797,673134Sadar4,0994,7431,06724914Jamchhari4146,021442230Kuhalong3,6509,1163021969Rajbila1,8254,481117370Sualak7,2682,9761,3902,941439Tankabati1,1428841,674492,923 LamaLama Paurashava17,7393,0782021,61511Aziznagar11,43866537122312Faitang11,8202,34933421516Fansiakhali30,2182,7461,750814681Gajalia4,3216,1552,72078604Lama6,1152,21399473562Rupshipara8,2854,96843918806Sarai10,1481,6991,905379732AlikadamAlikadam16,4053,4361,530616959Chaikkhyong11,7325,0161,04915217Kurukpata2437,4921,531121,938Nayapara6,5273,54143456406 NaikhongchhariBaishari14,9313,0581801661Docchari7,4192,06515454Ghumdhum13,5304,01731561Naikhongchhari21,0732,039112119Sonaichhari3,7543,6622510 RowangchhariAlekkhyong3714,5581,006750Nowapatang833,687774100Rowangchhari4265,8592,305941Tarachha1,3014,629857311,653 RumaGhalangya201,5281,68083375Paindu743,8422,05020Remakri Pransa601173,882121,248Ruma2,2476,4844,530534840 ThanchiBalipara8103,7831,541244119Remakri4503,2802,940221456Thanchi12734,0812,6361951650Tindu891,4703,1392610

+Largest Religion in Union and Municipality Religion Union Municipality Upazila Muslim1524Buddhist 1502Christian201Krama200Total3427

Islam According to 2022 census, Islam is the largest religion in Bandarban District (52.74%). By Upazila

Upazila Population Percentage of IslamNaikhongchhari Upazila60,70979.38%Lama Upazila100,088 71.65%Alikadam Upazila34,908 54.71%Bandarban Sadar Upazila50,847 45.77%Thanchi Upazila2,622 8.80%Rowangchhari Upazila2,181 7.87%Ruma Upazila2,401 7.38%

By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Naikhongchhari Sadar UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila90.3%Aziznagar UnionLama Upazila90.0%Fansiakhali UnionLama Upazila83.5%Baishari UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila81.4%Faitang UnionLama Upazila80.2%Dochhari UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila76.9%Ghumdhum UnionNaikhongchhari Upazila76.4%Alikadam UnionAlikadam Upazila69.8%Sarai UnionLama Upazila68.3%Chaikkhyong UnionAlikadam Upazila64.7%

Buddhism According to 2022 census, Buddhism is the second largest in Bandarban District (29.53%).

By Upazila

Upazila Population Percentage of BuddhismRowangchhari Upazila18,734 67.58%Thanchi Upazila12,614 42.34%Ruma Upazila11,971 36.80%Bandarban Sadar Upazila40,536 36.49%Alikadam Upazila19,485 30.54%Naikhongchhari Upazila14,841 19.41%Lama Upazila23,876 17.09%

By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Jamchhari UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila89.8%Nowapatang UnionRowangchhari Upazila81%Alekkhyong UnionRowangchhari Upazila75.8%Rajbila UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila69.4%Kuhalong UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila68.7%Rowangchhari UnionRowangchhari Upazila67.5%Kurukpata UnionAlikadam Upazila66.8%Paindu UnionRuma Upazila64.4%Balipara UnionThanchi Upazila58.2%Tarachha UnionRowangchhari Upazila54.6%

Christianity According to 2022 census, Christianity is third largest religion in Bandarban district (9.78%).

By Upazila

Upazila Population Percentage of ChristianityRuma Upazila12,142 37.32%Thanchi Upazila10,256 34.43%Rowangchhari Upazila4,942 17.83%Alikadam Upazila4,153 6.51%Lama Upazila8,715 6.24%Bandarban Sadar Upazila6,473 5.83%Naikhongchhari Upazila373 0.49% By Union (Highest 10) Union Upazila Percentage Remakri Pransa UnionRuma Upazila72.98%Tindu UnionThanchi Upazila59.11%Remakri UnionThanchi Upazila36.08%Paindu UnionRuma Upazila34.35%Ruma Sadar UnionRuma Upazila30.95%Rowangchhari Sadar UnionRowangchhari Upazila26.54%Thanchi Sadar UnionThanchi Upazila26.8%Ghalangya UnionRuma Upazila25.41%Tankabati UnionBandarban Sadar Upazila25.09%Balipara UnionThanchi Upazila23.7%

Hinduism