Nearly five million people in Bangladesh are currently living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to recurring natural disasters, a new survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed.
The assessment provides the first nationwide estimate of disaster-induced displacement, underscoring both the scale and persistence of the crisis.
Conducted in collaboration with Bangladesh government and development partners, the survey offers detailed insights critical for strengthening national disaster management and climate adaptation strategies.
According to the report, 4,955,527 people have been uprooted by floods, cyclones, river erosion, tidal surges and other hazards.
Strikingly, 64% of those displaced, about 4.37 million, have been living away from their original homes since before April 2020, indicating long-term, unresolved displacement.
Another 25% were displaced between April 2020 and April 2024, while 12% have been displaced since April 2024, reflecting ongoing vulnerability as climate impacts intensify.
Regional concentration
Displacement is unevenly distributed across the country.
Chittagong division hosts the largest number, 1.21 million IDPs, followed by Dhaka (nearly 0.8 million) and Rajshahi (659,000).
Other divisions also face significant displacement: Barishal (594,628), Rangpur (565,128), Sylhet (436,127), Khulna (418,146) and Mymensingh (274,239).
At district level, Chittagong tops the list with 448,785 displaced people, followed by Sirajganj (412,246), Bhola (232,838) and Noakhali (190,142).
Sunamganj, Cox’s Bazar, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha and Sylhet also each host more than 150,000 displaced residents.
The findings show that 85% of IDPs currently live in rural union areas, where families remain exposed to repeated hazards such as riverbank erosion and tidal surges.
Eleven percent live in municipal areas, while only 4% reside in city corporation jurisdictions.
Survey methodology
Bangladesh has long faced climate-driven disasters that uproot communities each year.
Yet until now, no verified nationwide estimate existed of the total number of people displaced by such events.
To fill this gap, IOM conducted an extensive assessment between September and October 2025, covering all eight divisions, 64 districts, 4,579 unions, 329 municipalities and 480 city corporation wards.
Data was gathered from over 29,000 key informants during 5,388 field visits, making this the most rigorous exercise of its kind in Bangladesh.
“Understanding the scale of displacement is essential for effective disaster management and long-term planning,” said Lance Bonneau, chief of mission for IOM Bangladesh.
“These findings give national authorities, local leaders and development partners a shared foundation to respond with greater clarity and coordination.”
Government officials welcomed the report as a major step toward operationalizing the National Strategy on Internal Displacement Management, which emphasizes systematic data collection on displaced populations.
The launch event in Dhaka, joined virtually by Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Aleya Akter as chief guest, also featured senior officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and representatives from the European Union.
Following a detailed presentation of the survey, a policy panel brought together the Department of Disaster Management, Department of Environment, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and development partners to discuss how IDP data could be integrated into national systems.
Partners supporting the initiative reiterated their commitment to help Bangladesh build resilient, inclusive and evidence-driven disaster-response systems.
The nationwide estimate provides critical information to improve disaster preparedness, relocation and resettlement planning, social protection, climate adaptation and long-term rural development efforts.
