It increased from 23.9 to 25.3 years for men during the same period. The proportion of married women using contraception increased from 8 percent in 1975 to 45 percent in 1993-94. In a country where the literacy rate is under 30 percent, the above increase in the level of contraceptive use can be considered a significant achievement of the Bangladesh government. Bangladesh is predominantly a rural country. About 80 percent of its population live in rural areas.
Most people are farmers, relying on sustainable agriculture for their livelihood.
About 90 percent of the arable land is used for growing rice, the staple of its population. Despite its staggering population, traditional farming methods and frequent natural disasters and political upheavals, the country appears to be moving toward self-sufficiency in food production. Bangladesh is a country of rivers. The rivers serve as the main source of water for cultivation and as principal arteries of transportation. Rivers also provide fish, an important source of protein.